Providing what’s best for children
Parents play a major role in their children’s choices about alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. In a recent national survey of parents and teens by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, one-third of teen partygoers have been to parties where teens were drinking alcohol, smoking pot, or using cocaine, ecstasy or prescription drugs while a parent was present. By age 17, 46 percent of teens have been at such parties where parents were present.
At the local level, 2008 Maine Youth Drug and Alcohol Use survey findings indicate 39 percent of Aroostook County youth are at risk for substance abuse because of perceived availability of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.
What’s the big deal about hosting underage drinking parties for youth – isn’t it safer to host a party and take the keys than for youth to drink unsupervised?
The answer to this question is no. Only one-third of underage drinking deaths involve auto crashes. The remaining two-thirds involve alcohol poisoning, homicides, suicides and unintentional injuries such as burns, drownings and falls. Taking away the car keys doesn’t make underage drinking safe. In fact, tragic accidents in our own county have occurred after well meaning adults supplied alcohol to minors.
Most of us want what is best for our children. Recognizing this, ASAP will be submitting articles over the next few weeks which will provide local stories, teen perspectives and practical tips that will give parents the information they need to protect themselves and their teens from engaging in underage drinking.
This article was brought to you by ASAP Coalition Alcohol Workgroup members: Aroostook Chiefs of Police, CADET, Community Voices, Healthy Aroostook, Power of Prevention, and WAGM-TV.
For more information about ASAP and its prevention efforts call 521-2408 or visit asapcoalition.com.
