The Middletown Substance Abuse Task Force (MSAPTF) is sponsoring its third annual Middletown Family Day event on Sep. 30, 3-6 p.m., at Aquidneck Grange (499 East Main Road, Middletown) as part of the national movement that informs parents that the engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep kids substance free.

 “The research shows the importance of families sitting down at the dinner table together on a regular basis in reducing the likelihood kids will smoke, drink or use drugs,” says Lori Verderosa, MSAPTF Coordinator.

Middletown Family Day will include free activities for families, such as Zumba Fit for Kids, an Obstacle Course, a Bounce House, and Rhythm & Song Celebrations. There will also be nutrition and recipe information provided by URI Nutrition, and a Trail Mix bar where kids can assemble their own healthy trail mix from snacks provided at the event.

“Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™” is a national movement launched by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University in 2001 to remind parents that frequent family dinners make a difference (casafamilyday.org). MSAPTF hosted Family Dinner events in 2010 and 2011.

MSAPTF will also provide information about other initiatives it is spearheading in the community to raise awareness of the issue of underage drinking in Middletown. Recent survey results show Middletown teen drinking rates are higher than the state average, with 41% of the town’s high school students reporting use of alcohol in the past 30 days, versus 34% statewide. Middletown’s 11^th and 12^th grade rates, 43% and 50%, are particularly high.

For directions or more information, please call MSAPTF, 401-845-0409; msaptf@middletownri.com.

About Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force (MSAPTF)

Supported by funding from federal and state grants and the Town of Middletown, the Middletown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force (MSAPTF) is dedicated to creating a safe, healthy, and drug-free Middletown. MSAPTF’s work is focused on youth aged 12-18, and its goals are:

• To reduce youth alcohol use in Middletown by decreasing access and availability of alcohol and increasing youth and adult perception of risk and harm of alcohol
• To reduce youth marijuana use in Middletown by decreasing access and availability of marijuana and increasing youth and adult perception of risk and harm of alcohol
• To build the capacity of the MSAPTF and the community to reduce youth substance abuse and in time adult substance abuse.