Family Service Madison PICADA AODA PREVENTION NEWSLETTER MAY 2018 APRIL/MAY: PROM AND GRADUATION CEREMONIES

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1 Family Service Madison PICADA AODA PREVENTION NEWSLETTER MAY 2018 APRIL/MAY: PROM AND GRADUATION CEREMONIES (Based on an article from the WI Bar Assoc.) Spring in Wisconsin: Ice disappears, robins return from hiatus, and the crack of the bat resonates at Milwaukee s Miller Park. Another iconic springtime tradition is high school prom, when many of the more than 60,000 high school students will don formal attire to celebrate and reminisce. In the ensuing weeks, high school students will also attend graduation parties. Usually these festive events are unforgettable as the optimistic denouement of high school and exciting harbinger of future potential. Yet the normally idyllic gatherings can also be unforgettable for a far more somber reason: the tragic consequences of underage drinking, most notably fatal crashes and violent crimes. The approach of prom and graduation celebrations, and the possibility of tragedy anytime there is underage drinking, warrants passing on this warning: adults it is against the law to host prom or graduation festivities where you are providing alcohol to children that are not your own. And there should never be a carefree view of the prevalence of underage drinking, underage persons ease of access to alcohol, and some adults acceptance of youth drinking under the guise of nostalgia and tradition. Knowledge of, and adherence to, the laws attendant to underage drinking can help ensure that for those students attending celebrations, the events can be some of the best of their life and not the last of their life.

2 Based on an Article by Cheryl Gill, Criminal Defense Lawyer, La Crosse WI. For more information on underage drinking laws in Wisconsin It s prom season, and soon it will be graduation season as well a time of celebration and milestones where adolescence and adulthood converge. With the merriment, however, comes the temptation to include adult beverages. And parents often fall victim to the bait, just like the teens they are obliged to protect. Wisconsin families are at particular risk. Our state boasts the highest rate of underage drinking in the nation, with roughly half of all high school students having consumed alcohol and a third having gone on at least one binge. And in Wisconsin, the most common violation of the law is underage drinking. To keep your kids and yourself safe from legal consequences, not to mention the hassle and heartache of much worse things that can happen when minors consume alcohol, here are some important tips for parents and kids. Know the rules. In Wisconsin, parents may provide alcohol to their own children but no other minors. That means if you re hosting a party where alcohol is served to kids other than your own, you are violating the law. Even if you didn t provide the alcohol, if you don t take steps to stop it, you re still liable. Understand the penalties. Penalties in Wisconsin for providing alcohol to minors begin at $500 for first offenses and can reach as high as $10,000, a nine-month jail term and suspension of your license. Far worse, should a child be injured or killed as a result of drinking at your party, you could carry the emotional consequences for the rest of your life. Avoid open parties. Have a guest list and stick to it. Don t allow your child to send invitations via , Facebook or another means where it can be disseminated to a large group of people. If you do invite a large number of guests, welcome other parents to help chaperone. Don t allow return guests. If guests leave the party, don t allow them to return. They may have left to get alcohol. Remove alcohol from the location. You may have a fine wine collection or beer in the fridge for yourself, but before party time, lock it up or remove it from the premises altogether.

3 Parents Talk With Your High School Grads About Celebrating Graduation Safely Graduation is a time to celebrate. But before your high school seniors begin their parties, take the time to talk with them about keeping events alcohol-free it just may save a life. It's About Your Teen... A teenager s brain is still developing, and it is very sensitive to alcohol s effects on judgment and decision-making. Tragedies can and do happen, so underage drinking should not be a part of any celebration. Stop believing it s about YOU! Get the facts...it might just save a life! The Effects of Alcohol Can Be Deceptive... If you are asked to explain the reasons behind your rules, you can describe the effects of alcohol on the human body: When people drink alcohol, they may temporarily feel elated and happy, but they should not be fooled. As blood alcohol content rises, the effects on the body and the potential risks multiply. Inhibitions and memory become affected, so people may say and do things that they will regret later and possibly not remember doing at all. Decision-making skills are affected. When they drink, some people may become restless and aggressive. They may be at greater risk for having an alcohol-related traffic crash, getting into fights, or making unwise decisions about sex. Coordination and physical control are also impacted. When drinking leads to loss of balance, slurred speech, and blurred vision, even normal activities can become more dangerous. Consuming too much alcohol can also lead to death. If people drink too much, they will eventually get sleepy and pass out. Reflexes like gagging and breathing can be suppressed. That means they could vomit and choke, or just stop breathing completely.

4 A Word About Alcohol Overdose Thousands of students are transported to the emergency room each year for alcohol overdoses, which occur when high levels of alcohol suppress the nervous and respiratory systems. Signs of this dangerous condition can include: Slow or irregular breathing; Vomiting; Mental confusion, stupor, loss of consciousness, or coma; and Hypothermia or low body temperature, bluish or pale skin. An alcohol overdose can lead to permanent brain damage or death, so a person showing any of these signs requires immediate medical attention. If you or your graduates notice any of these signs, don t wait. Call 911 if you suspect an alcohol overdose. Think About It! Drinking to celebrate graduation can result in vandalism, arrests, sexual assaults, trips to the emergency room, alcohol-related traffic crashes, and worse. Drinking by teens can put them and their friends in real danger. Ask them to consider this question: Is that any way to celebrate? Talking With Your Graduate... It is critical to talk with your graduate because research shows that parents do make a difference. By serving as positive role models, talking to other parents and your teens, supervising parties to make sure no alcohol is served, and supporting alcohol-free school celebrations, you can help prevent a lifechanging mistake. celebration shouldn t end in tragedy. Remember... Tell your graduate to play it safe and party right and alcohol-free at graduation. Because a well-deserved

5 These photos are to show that we may not always know where our children are and whether they are obeying the rules regarding alcohol.

6 F H T R A M S E Y K F Y G E Y G A G D L P H E A L E L Q D R N R Q E A H R U C S T C U E A I D C N I S A M C I A O M T N M W O I C H T D O M L M S A I R O M M E O S W M O E P C C D O R M R P N H O P D N E H I R F K I E S O D R L E T T O T O S I T T R R U T I S E E L S A N N T E T I O H S E D N A I R A G E D L N R Y H R X T S H T R L D D N G P G E V H V T P X T L U F E P O H D I M D I O E M E N L I G H T E N E D C S F H E S I W U B G J G M Q P J T Graduation Word Search ACCOMPLISHED COMMITTED COMPETENT DESERVING DETERMINED ENLIGHTENED EXTRAORDINARY HARDWORKING HONORING HOPEFUL PROUD SMART SOPHISTICATED SPECIAL SCHOLASTIC STAR TALENTED TRANSFORMING WISE WORTHY

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8 The construction of nearly every prevention program begins with an understanding of factors that place people at risk for or protect them from problem behaviors. PICADA Programming for 2018 Website: Abovetheinfluencedcw.org AODA Basics Alcohol Education Options program (AEO) Alcohol: True Stories, Narrated by Matt Damon FORTRESS Media Detective Multi-Jurisdictional Alcohol Program (MAP) Outreach/Community Networking PICADA (A program of Family Service Madison) ; WEBSITES MANAGED BY PICADA Family Service Madison continues to be a strong Madison health care agency by creating and sustaining quality services through entrepreneurship and collaborative partnerships that make our community a better place to live. FAMILY SERVICE MADISON 128 East Olin Avenue Madison WI Ph Fax