Students Together Against Alcohol ‘N Drugs (STAAND)

Students Together Against Alcohol ‘N Drugs (STAAND) is a public health internship program for high school aged youth. STAAND is designed to provide knowledge based and experiential learning opportunities for young people that are aimed at reducing the health risks associated with youth access to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Through one or more years of public health internship experience, a diverse pool of students from the Grossmont Union High School District and private schools, take action and develop advocacy strategies to address specific substance abuse issues affecting their peers. Each year, new and continuing STAAND members bring their unique skills and experience to the public health interventions.

By participating in STAAND, members are able to take advantage of leadership opportunities, public speaking trainings, conferences and much more. Along with becoming active members in their community, members develop friendships with students from high schools across San Diego County. In addition, members have the opportunity to earn community service hours, gift certificates and letters of reference.

To learn more about STAAND click here to contact our Youth Coordinator or visit our STAAND Myspace website

Download STAAND Application
Download STAAND Public Health Internship Description

After you have completed the STAAND Application, please contact the Youth Coordinator to coordinate a time to submit your application and schedule a brief interview. Interviews are held at our office at 554 Broadway, El Cajon, California 92021.

Information for Parents/Guardians

Since 2001, Communities Against Substance Abuse has given high school students in East County the opportunity to participate in a youth public health internship program known as Student Together Against Alcohol N’ Drugs (STAAND).  We have recruited, trained, engaged, and retained 180 youth advocates from 11 different East County high schools including public, private and charter.

STAAND is a community-based Friday Night Live Chapter (FNL) in good standing and has been featured as an outstanding chapter by the California FNL Partnership. STAAND members have earned Healthcare Hero awards from Grossmont Healthcare District, been selected by Channel 7/39 (KNSD) for recognition as Inspirational Student of the Month, received the Red Ribbon Award for Youth Prevention Program, and the Youth Prevention Award, and the Sundt Foundation’s Natural High Scholarship.

As a chapter of Friday Night Live, STAAND subscribes to their guiding principles.

Your student’s participation in STAAND allows the opportunity to work with a reputable organization that will build academic and social skills, boost self-esteem, encourage leadership, and foster responsibility.  To get the most from the internship experience, we ask that students stay involved throughout the course of the school year to be eligible for awards, gift cards, and other resume building activities.

We welcome parent and/or guardian participation and involvement in all of our work.  Parent support is a key factor each participating student’s success in the public health internship program.  For more information about this program please contact the Youth Coordinator.