RAD Underage Drinking Townhall: Drinking Is Not a Game

Day One, Pasadena Public Health Department, and Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena Host Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting 

On Tuesday April 29th over 70 community members convened on the Jackie Robinson Center in Pasadena to attend a "House Party." Although pop music, red cups, ping pong balls and drinking paraphernalia found at underage drinking parties was present, alcohol was not. 

The event covered a wide range of topics: Youth advocates simulated for the community the popular, but dangerous, ways that underage teens consume alcohol at house parties. Panelist and Director of the Pasadena Public Health Department, Dr. Eric Walsh, stressed to the community that consuming alcohol during your teens (an important developmental stage for the brain) is known to be detrimental to overall health and decision-making. 

Courageous youth speakers on the panel like Nick Nevarez and Emily Sandoval informed community attendees about the social pressures that motivate teens to drink alcohol, and about the destructive and near deadly consequences that drinking in their teens had in their personal life. Officers from the Pasadena Police Department answered questions about how the department handles underage drinking incidents and DUI's, for which the department practices zero tolerance and costs offenders upwards of $10,000. 

Kathy Watson, a Substance Abuse Intervention Specialist for the Pasadena Unified School District spoke on how Pasadena schools can provide counseling and support to teens struggling with substance abuse, but acknowledged that strong parent support and involvement is key to helping teens overcome the pressures to drink.

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Dangers of Underage Use

Underage alcohol use can have both short and long-term health consequences to minors. Youth and young adults' brains still in development are more susceptible to harm. Alcohol use contributes to poor decision-making, injuries, violence, sexual assault and risky behaviors such as unprotected sex. Unfortunately, the vast majority of underage drinking in the United States is also binge drinking; according to the CDC, 90% of the alcohol consumed by minors is done during binges (5 or more drinks for males, 4 or more for females). 

"Secondhand Effects" of alcohol use - drinking behaviors that harm others:

• Violence (verbal, physical)
  
• Sexual Assault
  
• Unintended pregnancies; STDs
  
• Trouble with police or other authorities (e.g., DUI)
  
• Accidents, injury
  
• Memory loss
  
• Poor academic performance
  

Demonstration: Drinking is NOT a game

Tips for Parents, Community Members

1. Model positive, healthy behavior. If you drink, do so responsibly. Don't drink and drive, binge drink, or use alcohol or other drugs as a way to cope with stress, depression, anger, etc. 
2. Regularly discuss expectations and rules about alcohol use. Clearly state and enforce the consequences for breaking the rules.  
3. Secure alcohol beverages in your home so that it is not accessible.
4. Make sure teens in your life are engaged in positive activities outside of school (e.g., teams/clubs, volunteer with a local organization, part-time job, community college classes). 
5. Do not serve alcohol to minors. "Supervising" underage drinking in your home is not a safer alternative. In fact, studies show that minors whose parents/guardians allow them to drink in the home suffer from higher rates of alcohol use, misuse and dependence.
6. Frequently express how you feel about underage drinking. However, do not lecture or threaten your teen about alcohol use. 
   
7. Make it clear that drinking and driving or riding with someone who has been drinking is never ok. Ask your teen to call for a ride, take a cab, or call for permission to stay overnight if he or she or a friend who is driving has been drinking. This does not give minors permission to drink, it tells them that their safety is most important.
8. Talk about personal, family, social, or religious values that give your teen reasons not to drink. 
9. When your teen wants to talk about alcohol, listen to his or her opinions, help him or her make good decisions, and treat him or her with respect. 
   
10. Get to know your teen's friends. Know where they hang out and what they are doing. Talk with the friends' parents about alcohol. 

Quick Facts

• • Excessive alcohol consumption is the 2nd leading cause of premature death and disability in Los Angeles County.
  • Alcohol-related car crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults.
  • Alcohol is the drug of choice among teens. 
  • Beer and wine are not safer than hard liquor. 
  • Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age – especially before high school – increases the risk of dependence and other drug use.