Buffalo Grove and Wheeling High Schools Launch New Campaign for Students

Buffalo Grove and Wheeling High Schools are launching a new drug and alcohol prevention program. The Social Norms marketing campaigns at both schools are evidence based programs that have been proven to successfully reduce drug and alcohol use among teens. Social Norms marketing campaigns are based on showing students that most of their peers do not engage in negative behavior and that, in fact, it is not the norm to drink alcohol and do drugs.  

Bob Leece, Buffalo Grove’s Student Assistance Program Coordinator, has been working with teens for the past 38 years.  “If a student has the misperception that drinking or doing drugs is the norm, they are more likely to engage in that behavior. Kids want to fit in and be like their peers. When we show them that the majority of their peers are not drinking and doing drugs, they are less likely to participate in that negative behavior,” stated Bob.

Buffalo Grove High School launched its Social Norms campaign in March 2013 and Wheeling High School is set to launch its program this fall.   Wheeling Township’s Link Together Coalition is partnering with staff and administration at both schools to implement the two campaigns. Link Together is a local coalition dedicated to preventing youth drug and alcohol use in Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Mt.Prospect, Prospect Heights and Arlington Heights. The coalition received a grant through the Illinois Department of Human Services that allows them to implement Social Norms campaigns and other community wide drug and alcohol prevention programs.

Svetlana Fastovskaya, Wheeling High School’s Social worker, stated, “Our communities have been very fortunate to receive this grant.  We are looking to make a difference and this program has been proven to be effective. We are very thankful that Link Together is able to provide drug and alcohol prevention programs for our students as well as educate the community as a whole.”