Schuyler Co. provides tip line to fight underage drinking

The Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs (SCCUDD) is partnering with the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office to promote the Sheriff’s Tip Line this month. SCCUDD and the Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the community, if you suspect underage drinking or other illegal activity, please call the Tip Line at 607-535-8224.Across the country, many teens try alcohol for the first time during the month of December. In Schuyler County, nearly half (47.6%) of seventh through twelfth grade students have tried alcohol and many of these students try it for the first time before they are thirteen. This is especially concerning because young people that use alcohol before the age of fourteen are significantly more likely to develop alcohol dependence later in life compared to individuals that wait until the legal drinking age of twenty-one.If you have information about underage drinking parties or other illegal activity, please call the Sheriff’s Tip Line at 607-535-8224. If you do not wish to identify yourself, you can provide information anonymously. The information you provide will be used by Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division to help them investigate crime in the community. For emergencies, call 911.SCCUDD was formed in response to the Schuyler County Public Health Department’s Community Health Assessment showing poor youth outcomes. Part of this Assessment included a public opinion survey that showed the number one health concern of Schuyler County residents was the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The mission of SCCUDD is to prevent, reduce and delay the onset of substance use among Schuyler County youth by collaborating with community partners, promoting prevention education and substance-free activities and implementing environmental strategies. SCCUDD’s vision is a connected community where youth have education, resources, and drug-free options to help their journey to become happy, healthy adults.For more information, or to become involved with SCCUDD, visit SCCUDD online at www.schuylercounty.us/sccudd, or follow SCCUDD on Facebook and Twitter.