In The NewsFight Back Against Underage Drinking
Originally printed in The Westerly Sun
Thursday, February 19, 2009A story about westerly's "party patrols" in Tuesday's edition has stirred up considerable reaction as most stories involving teens, drugs, alcohol and police inevitably do.
A number of opponents, including those who use The Sun's TalkBack feature, have blasted the idea as heavy handed, even likening it to a police state tactic. Even proponents of the plan will admit that it is a forceful use of police power. But there is a reason to be heavy handed in this case.
This is a real problem in our community, and even more so because too many people will not admit that the problem exists. The town has a dubious distinction, the second highest percentage of underage drinking in the state - a fact from which we cannot hide.
Along with the statistics, which come from a poll of local teens, there is overwhelming evidence to support this point, both anecdotal and in the number of arrests and accidents involving alcohol. This is NOT a victimless crime, and the proof is in the injuries, fatalities, ruined lives and scars left in every corner of our community.
While the problem is clear, how to address the issue continues to remain just out of reach.
Why?
Because parents don't or won't believe their children are involved in such activities. Not my kid. And this coupled with the uneducated notion that getting trashed is just a thing all teens do is a recipe for disaster.
The "party patrols," a joint effort of the Westerly police and the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force, made 81 arrests between July and December, including 68 alcohol-related violations and five for possession of marijuana.
To reiterate - too many parents assume their children don't drink or experiment with drugs. This should be a warning that it isn't just a rumor - the children of our community are getting drunk and high, even many of those who we consider wellbehaved and trustworthy. Among the complaints is that educational and parental efforts should be used instead of stepped-up police action. That sounds like a good idea, but it has already been tried. The task force has spent years reaching out to the community, and has been too often ignored or rejected by those insisting that their children aren't the problem. It has held forums, put up billboards and made commercials. There are other programs, some of them student-initiated, which often fail to gain more than lip service from teens and their parents. The gentle approach is ongoing and WSATF, fortunately, plans to keep trying.
"It's pretty clear that we need to keep up the work so we can make a difference in this town," says Mary Lou Serra, task force coordinator.
But with the paltry response by parents, often actually hosting parties where teens are allowed to drink with the poor logic that it will prevent them from getting into trouble, talking and urging isn't enough on its own.
Parents need to understand that many of these parties are where the trouble ferments, and several of the accidents and injuries we hear about stem directly from these misguided efforts to rein in teen trouble. They become drawing points for those seeking alcohol and drugs, and for every teen who becomes drunk at a party, there is the question as to how they will get home safely.
There are parents who have recognized this. Many believe themselves helpless when faced with teenaged rebellion. We can't accept that.
One TalkBack comment said, "parents SEE what they want to SEE. HEAR what they want to HEAR." It's time that they see what's really going on, and the young people in town also need to see it. We not only believe that the "party patrol" concept is a good idea, we would like to see some teeth in the penalties. We cannot approve of under-aged drinking. Those arrested at these parties should lose their licenses, or have them delayed. And parents should consider tough penalties of their own for underage drinkers, taking away their keys until they understand the importance of this problem.
Anything less is a disservice to your children.