News
May is a month full of excitement. The days get longer, the air gets warmer, and for many, thoughts turn to celebrations as the school year winds down and graduation ceremonies begin in seven days.
During this time of celebration, it is important for parents to continue to provide their teens with good parenting. Although these students are ready to start making decisions on their own, they still look to their parents for guidance, and this is a time when parents should not relinquish their authority.
Parents should sit down with their teens and discuss the dangers of illegal underage drinking.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, about 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die every year as a result of underage drinking — from crashes, homicides and suicides. Those who drink before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop dependence than those who start after 21.
The most recent results of the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey indicate that 30 percent of Pasco County teens reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, a figure slightly below the statewide percentage. The good news is that based on that figure, 70 percent of Pasco County teens did not drink alcohol, reducing their current risk of injury.
Talk to your kids about how to refuse alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests the following responses:
Say, "No thanks," "I don't feel like it." Or, "Alcohol's not my thing."
Be assertive in refusing. Walk away from the situation. Find something else to do with other friends.
More information for teens can be found at thecoolspot.gov.
The Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention of Pasco County (ASAP Pasco) is Pasco's community anti-drug coalition. The coalition has sponsored the "Parents Who Host Lose the Most" media campaign against underage drinking.
The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of the laws against underage drinking, as well as the consequences of providing alcohol to underage people.
For information or to join the coalition, visit pascoasap.com.
Teen drinking is not a rite of passage. Teen drinking is not inevitable. Teen drinking is illegal, unsafe and unhealthy. As a reminder, open house parties where alcohol is accessible to teenagers are also illegal.
Should you become aware of a situation involving adults sanctioning underage drinking, call the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. It is our responsibility as members of the Pasco County community to come together in an effort to keep our children safe.
By working together, we can secure the bright futures of our precious youth.
Sherri Dunham is a supervisor in the Student Services Department of the Pasco County School District.
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