In The NewsLow Turnout For Events Is No Reason To Stop Spreading Task Force's Important Message
Originally printed in The Westerly Sun
Thursday, October 23, 2008Some people wonder why, given the low parent turnout for the Family Forum on Underage Drinking held recently at the Westerly Middle School (sponsored by the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force in cooperation with Westerly schools and police), we keep holding these types of events if people don't show up.
The answer is pretty simple. Underage drinking - and frighteningly underage drinking and driving - is a serious problem in communities across the country, and Westerly is far from immune as we all know too well.
The Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force simply will not stop providing education, support, information and help until it we've solved the problem. But parents need to understand the facts so they can learn, and then parent their kids by modeling, watching and teaching. (Our Web site www.westerlysatf. org has recently been updated to include a lot of really good information for parents.
Some statistics are tough to hear, like from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for example: Car crashes - more likely than not alcohol-related - are the leading cause of death for 15-to-20-yearolds nationally.
In a report provided by NHTSA called "Parents Who Host, Lose The Most," there are very disturbing, but important statistics that parents must be aware of: ? Almost 70 percent of teens say they get alcohol from family and friends, with, or without their OK.
? Parents, especially of teens over the age of 18, are more likely to allow parties in their homes where alcohol is provided or available, like a right-of-passage graduation party. Amistake, all professionals agree. The thinking is their kids will be safer if they drink at home. But if that teen, or anyone that attends the party, drinks and drives, the parent can be held civilly and criminally liable in the event of a crash where there's, God forbid, serious injury or death.
? Aparent who knowingly provides alcohol - or even in cases where the parties are not supervised and the parent claims he or she didn't know - is all a prosecutor or private lawyer needs. Like leaving your high school senior home alone for the weekend. Parents can be held responsible even if they are not home when underage drinking happens on their property.
We're launching our "Underage Drinking: Not A Minor Problem" campaign in an effort to educate the community on the dangers of teen drinking and driving, and the other serious consequences associated with underage drinking including the connection between drinking and very risky behaviors as well as the very real potential for other substance use and abuse and, in far too many sad cases, addiction.
You'll see our ads in The Sun, on local billboards, on cable TV. You'll be hearing from our Youth Task Force, growing larger every day, with their successful Penny Wars campaign and other events. We're still here after 20 years, and we're going to continue our efforts because we believe that communities working together to solve this problem can make a difference.
We're in. Are you?
Mary Lou Serra Coordinator of the Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force