The Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station has reported a significant decrease in juvenile drug arrests since 2012. From 2012 to 2015 the juvenile drug arrest numbers were reduced 52.9 percent from 155 to 73. The City’s Drug Free Youth in Town program began in 2012.
“DFYIT was started as an effort to ensure the health of our local youth and educate them on the dangers associated with drug-related activities,” said Mayor Bob Kellar. “Seeing such a sharp drop off in juvenile drug arrests since the program started is a very encouraging statistic as we continue to reach out to junior high and high schoolers in Santa Clarita.”
Despite the City’s population increase from approximately 179,000 in 2012 to approximately 185,000 in 2015, juvenile drug arrests have continued to fall, with 124 arrests in 2013, 91 in 2014 and 73 in 2015.
DFYIT is a free, school-based, voluntary, anti-drug club for junior high school and high school teens. The clubs are run by kids, for kids, allowing teens to thrive in a drug-free setting with like-minded peers. The City launched the program along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County Fifth Supervisorial District and the William S. Hart High School District in 2012 with the goal of providing a positive peer network for Santa Clarita teens that supports healthy choices and a drug-free lifestyle.
Since its launch, DFYIT has started clubs in 15 schools in Santa Clarita Valley and has 2,680 students enrolled. DYFIT students are involved in community service projects, attend educational workshops and summits, enjoy social events with friends and participate in random drug tests to proudly proclaim their drug-free status.
“The DFYIT program is slowly changing the culture on junior high and high school campuses by celebrating youth who choose to live a drug free life,” said City Manager Ken Striplin.
For additional details on the DFYIT program, contact Janine Prado, Human Services Administrator for the City’s Community Services Division, at (661) 250-3716 or visit dfyitscv.com.
As a follow-up to the City of Santa Clarita’s successful Immature Teen Brain on Pot symposium held in August 2015, the City will host Marijuana: Hidden in Plain Sight on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 6 p.m. in Council Chamber at Santa Clarita City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard.…
A new art exhibit presented by DFYIT will be on display from Thursday, Aug. 11, to Thursday, Nov. 10, in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard. “The Art of Saying No” is an artistic interpretation of what it means to live a drug free lifestyle by…
Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
My son, Matthew was Vice President of this group when he was a junior & senior at Canyon High. He is now a freshman at College of the Canyons and plans on going to UCLA for his nursing degree. I’m so very proud of him as well as all the other students involved. Peace & Love to all!
American Sports Entertainment Company and the LA Kings, collectively referred to as JV Ice at The Cube, are seeking proposals to license restaurant and bar space at The Cube – Ice and Entertainment Center, powered by FivePoint Valencia.
Time is running out to pre-register for the annual city of Santa Clarita Neighborhood Cleanup in celebration of Earth Day, scheduled for Saturday, April 19.
The city of Santa Clarita Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission will meet 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at Council Chambers at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., 1st Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
City of Santa Clarita residents can dispose of unwanted household hazardous and electronic waste at a free Household Hazardous/E-Waste Collection Event on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
California State University, Northridge’s Department of Theatre will host Native Voices, the only professional theatre company in the United States devoted to bringing Indigenous playwrights, 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, to perform “To Indigeneity and Beyond!”
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced that Anthony Eslao, a senior at Golden Valley High School, has been awarded the distinguished California Scholarship Federation Seymour Award. Additionally, Matthew Thomas De Guzman, also from Golden Valley, has been recognized as a Seymour Award finalist.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo’s bill, D-Chatsworth, the Expediting State Housing Permits Act (AB 301) was passed as part of a major package of housing legislation aimed at tackling the state’s housing crisis.
The Department of Water Resources conducted the all-important April snow survey on Wednesday, April 2, the fourth measurement of the season at Phillips Station.
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites you to an elegant evening of wine, dinner and song atthe annual Cabaret & Cabernet benefit “The Beat Goes On,” on Saturday, April 26, 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
For the third year in a row, The Master's University's basketball player Kaleb Lowery has been named an NAIA All-American, this time on the First Team.
Lief Labs, a premier formulation and product development innovator and manufacturer of dietary supplements, has announced the launch of its 2025 Brand Boost Guide which offers tips, guidance and resources to support dietary supplement brands in identifying potential sales growth and risk management strategies.
The Master's University men's volleyball team completed the sweep of its old rival with a 25-11, 25-21, 25-19 controlling of the Arizona Christian Firestorm Saturday afternoon, March 29 in Glendale, Arizona.
Arbor Day is more than just a celebration, it’s a commitment to our future. Every year, communities across the world come together to plant trees, promote environmental stewardship and enhance the landscapes that make our cities and towns more beautiful and livable.
Among several important issues presented at its Tuesday, April 8 regular board meeting, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear recommendations on establishing a unified permitting authority for the Altadena One-Stop Recovery Permitting Center relating to properties impacted by the Eaton Fire.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a nationwide initiative that highlights the dangers of distracted driving and promotes safer driving habits.
One of the things that makes the city of Santa Clarita such a great place to live, work and play, is the wide range of amenities we offer our community.
Los Angeles Health Services has released its 2024 Annual Report, showcasing a year of exemplary achievements in patient care, innovation, and community health.
American Sports Entertainment Company and the LA Kings, collectively referred to as JV Ice at The Cube, are seeking proposals to license restaurant and bar space at The Cube – Ice and Entertainment Center, powered by FivePoint Valencia.
The College of the Canyons Foundation will host its third annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, April 27, in the college’s West P.E. (WPEK) gymnasium, located on the Valencia campus.
The LA County Arts Internship Program will invest over $1.6 million to fund 228 university and community college internships, providing students with paid on-the-job experience in the arts and creative sector at over 170 nonprofit organizations starting this summer. Applications for interested students are open now.
SCV Water received three prestigious awards from the California Association of Public Information Officials at an awards luncheon on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
When Abraham Martinez-Peña enrolled at California State University, Northridge as a film major, he knew the path he set out for himself — to be a professional comedy writer for film and television — would not be an easy one. Hollywood’s hiring reputation was more “who you know,” than “what you can do.”
After a nine-month process pursuant to requirements set forth in California’s Proposition 218, the SCV Water Board of Directors concluded its rate study and voted to implement proposed rate changes following a public hearing on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
6 Comments
Good job teens…..
So kids are gettin better at not getting caught, yeah good job teens
naw…don’t believe it.
God job….
Probably in part because of Prop 47. You would have to look at misdemeanor stats to know for certain.
My son, Matthew was Vice President of this group when he was a junior & senior at Canyon High. He is now a freshman at College of the Canyons and plans on going to UCLA for his nursing degree. I’m so very proud of him as well as all the other students involved. Peace & Love to all!