MADD Spirit Educates and Empowers Teens to Steer Clear of Underage Substance Use and Riding with Impaired Drivers During Homecoming
August 12, 2025 — Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is introducing the newest underage substance use prevention program, MADD Spirit, in high schools across the country this Fall 2025. This powerful, homecoming-themed substance use prevention program is designed to ensure that every teen enjoys a memorable and safe homecoming season. The presentations will allow students to hear a real-life story from victims and survivors who share raw, unforgettable accounts of how underage substance use and impaired driving alter lives.
The program also features an interactive segment where students use alcohol-impairment goggles, allowing them to experience firsthand the disorienting visual effects of alcohol, reinforcing the importance of making safe choices. Combining the hands-on experience of the goggles exercise with the grounding story of a real-life victim/survivor story teaches teenagers the gravity of the issue of impaired driving.
“MADD Spirit is about saving lives and empowering teens to make smart, life-saving choices through education and awareness,” said Catrina Clemens, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at MADD. “This program has the power to change perspectives and prevent the devastating consequences of underage substance use and riding with impaired drivers. Equipping teens with the knowledge and information they need to make safe and informed decisions could be the difference between a joyful memory or a heartbreaking outcome.”
MADD Spirit presentations are led by trained and certified MADD Facilitators who engage students in dialogue about the dangers of underage drinking and cannabis use and medication misuse. Students are encouraged to commit to having MADD Spirit during homecoming season including acknowledging: I deserve to make choices that keep me safe and healthy, I am capable of being a positive influence on my friends by not using substances, and I am worthy of coming home safe this homecoming by never riding with an impaired driver.
Underage drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths each year and can lead to early addiction as well as many other dangerous outcomes, according to the CDC.
Kids who start drinking are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash,” Clemens said. “The need for proactive education and prevention has never been greater. MADD Spirit is our response — a call to action for young people to prioritize safety.”
The MADD Spirit program incorporates eye-opening demonstrations to drive its lifesaving message home. Alcohol Impairment Goggles are an effective tool for teaching teens how alcohol impairs their abilities and highlights the dangers of driving under the influence.
Community support and partnerships are vital to preparing students for a memorable and fun homecoming season as we collectively prevent underage substance use and impaired driving. Parents, teachers, administrators, and other caring adults are encouraged to reach out to the local MADD office to request a MADD Spirit presentation for a high school in your community.
Opportunities to partner with MADD Spirit include:
- Inviting a trained and certified MADD Facilitator to present MADD Spirit to an audience of high school students at your school, club, or extracurricular program.
- Providing in-kind donations, such as giveaways, for presentations to students.
- Donating or becoming a sponsor to support MADD Spirit.
- Volunteering with MADD to help prevent underage substance use.
For more details, visit madd.org/maddspirit.
Two out of three people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime. Drunk driving fatalities have increased by 22% since 2019. In 2023, 12,429 lives were lost to alcohol-related crashes. A transformative solution is needed to eliminate impaired driving. MADD looks forward to the day when every new vehicle contains anti-drunk driving technology, as required by the HALT Drunk Driving Law, to put an end to this crime. Until then, MADD must address the problem with advocacy, education, and equitable enforcement.
About MADD
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving for good. Since 1980, MADD has helped reduce drunk driving deaths in America by more than 40%, saved nearly 500,000 lives, and served nearly one million victims and survivors. The organization is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Drunk Driving Law that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit https://madd.org/ and follow MADD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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