By Brandon Matthews
Alabaster is a community that invests in its future, and For Tomorrow is supporting that effort by serving as the city’s substance prevention and education program. Since its launch, For Tomorrow has been working alongside partners like Compact and Alabaster City Schools to prevent youth substance use and promote healthier lifestyles for students.
One of the most important tools we use to guide this work is the Pride Survey. This comprehensive survey is distributed every two years to students in 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grades across the Alabaster City School System and Day Program. The Pride Survey helps us measure behaviors, perceptions, and attitudes around alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
This information is important as it allows us to track substance use trends among students, understand how safe students feel in school, and identify areas where prevention programs and education are making a difference.
The most recent survey, administered in May 2025, shows significant progress in the work being done in our community. Across the board, we are seeing declines in student substance use, particularly in the substances we target most closely: vaping, alcohol, and marijuana.
- E-cigarettes (Vaping): Annual use dropped from 15.3% to 9.8%, and monthly use decreased from 12% to 6.9%.
- Alcohol: Annual use declined from 22.5% to 16.8%, and monthly use fell from 10.5% to 7.5%.
- Marijuana: Annual use decreased from 9.6% to 5.8%, while monthly use dropped from 5.8% to 3.2%.
These numbers aren’t just statistics, but positive decisions being made by students right here in our community. The downward trend is an encouraging sign that prevention efforts are working.
The progress we make would not be possible without the partnership of the community. Compact, Alabaster City Schools, Alabaster PD, parents, and community leaders, all help to provide education, resources, and support. Together, we are creating a culture where students are empowered to make healthy choices and feel supported in their schools and community.
While we take a moment to celebrate progress, we recognize that prevention is an ongoing journey. I invite you to join us in doing today, for tomorrow. If you would like to learn how you can make a difference with us, visit AlabasterForTomorrow.com
Brandon Matthews is the Alabaster for Tomorrow Program Director.