Teens under the influence of alcohol - and parents

Warwick — Last month, an Illinois judge sentenced a suburban Chicago couple to probation, community service, thousands of dollars in fines and 14 days in jail for the husband. Their crime? Allowing their underage son and his friends to drink in their home. They were convicted of violating the state liquor control act, endangering the life of a child, and of obstructing justice by lying to police. As a result, two 18-year-olds who attended the party in their basement last Oct. 13 died in a car crash. The driver of the car had a high blood-alcohol level. Even though the parents denied knowing the kids were drinking in their home, they were convicted. Prosecutors argued that it should have been evident to the parents. Mixed messages Drinking and kids has always been an issue, according to Warwick police Lt. Thomas Maslanka. One difference now is that many parents are allowing parties in their homes as long as the kids put their keys in a basket and promise not to drive home. The problem there, according to Maslanka, is that after a night of drinking, some kids don’t always keep their promise not to drive. Even without getting behind the wheel, lots can happen to harm the kid. “A kid who has been drinking can decide to walk home in the dark and get hit by a car,” Maslanka said. “Being impaired, they can fall down stairs and be seriously hurt. Just taking their keys is not enough.” Take a look at the police blotter. It is not an uncommon occurrence to find an underage driver in a crash arrested for driving drunk. Some parents think it is better to allow kids to drink alcohol in their home rather than outside when they will be driving. This sends a mixed message, Maslanka said. “Allowing underage drinking promotes it,” he said. “You can’t say it is okay today, but not tomorrow. When you say okay today, they see it as okay period. It’s like you are saying ‘It is okay to drink.’” The New York DePaul Addiction Services backs that up. It sends the message to teens that they do not have to obey the law. Allowing kids to drink is illegal, unsafe, and unhealthy. Unfortunately, kids are starting to do things earlier than they did a generation or two ago. While drinking and pot smoking may have started in high school, now it is not uncommon for kids in middle school and elementary school to begin these risky behaviors. Five Middle School students suspended Warwick Valley Middle School’s seventh- and eighth-grade dance two weeks ago was a case in point. Five students were caught under the influence of alcohol at the dance. All five admitted to drinking beforehand, according to Warwick Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Greenhall. Each received a five-day, out-of-school suspension. And, while dealing with this type of thing comes with the territory, Greenhall said it’s usually with kids who are in high school, not 12 years old. “That’s what is so difficult,” Greenhall said. “These are just kids.” Warwick’s Code of Conduct dictates the punishment for being caught under the influence or with drugs or alcohol, both on school property and off. Greenhall said he hopes kids learn not to behave this way, first for the impact drugs and alcohol can have on their lives long term, and second because the punishment is just not worth it. All students in the district will be suspended for five days, require a conference with the parents, and give the police notification if found with drugs or alcohol or who comes to school under the influence. In addition, athletes in Warwick schools will lose at least two weeks of eligibility, get a referral to a drug and alcohol counselor, and be required to perform 10 hours of community service for a first offense. A second offense gets a student booted for at least four week from any activities, a mandated, formal evaluation with a counselor, and 20 hours of community service. Do it again, and the student is looking at a calendar year’s suspension from activities, mandated evaluation with a drug and alcohol counselor, and 30 hours of community service. Greenhall also said that kids caught with drugs or alcohol on school grounds receive longer-term suspensions. What can be done? So, what can parents do? According to the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence: • Get to know your kids’ friends ... and their parents. Make sure the parents are on the same page that you are in regard to serving alcohol to kids. • Encourage alcohol- and drug-free activities and parties. • Refuse to supply alcohol to kids. • Be at home when your teen has a party ... and make yourself known. Don’t let kids hang out in the basement when you are two floors up. • Make sure others are not bringing alcohol into your home. • Call 911 when you suspect an underage party is taking place. Maslanka stressed that parents really need to think about what is going on out there and be proactive in keeping your kids educated and safe. “I’m not saying anyone should tell a parent how to raise their child,” Maslanka said. “Serving alcohol to their own kids or others really opens them up to a lot of liability.” Just like the couple in Illinois, parents can do jail time and pay fines in New York. In addition, they can be sued and lose their property. Their kids can be petitioned to family court as a person in need of supervision. Worse, though, would be dealing with the loss of a child who just left your house after drinking. “Bottom line is that parents need to talk to their kids at a young age,” Maslanka said. “Talk. Have an open dialogue about it. Don’t skirt the issue. And listen to them. They are being pressured by their peers and they get a different viewpoint from their friends. It’s always been that way. But your kids should trust you enough to come and talk to you. They have their whole life ahead of them. Tell them to be a kid.”