McCullough to speak out against drugs in D.C.
Published 4:51 pm Friday, September 21, 2012
Teddy McCullough, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs at American University has been chosen to speak at the 14th Annual Drug-Free Kids Campaign Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C.
At an early age, McCullough began to realize the impacts of drugs and alcohol on his family as well as the Lopez community. To help other youth with similar experiences, he decided to join a group of citizens to build the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition. McCullough attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Youth Leadership Initiative in Washington, D.C., which provided him with the tools necessary to implement his vision. As a freshman in high school, he founded the Lopez Island Coalition’s youth coalition called the Drug Related Education and Awareness Mentors Team. The DREAM Team, a peer leadership organization, is dedicated to the prevention of destructive decisions among teens such as, underage drug and alcohol use, impaired driving, teen violence and suicide.
To continue honing his knowledge and skills, he attended the NYLI again at CADCA’s 2011 Mid-Year Training Institute in Anaheim, Calif., where he learned more on public policy and advocacy. He later created the San Juan County Youth Council which works with local, county and state governments to ensure youth voices and ideas are heard. McCullough worked with the San Juan County Council and the State Legislature to create legislation that would require any business who received a liquor license to be more than 500 feet from the property line of any Washington state school. He approached several state legislators until finding Washington State Senator Kevin Ranker, who agreed to sponsor the bill. Two weeks later, the high school student was invited to testify in front of the Washington State Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.
Currently a sophomore at American University, McCullough interns at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He also recently established the American University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team program, a peer education group that provides educational outreach, promotes awareness and serves as an accessible campus resource around the issues of alcohol and drug abuse for fellow students. In February, CADCA recognized McCullough with its 2012 Outstanding Youth Leader Award for his exemplary contributions to his community and the National Youth Leadership Initiative.
