Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is promoting its Power of You(th) programme, a youth-focused initiative that provides research-based information on the dangers of underage drinking, cannabis use and impaired driving. The programme is built around a simple message: young people have more power than they may realise when it comes to saying no to alcohol and other drugs.

The programme aims to help teenagers resist peer pressure and make safer choices, while also encouraging them to influence their friends. MADD presents the material not only as information for individual decision-making, but also as a way for young people to share resources with peers and keep their wider social circle informed.

A key part of the campaign is the message that underage drinking and cannabis use are less common than many teenagers may assume. According to MADD’s programme page, seven out of ten teenagers do not drink alcohol, and eight out of ten do not use cannabis. This “power in numbers” framing is intended to challenge the perception that substance use is a normal or expected part of teenage life.

Power of You(th) includes resources for middle school and high school students, videos on cannabis-impaired driving, a toolkit on underage cannabis prevention, and material on alcohol and the teenage brain. MADD also offers free presentations for middle schools, high schools and organizations in selected U.S. states, focusing on the dangers of underage substance use and impaired driving.

Find more from https://madd.org/power-of-youth/ (USA, 2026)