Eating dinner as a family on Sept. 24 can have a lifetime of benefits
It has been said we all get the chance to go over fool's hill. Some get over and suffer little, some get over and suffer much and some never get over at all.

I am sharing this because Family Day - Monday, Sept. 24- allows all of us an opportunity to do all we can to get our youth safely over fool's hill.

Family Day is a day to eat dinner with your family. It seems absurd that we even need to talk about something like this. Many of you do eat together regularly, but there are still a large number of families who, for one reason or another, are not able to enjoy family meals together.

Well this is the day when you make it a point to take a break from whatever keeps you from the table and spend time with your family. The 2006 Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University report, "The Importance of Family Dinners III," found that, compared to kids who have fewer than three family dinners per week, children and teens who have frequent family dinners are at 70 percent lower risk for substance abuse, one third less likely to try alcohol, half as likely to try cigarettes or marijuana, and half as likely to get drunk monthly.

Family Day, now in its sixth year, has been so rewarding for so many families that they now regularly schedule meals together and the whole family looks forward to it.

September is always such a busy month, with school, sports, music, PTA, etc., that it is sometimes hard to just sit and catch up with each other. Parents, there is a lot going on out there that I am sure you would like to protect your children from.

For instance, did you know that each day more than 13,000 children and teens take their first drink? Or more that 5 million high school students, almost a third, admit to binge drinking at least once a month?

More than 40 percent of America's teens - nearly 10 million - can buy marijuana within a day and 20 percent - nearly 5 million - can get it in an hour or less. Illegal prescription drug use is at an all-time high with more people abusing prescription drugs than inhalants, cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogens combined.

I hope that caught your attention because now I would like to share some things that we can do to protect your children.

Keep in mind that a child who reaches age 21 without smoking, using illegal drugs or abusing alcohol is virtually certain never to do so and that children and teens that begin drinking before age 15 are four time more likely to become alcohol dependent than those who do not drink before 21.

So the goal is 21! Can you stand firm for that long? Sure you can! And the best way to do that is to keep the lines of communication open and flowing during your child's adolescent years.

Acknowledge that marijuana, alcohol and tobacco are substances that are out there and that many people use them. This is key to developing your credibility.

In the case of nicotine and prescription drugs, explain that they are also "abusable" and should be treated the same as alcohol and illegal drugs. Listen carefully to your child. Educate yourself so you can answer his or her questions. As children get older, their questions become more difficult to answer, so be prepared.

Listening carefully shows not only that you care, but also that you understand what they are saying. Peer pressure may play a pivotal role in a child's decision to use drugs, drink or smoke. Encourage your child not to give in to peer pressure, to be his/her own person and to make their own decisions.

Family meals are the perfect time to talk to your kids and to listen to what's on their mind. For conversation starters, ask each family member to be responsible for one topic. Once they see how easy this is, you'll have no problem getting a conversation going - just make sure that everyone at the table participates.

Adolescent substance use does not have to continue to play havoc with children and their families. Let's do all we can to get our children over fool's hill with as little damage as possible. Family Day is a start. For more information on Family Day, contact Sally Yageric at the Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse at 839-1157.