Local high school students from Wiscasset Middle High School (WMHS) and Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) recently participated in Sticker Shock, a youth-led initiative aimed at raising community awareness about the dangers of underage drinking. Sponsored by the Maine Office of Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services, Sticker Shock specifically targets individuals over the age of 21 who legally purchase alcohol and may provide it to minors, reminding them that furnishing alcohol to anyone underage is both dangerous and illegal. 

A total of nine students from WMHS, all members of the school’s Youth Substance Use Prevention (YSUP) Team, participated in the event. They were supported by MaryElizabeth Filon from Healthy Lincoln County (HLC), Wiscasset Police Department Officer Hunter Farrell, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Sheriff Scott Solorzano, and WMHS Principal Sarah Huber. The students visited the Mobil Clipper Mart, Irving/Circle K, and Shaw’s Supermarket, who enthusiastically welcomed the team and partnered in the prevention effort.  

During the event, students placed over 2,000 brightly colored stickers on alcohol packaging, each one delivering a clear message about the consequences of providing alcohol to minors. This initiative raises awareness and seeks to reduce social access to alcohol, the most common way underage individuals obtain it. The WMHS students expressed pride in participating, sharing that it felt meaningful to connect with like-minded peers while doing something positive for their community. “We are making a difference and sending the message that protecting youth in our community matters,” said Raegan Eddy, a freshman at WMHS. 

At Boothbay Region High School, four students teamed up with School Resource Officer Larry Brown and MaryElizabeth Filon from HLC to bring the Sticker Shock message to their own town. Visiting Boothbay Hannaford, Irving, and Pinkham’s Gourmet Market, the group placed stickers and bottle hangers on alcohol packaging with the support of welcoming store staff. BRHS students emphasized that the campaign is a powerful way to raise awareness among adults and strengthen the message that the entire community plays a role in youth prevention.  

This prevention work is especially relevant considering recent data from the 2023 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) for Lincoln County. According to the report, 65.9% of high school students and 39.1% of middle school students said it would be “sort of easy” or “very easy” to get alcohol. These findings highlight the importance of youth-led efforts like Sticker Shock to change perceptions and help adults see the important role they play in preventing youth substance use.  

Sticker Shock is one of many efforts supported by Healthy Lincoln County to prevent youth substance use and promote healthier communities. These events empower young leaders and reinforce the vital partnerships between schools, law enforcement, businesses, and families in creating safe environments for youth. For more information about Youth Engagement or youth substance use prevention, please contact MaryElizabeth Filon at mfilon@healthylincolncounty.org or call (207)-350-9164.