Parents, now it's your turn
Amherst Task Force looks to educate parents on underage drinking
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter
Graduations and proms make for some of the most memorable events in the lives of young people, but the celebrations are too often marred by accidents - the result of underage drinking.

Look for more Amherst Task Force ads like this during the next few weeks in The Amherst Bee. The ads will contain additional statistics on underage drinking.

This year, the Amherst Task Force has joined others in the community to address a new aspect of the problem: the parents.

"Years ago, if alcohol was found at an underage party, officers would confiscate it and pour it out in front of the kids," said John Moslow, chief of the Amherst Police Department. "Now we have a zero-tolerance policy."

If police find a group of underage individuals with alcohol, the alcohol is confiscated for evidence and the parents of the young people are notified by letter.

But what about the parties where alcohol and the parents are present?

"If parents are found to be hosts of one of these parties, they can be charged with child endangerment," Moslow said. "The parents are also liable if the child leaves their house and has a car accident."

On graduation or prom nights, some well-meaning parents purchase limos or hotel rooms for their sons or daughters so that they will not be driving under the influence of alcohol.

"These parents are nice people, but they're naive when it comes to the dangers of alcohol," said Sally Yageric, parent program coordinator for the Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. "Kids drinking today is much different than it used to be."

The "different drinking" that Yageric is referring to is binge drinking, which is becoming a problem in the school systems, even involving students bringing alcohol to school.

"There are parties every weekend where these kids are binge drinking," said Seema Maheshwari, a parent representative of the Amherst Task force. She noted that the problems exist everywhere, not just at a specific school or in a specific area, but all through America

Detective Sgt. Mike Torrillo of the Amherst Police Department noted that underage drinking also puts the rest of the community at risk.

"It takes considerable police force to break up these parties," he said. "And when the kids get angry that their party has been broken up, they tend to cause more problems and that results in additional calls."

Moslow noted that underage drinking also results in hospitalization from both accidents and overindulgence.

"Most teenagers are not experienced in drinking, and they have too much," he said.

"I don't take satisfaction in making this prediction, but I predict some high school student will be seriously injured or killed during the month of May as a result of alcohol use," Moslow continued, noting that this has been a recurring theme throughout the years.

"The police are one part of the solution," Moslow said. "The other part is the parents at home."

The Amherst Task Force has begun an initiative to get parents more involved in combating the underage drinking problem in the community - a problem that is prevalent in all communities across America.

Part of that initiative is the SafeHomes pledge, a signed document for parents to promise to provide a drug- and alcohol-free home for their children and their children's friends, as well as to provide supervision when those young people are present.

The SafeHomes pledge also involves communication between parents to ensure that drugs and alcohol are not being made available.

Another aspect of the initiative is a video titled "Now It's Your Turn," which shows facts about, and examples of, troubling behavior in Amherst's youth.

The video asks parents and community members to think about ways to address the problem of underage drinking.

The task force is currently in search of groups who would be interested in viewing the video and participating in a discussion on how to effectively address this issue.

Presentations can be set up by calling Anne Rohrer, coordinator of the Amherst Task Force Coalition, at 631-7215.

Government officials have also joined the fight against underage drinking.

Assemblyman Jim Hayes,

R-Amherst, and Sen. Mary Lou Rath, R-C-I Williamsville, have both contributed $2,500 to the campaign.

"Underage drinking is dangerous behavior that threatens young people and families in our community," Hayes said. "I am pleased to continue my efforts to win important state funding grants to help educate Amherst teens about this danger and to help promote safe and responsible behavior."

"As a member of both the state Health Committee and the Social Services, Children and Families Committee, I understand how important it is to combat youth underage drinking," Rath said. "I am very proud to have been able to assist the Amherst Task Force for Healthy Community with their Healthy Youth Underage Drinking Campaign."
    Some   facts
  By ninth grade, 49 percent of
Amherst's youth reported having a
drink of alcohol other than a few
sips.
  Of   those   who   reported   having
already used alcohol,
  
    47 percent were ages 13-14
  
    28 percent were ages 11-12
  
      11 percent were ages 9-10
  
      11 percent were under 9
  Of those who reported that their
parents wouldn't be too upset if they
found out they had been drinking,
  
      8 percent were in eighth grade
  
      21 percent were in 10th grade
  
      39 percent were in 12th grade
  Of those who said they had been
to a party where parents or other
adults served alcohol to minors,
  
    16 percent were in eighth grade
  
      29 percent were in 10th grade
  
      50 percent were in 12th grade
  (Supplemental Questions to the
Search Institute Survey of Student
Attitudes and Behaviors Developmental
          Assets: A Profile of Your
Youth, Town of Amherst Schools,
Winter 2005-2006)

                Now   it's   your   turn...
  The Amherst Task Force offers parents the following steps toward ensuring
that their children remain drug- and alcohol-free:
  
      Maintain an open dialogue with your child. Listen and learn what your
child thinks and feels.
  
      Communicate clear and consistent messages. Have a clear "no use of
alcohol or drugs for minors" family rule and enforce it.
  
      Support your child's positive activities. Be an active participant in your
child's world.
  
      Get to know your child's current friends and their families.
  
      Role-play with your child at home regarding situations that will come up
when alcohol and other drugs are available or offered. Give your child practice
in saying "No thanks" and the plan and means to leave.
  
      Be healthy in your own use of alcohol and medication.
  
      Inventory the alcohol in your home and garage. Limit the amount and
access.
  
      Don't close your eyes to a problem your child may have. Seek help.
  
      Talk with other parents of your concerns about their child's behaviors and
activities.
  
      Show affection to your child at every age.