Fact: In 2008 there were 645 overdose-related deaths in Massachusetts.

Fact: In 2006 more than 37% of hospital admissions in Allston-Brighton were directly related to alcohol.

Fact: Emergency department visits at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center directly related to alcohol in those under age 21 increased by more than 45% from 2004 to 2007.

Fact: You don't have to be one of these statistics.

The Allston-Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force (ABSATF) mobilizes the community to prevent and reduce underage drinking and substance abuse.

Community-wide events include the Youth Summit for more than 800 students annually, Town Hall meetings, and the Walk for Recovery. Our Youth Coalition works to prevent underage drinking through projects such as Sticker Shock and Shoulder Tapping. Now in its sixth year, the Task Force also serves as a community resource - helping those to find whatever assistance they might need regarding drug and alcohol abuse.

Learn more about our programs and find out how to get involved.

If you or someone you know has a substance abuse problem, you may benefit from our resources.

Battling Substance Abuse in Allston-Brighton

Allston-Brighton has the 2nd highest density of licensed liquor establishments, an above average poverty rate, and a general attitude of acceptance towards underage drinking. It also has an incredibly young population - 40% of Allston-Brighton residents are under age 25. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11 percent of the alcohol consumed in the United States, and more than 90 percent of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinking.

Overcoming substance abuse - of alcohol, tobacco, and prescription and illegal drugs - may seem like an uphill battle, but at the Allston-Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force we believe there is nothing wrong with our community that cannot be changed by what is right in our community.

Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services