99-23111 RESO
RESOLUTION NO.
99-23111
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE OFFICE OF
JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION FOR ITS DRUG-FREE
COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $95,000 AND,
APPROPRIATING SUCH FUNDS, IF AWARDED.
WHEREAS, the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in conjunction
with the Office of National Drug Control Policy, has opened competition for its Drug-Free Communities
Support Program; and
WHEREAS, the goal of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program is to support initiatives which
target the use of illegal drugs; and
WHEREAS, the Drug-Free Communities Support Program supports local initiatives which have been
in existence at least six months; and
WHEREAS, the goals of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program are the same as the Mayor's
Task Force on Alcohol and Drugs; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor's Task Force on Alcohol and Drugs is committed to reducing drug and alcohol
use among our community's youth; and
WHEREAS, the funds being requested will be used by the Office of Children's Affairs to improve
programming and prevention services in our City.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Administration is hereby authorized and directed
to submit an application to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in the amount of
$95,000 , and that such funds, if awarded, be appropriated to the Office of Children's Affairs.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 14th day of April, 1999.
~I/
MAYOR
ATTEST:
~~p~
CITY CLERK
APPROVED ~ TO
FORM & lANGUAGE
& FOR EXECU110N
F:\$CMB\TEMP\DRUGS.RES
1!f ~ 31j{>/~/)
elfy .Attorney Dote
~ITY OF MIAMI BEACH
ITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
tp:\\ci. miami-beach. fl. us
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. 7.... 50 -9~
TO:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City C mission
DATE: April 14, 1999
FROM: Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT: A RESOLUT ON OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING
THE ADMINISTRATION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE
OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION
FOR ITS DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM, IN THE
AMOUNT OF $95,000, AND APPROPRIATING SUCH FUNDS, IF
AWARDED.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the Resolution.
BACKGROUND:
In response to a fatal car accident involving the use of alcohol and drugs by youth, Mayor Neisen
Kasdin formed the Task Force on Alcohol and Drugs in October 1998. The goal of the Task Force
is to unify the community in addressing and reducing the use of alcohol and drugs among our youth.
The Task Force was charged with identifying resources and creating community coalitions to prevent
these substance abuses among youth in our community.
In conjunction with the Office of Children's Affairs, the Task Force sponsored an interfaith service
in November 1998 at Temple Beth Sholom in which the City's communities of faith were asked to
take a leadership role in this effort. The Task Force is sponsoring a candlelight service at South
Pointe Park on March 30, 1999 in which students, parents and teachers from 13 of our City's schools
will unite to pledge their support for the Task Force's efforts.
The Task Force on Alcohol and Drugs is planning to host a confererJ.ce during the summer to provide
our community's youth workers (educators. counselors, mentors, etc.) with the skills and information
to be frontline advocates for prevention efforts.
Agenda Item C 1 B
Date ~ - \ L.{ - 9 q
PAGE 2 - COMMISSION MEMO
DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES SUPPORT PROGRAM
4/14/99
ANALYSIS:
The prevalence of alcohol and drug use among youth is a national problem. According to the
National Center for Alcohol and Drug Information, the illicit use of alcohol and drugs among youth
. .
IS pervasIve:
. 80 percent of our country's high school students admit to drinking alcohol
. 47 percent of our country's high school students admit to using marijuana
. On any given day, 3,993 Americans drink alcohol for the first time
. On any given day, 4,304 Americans use an illicit drug for the first time
. 120,000 deaths are attributed to alcohol and illicit drugs each year
. Alcohol- and drug-related crime cost America $57.3 billion in 1990
Studies by the Prevention Research Center show that "wherever alcohol outlets become more
concentrated it is to be expected that alcohol-related problems will increase." Furthermore,
according to researchers, assault and youth violence are greater in areas of communities with
greater alcohol outlet densities. Miami Beach is home to a significant number of alcohol outlets
including nightclubs, bars and liquor stores.
Studies show that prevention efforts which begin targeting youth at an early age are more successful
in curbing lifelong alcohol and drug use. Among the research findings provided by a longitudinal
study conducted by the University of Washington:
. By age 18, teenagers targeted by prevention programs in elementary school are 19 percent
less likely to commit violent acts
. These same youth are 38 percent less likely to indulge in heavy drinking
. Youth who participate in early prevention programming are 35 percent less likely to have
caused a pregnancy or become pregnant
The Mayor's Task Force on Alcohol and Drugs has been working on creating a community coalition
to address the use of alcohol and drugs by youth. The coalition will include the communities of faith,
parents, educators, substance abuse counselors, the business community and youth. The emphasis
of this effort is on preventing the illicit use of alcohol and drugs among youth before the use begins.
The Task Force believes that prevention education that encourages youth to abstain from alcohol and
drug use is a necessity in ensuring the wellbeing of our community's youth. According to the TRUST
counselor at Miami Beach Senior High Schools, as many as 85 youth are currently suffering from
alcohol and drug addiction.
CONCLUSION:
The funds being requested through the Drug-Free Communities Support Program will be used to
implement prevention education, raise community awareness, engage. youth in the Task Force's
efforts and provide community-based intervention services to youth who have been identified as
users. The Commission, should approve the resolution authorizing the application for funding of this
prevention program.
SR:fu,:~ri:/ ~