DERRY — Alcohol is the most used and abused drug among America's teenagers.
That frightening statistic, according to the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, is one important reason youth and adults gathered on Wednesday night for a town meeting discussion in Derry.
The Youth Advisory Board of the Community Alliance for Teen Safety (CATS), hosted the event, led by students and adults who are working to make a difference in the area to keep youth away from the dangers of underage drinking.
The event coincided with a nationwide effort to help communities in their efforts to stop underage drinking and get awareness out about the dangers of this behavior on young people and their families.
More than 1,600 town hall meetings are planned across the country through the end of this month, all designed to highlight steps communities can take to combat the problem, including brainstorming possible solutions.
A panel of state and professional experts joined CATS' representatives to give personal perspectives on the issue of underage drinking and all the problems and consequences that could happen if a teen got behind the wheel of a car, or tried to purchase alcohol and transport it home.
Youth advisory member Ivan Bochkov welcomed the participants and began the session with some staggering statistics about just how many teens are drinking and at what age the dangerous behaviors begin.
Panelists included Sgt. Eric Kester and Capt. Vern Thomas, Derry Police Department; Eddie Edwards, chief, License and Enforcement, NH Liquor Commission; Mary Ann Cooney, director, Division of Public Health Services; Cyndi Desrosiers, regional coordinator for Substance Abuse Program; Deb Boniface, student assistance counselor, Derry Cooperative School District, and Marissa Tremblay, Pinkerton Academy senior, youth advisory member.
Each panelist gave his or her own take on the problem of underage drinking and agreed it was a big problem with serious ramifications.
For Sgt. Kester and Capt. Thomas, the danger of being on the road while drinking and what could happen to an underage driver if they are caught either under the influence or transporting alcohol, sparked the discussion.
"That one decision to put a beer in your pocket and walk down to your friend's house has a lot of ramifications," Kester said.
Consider driver's license revocations, arrests, steep fines, and even jail time, Kester added, and it all adds up to being a dangerous situation.
"[You could be] put into a cell block, and having to call Mom and Dad to go to court," he said. "It's a tremendous risk for one decision."
Twenty-seven-year police veteran Thomas said he has seen a lot over the years and said alcohol and cars are a "horrible combination."
Edwards spoke about the responsibility of the parents and adults who oversee their children and often are not the best of role models where alcohol consumption is concerned.
"It's not about the youth, it's about adult behavior," he said, pointing out the state's "Buyers Beware" program that targets adults and behaviors that can lead to dangerous situations with their youth and alcohol.
Desrosiers said she has worked with the youth advisory members and accompanied several of the teens on a trip to Washington, D.C. for a national coalition event. She said the youth efforts in Derry and surrounding areas was commendable and CATS should be proud of its younger advisory board.
She urged parents to stay involved in the lives of their children and not ease up at all on establishing rules and responsibilities."
"Kids are four times less likely to drink if they think they'll be seeing you when they get home," she said.
Boniface agreed parenting was a key with youth issues like drinking and drug abuse and she said the Derry school district currently integrates programs for middle-schoolers on the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use issues and dangerous behaviors.
During the meeting, CATS' members congratulated the winners of its Community Contest for Prevention and Planning, a community-based contest to help determine potential program models for strengthening youth and families. Winners were Cathy Silverman, adult winner, and Maddie Smith, youth winner.
CATS began in 1996 following a string of teenage fatalities on area roadways and continues its work to help keep teens safe and teach parents about high-risk and dangerous behaviors like drinking and driving, drug and alcohol abuse, and bullying. The Youth Advisory group started with 11 teens in 2004 and works within the coalition to spread awareness about youth issues and encourage healthy choices among teens. The town meeting was one of many activities the group plans as part of its mission.
"So what can we do to stop this?" Bochkov asked. "In a word, communicate. Talk to your parents, talk to your kids."
Bochkov added the youth advisory group is planning special events around Pinkerton's prom time next month to keep the awareness strong about the dangers of underage drinking.
CATS' executive director Sue Centner thanked everyone for participating in the town meeting and urged everyone to stay involved in the lives of their children.
"Community involvement does make a difference," she said. She urged parents to consider joining CATS community "Safe Homes" network, where parents sign a pledge to be a "safe" home and to not ever allow unsupervised activities to happen.
Bochkov reminded everyone to somehow make a difference and go home and spread the message.
"Youth counts," he said. "Everyone please, tell at least one person you went to this meeting and you talked about this. Just spread the word."
For information about CATS work in the community, visit the group online at www.catsevents.org.
Tips to make sure your child doesn't get alcohol from your home
— Don't allow your child to "taste" drinks.
— Make sure older siblings and close family members know that providing alcohol to your underage child is not acceptable and is a crime.
— It is against the law to host a party and allow underage youth to drink in your home.
— Talk to your child early to reduce the chances of them using drugs or alcohol.
Source: New Hampshire State Liquor Commission's "Buyers Beware" program
