Washington Healthy Youth Coalition

The Washington Healthy Youth (WHY) Coalition, formerly known as the Washington Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking (RUaD), is a partnership of Washington State government agencies and organizations with the mission to prevent and reduce underage alcohol and marijuana use. The WHY Coalition acts as the Underage Drinking & Youth Marijuana Misuse/Abuse Prevention Work Group for the State Prevention Enhancement (SPE) Policy Consortium. 

How did the Coalition start?

The Coalition was formed by a seven-member team who attended the 2005 National Meeting on Underage Drinking Prevention. Leaders of key Washington state agencies participated in the meeting and agreed to partner to reduce underage drinking. The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery brought the agencies together as a Coalition, and continues to support ongoing efforts at the state level and in communities to prevent youth substance use.    

Goals

To reduce the percentage of 10th graders who use alcohol and/or marijuana.

Activities

The WHY Coalition meets monthly at rotating state agencies. The group has one work group:

• Communications Team

One key ongoing activity is the WHY Coalition's support and maintenance of the Start Talking Now website, a state-wide resource for parents. 

Considerations for using the terminology cannabis or marijuana document

WHY Teams 2018 Scope and Action Plan

Membership