Underage Drinking: My Responsibility Sponsored By: Behavioral Health Services, Inc. and J. H. Hull Middle School
Purpose To explore the impact of underage drinking on our youth, families, and community. To create awareness and educate ourselves on underage drinking, and shift the social norm of underage drinking acceptance in our homes and community.
Who is Behavioral Health Services & what do we do? Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is a not-for-profit community-based healthcare organization providing substance abuse, mental health, drug-free transitional living, older adult services, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and other related health services to the residents of Southern California. Since 1973 BHS has expanded services to meet the comprehensive needs of its clients, and now provides services from 21 sites located throughout Los Angeles County. These sites include two free-standing chemical dependency recovery centers with medical detoxification and residential/outpatient treatment, three additional residential treatment facilities, twelve outpatient facilities, and four transitional living facilities. The BHS continuum of care includes four community assessment center sites, prevention programs for adolescents and older adults, geriatric case management, and home care services for frail elderly and disabled adults.
BHS Prevention Program: BHS South Bay coordinates an organized group of community members, youth organizations, and community agencies known as, The Torrance-Lomita Prevention Community Council (TLPCC). Our focus is to educate youth and community members about underage drinking, reduce youth access to alcohol, and pass policies related to underage alcohol consumption. TLPCC is in the process of passing a Social Host Ordinance in Torrance that holds adults who provide alcohol to minors (anyone under the age of 21) legally responsible if they injure themselves, someone else, or cause property damage. Our CHOICE Program is a voluntary afterschool program, which targets Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) use among middle school students in Torrance teaching them how to plan and prepare for high-risk situations where AOD may be present and how to make healthy choices in those situations.
Why Prevention?
What do you think Alcohol isn t as harmful as other drugs.
Fact: Alcohol increases your risk for many diseases, such as cancer. Drinking too quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can kill you.
What do you think Adults drink, so kids should be able to drink too.
Fact: A young person s brain and body are still growing. Drinking alcohol can cause learning problems or lead to adult alcoholism. People who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to abuse or become dependent on alcohol than those who begin drinking after age 21.
What are alcopops?
Alcopops, legally defined as flavored malt beverages, are sweetened alcoholic beverages that are usually sold in single serve bottles or cans resembling soda or energy drinks.
What s the deal with Alcopops? Alcopops are used by the alcohol industry as a transitional beverage, marketed specifically to teens and youth to get them hooked on alcohol and secure customers for life. Girls are more likely to consume alcopops than boys. Cheap pricing on alcopops makes them compelling to youth compared to other available products. If alcopops were popular with youth 21 and over they would be served at bars. California youth agree that alcopops are easy to get ahold of, and that the adult perception that they are less serious as alcoholic beverages makes them easier to obtain through a variety of methods.
What are the effects of alcohol on youth?
Each year, approximately 5,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking. This includes about 1,900 deaths from car accidents, 1,600 homicides, 300 suicides, and hundreds of other deaths due to accidents like falls, burns and drownings. Alcohol travels through your bloodstream and can damage your brain, stomach, liver, kidneys and muscles. As a teenager, your body is still developing, so damage done to it now can affect the rest of your life. Over time, drinking can wreak havoc with your body and mind. Yes, it s legal for people 21 and older. One reason is that alcohol can have seriously dangerous, long-term impacts on a body and brain that are still developing. Also, statistics show that more teens are killed by alcohol than by all illegal drugs combined. Fact is that while you re a teen (and even into your early 20 s!), you re still growing and developing, and drug abuse during these years in particular can have a lasting impact. Another fact to consider: the brain is much more vulnerable to addiction as it continues to develop as well. 90% of Americans with a substance abuse problem starting smoking, drinking or using other drugs before age 18.
What s my responsibility? Do not serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Be the example. Monitor the alcohol in your home and store it in a locked cabinet. Listen and talk with your children. Praise or reward your children often. If they feel good about themselves, they will be more confident and better able to resist peer pressure. Get and stay informed. Educate yourself about alcohol and other drugs.
Social Host Ordinance
What else can I do? Encourage your city to pass a social host ordinance! A Social Host Ordinance is a local ordinance that prohibits the hosting, permitting, or allowing a party, gathering, or event where minors (under the age of 21) consume alcoholic beverages and holds adults who provide alcohol to minors (under the age of 21) legally responsible if they harm themselves, someone else, or cause property damage. By having a local ordinance all fines collected will go to local law enforcement to help with enforcement. It also discourages adults from providing alcohol to minors.
Measure, Store, Lock Reducing youth access in the home
Measure Measure the remaining alcohol in the bottle. Remember to keep track of the measurements in a safe place away from the alcohol storage. Store Store the alcohol in a safe place making sure it is out of reach and out of sight for young children. Placing the alcohol somewhere that is not visible reduces access.
Lock Lock up the alcohol in your home. Make sure the location you choose to lock up your alcohol is safe, is not easily accessible, and the lock is difficult to unlock.
Remember YOU can always CHOOSE not to keep alcohol in your home!!
Continue the Conversation at Home
Parents who are educated about the effects of drug use and learn the facts can give their kids correct information and clear up any misconceptions. You're a role models for your kids, and your views on alcohol, tobacco, and drugs can strongly influence how they think about them. So make talking about drugs a part of your general health and safety conversations. When providing them with information, ensure that they fully understand it. Consult their understanding and ask for an example of what they have just learned. If they ask a question that you can t answer, it is important that you are honest with them and don t try and make something up. Use the opportunity to work with them to find the answer. Honesty, patience and good communication are the key to talking to your kids about drugs. Getting their questions answered will help ensure they make the right decision not to use drugs.
Resources Behavioral Health Services, Inc. (BHS) 310.679.9031, www.bhs-inc.org The Partnership for a Drug-Free America www.drugfree.org/alcohol Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA) http://www.niaaa.nih.gov Alcohol Justice www.alcoholjustice.org
Call to Action 1. Support the Social Host Ordinance. 2. Make sure you measure, store, and lock your alcohol. 3. Please continue the conversation at home. It doesn t stop here! 4. Join the Torrance-Lomita Prevention Community Council.
Contact Information: Jen Harris, Prevention Coordinator 310.321.8466 (cell)/310.679.9031 x1224 (work) jharris@bhs-inc.org Annay Picazo, Outreach Specialist 310.679.9031 x1206 apicazo@bhs-inc.org www.bhs-inc.org