Young people today

"Young people today" is a phrase we hear a lot. It's usually followed with something about cell phone use, social media habits, or even disparaging remarks about kids using drugs.

It's true that drug use can happen at a young age. But the fact of the matter is that young people today are overwhelmingly making positive, healthy decisions.

According to survey after survey, year after year, the vast majority of youth aren't using drugs. In fact, the Monitoring the Future Survey that came out last week showed that most young people aren't vaping.

Young people are constantly being told who they are. Everywhere they go, people are telling them that they’re lazy, entitled, disconnected from their communities, too connected to technology, and using drugs in record numbers.

Because of this, we created the We Are The Majority Rally to give young people an opportunity to show the world who they really are. It gives them a voice to speak with, a stage to make their message heard, and an audience to hear it. Most importantly, it amplifies all the things they’re already saying about who they are.

We often hear that children are the leaders of the future, but in Ohio, they're the leaders of today.

More than 2,100 youth from more than 75 cities marched on the Ohio Statehouse to raise awareness about the fact that most youth don't use drugs and to advocate for support of youth-led prevention.

And they're led by the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network Youth Council, a group of young people from across the state all of whom are engaged in prevention. The Youth Council engages youth voices in behavioral health, meets with legislators to advocate for youth-led prevention, empowers teens to take a stand for their communities, and organizes and leads the We Are The Majority Rally.

They, and the 2,000 teens who march in the WATM Rally, are making a positive difference in our world by playing their role in prevention. They're leading their peers, their schools, and their communities.

It's up to us to do our part and support our young people today. 

The We Are The Majority Rally counters the false perception that most young people use drugs. It celebrates the fact that the majority of young people are not using drugs or alcohol, and it lets teens know that they’re not alone when they decide not to use drugs. It consists of friends who support one another and leaders who build healthy communities to prevent substance misuse and promote mental health wellness.

The We Are The Majority Rally is, as one Youth Council member put it, about creating a better future.

– Jade Eilers, OYLPN Youth Council and 2019 Miss Teen Ohio International

While we're proud that we've been able to host the We Are The Majority Rally every year, we cannot do it alone. We need support from people like you to ensure we have enough funds to cover travel costs and food so no barrier prevents a teen from attending the WATM Rally. We need your support to provide high quality keynote speakers to energize and empower the attendees. And the teens of the WATM Rally need your support as it empowers them in the work they do each and every year.

Please consider joining the majority of youth by supporting Prevention Action Alliance, the We Are The Majority Rally, and the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?