(KAIR)--A newly formed task force in Jefferson County will be taking a different approach to finding out what exactly causes kids to consume alcohol. The Jefferson County Alliance Task Force has already started to assess certain contributing factors, and has agreed to be a target community committed to completing the process under the leadership assistance from DCCCA Regional Prevention Center Specialist, Deanne Armstrong. Armstrong says the Task Force has a detailed plan in place moving forward. What they are looking at doing is putting together a strategic plan, and going through a strategic planning process. What that means is getting Community Comprehensive stakeholders together to analyze and assess the problem of underage drinking. As well as to find out what exactly is causing the problem.

Armstrong does say there is a lot of underage drinking in the county, but she hopes that can change now that the problem is being addressed. She says that a lot of the numbers in Jefferson County are higher than the state average. A lot of the counties neighboring the county have been working on preventing underage drinking for a number of years, and their numbers are very encouraging.

According to a Communities That Care survey, given out each year to area 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, 13% of Kansas 6th graders, and 40% of 12th graders say alcohol is easy for them to obtain. 43% of Kansas youth say they have drank at home, and 61% say they have drank at a friend's home. The survey also reports that when teens drink, it is to get drunk.

Task Force members would appreciate any help from the community in developing this plan, and invite everyone to attend their monthly meetings, held on the first Thursday afternoon of the month at 1:00 at the Jefferson County Health Department.