Last night I attended a very informative meeting sponsored by S.P.A.R.K.(Students & Parents Against Risk to our Kids). This group seeks to raise awareness about many issues that pose risk to teens. They are concerned with all kinds of things from Internet danger, eating related illnesses, drugs, and alcohol. Last night was focused on alcohol and drug use issue among teens in Southlake.
Here are some of my notes:
It doesn't matter how good of a parent you are, and how good your child is, the will be tempted to use drugs and alcohol at some point. It's starts in 7th grade, and only gets more intense from there on up.
One local police officer was present who works with teens every day at the schools. He said that teens are exposed to the temptations of drugs and alcohol in some form EVERY DAY!!!!
Other notes:
- From the police officer, "Friends will make you or break you in high school."
- Most popular drugs: alcohol (number 1), inhalants, prescription meds
- Most common place to use these: at home by far, then at parties.
- All types of kids use alcohol, a quote from the police officer, "If you took all the kids out of the National Honor Society who use, there would be no NHS."
- Parents, you have to give your kids an excuse to say NO to their friends and these temptations.
- The cool thing in Southlake is for parents to host a party, and serve all the kids alcohol. Yes, these wonderful parents take up car keys. But, THIS IS ILLEGAL. It is against the law for you to serve any other kids alcohol. And any kid found with alcohol will receive a minor in possession.
- Penalty for a parent hosting this type of party: $4000 fine, up to 6 months jail, 6 months suspended license.
- If a parent does host one of these parties, and then a kid gets hurt, alcohol poisoning, or drives off and kills someone, that parent is liable.
- Minor in possession, or consumption: $500 fine, 8-40 hours community service, loss of drivers license for 30 days.
- A minor cannot go to a party and be the "designated driver". That is against the law, and they will receive a MIP.
- Other problems that are associate with teen parties where alcohol is present: assault, alcohol poisoning, sexual assault, property damage, drug use, rape.
- New fad, "pharmy party" - kids go to a party, swipe a bottle of prescription medication from their parents cabinet, dump them in a huge bowl like jelly beans, and start popping the pills.
- Most parents just don't know or care about teens and alcohol. S.P.A.R.K. held a conference on eating disorders and Internet dangers and had 400 people attend. At the one on alcohol 22 people came. (including me)
- If parents don't educate their kids about these issues at young age, they will be educated by other kids and peer pressure.
