A coalition raising awareness about youth drug and alcohol use is brainstorming ways to address the issue in Marin, where state surveys say teen substance use has been among the highest of California counties. “Some kids think it’s a rite of passage—this is what you do to be part of something. We want to show there are other ways for kids to be healthy,” said Suzanne Sadowsky, one of three staffers of the coalition. A meeting next week will focus on the group’s mission, with committees reporting on youth and Latino engagement, school-related services, research and public relations. The group will also mull the potential impacts of a new ordinance that will license up to two medical marijuana dispensaries in West Marin, and how effectively they are dispersing their message. Substance use appears to be dropping in Marin; a state survey from the 2013-14 school year reported the percentage of teens who had used pot and alcohol in the last 30 days had decreased by a few percentage points compared to 2009-10. But it still reported that 29 percent of 11th graders engaged in binge drinking and 31 percent had used pot in the past 30 days—activities likely tied to coping with stress, according to a panel discussion of teens held by the coalition last spring. The meeting takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at the youth center at West Marin School. Please RSVP to Suzanne at (415) 488.8888 ext. 251.