Binge Drinking and Teenagers

The time is now. We live in a precarious age, one that allows our children to run rampant with their desire to carve out their identity. We as parents are compelled to allow our kids to find themselves within the pressure of their peers and societal misgivings.

The issue is binge drinking, and it is commonplace with our students, our young teenagers, our children. Parents are not paying attention and the time has arrived when we must look into our children's eyes and recognize the dangerous precedent we are creating by allowing them to live without consequence for doing what makes them feel good, escaping reality by using artificial stimulants.

When I come to work on Monday morning, I hear the stories. Students in my classroom talk to each other discreetly about their parties; a student will hoot at another and ask them how their weekend was; acknowledgements of a weekend of partying without "breaking the code." By Wednesday, the conversations will begin to focus on the coming weekend. Who's hosting this Saturday night? Who is getting or going to have the alcohol?

We read about the statistics and scenarios everyday in the papers and local media. Generally, as a conscientious parent, I have often suggested to my children they read an article that is focusing on alcohol abuse and teenagers. I lay the paper on their desk or their schoolbag, with a note that says, "Read this, love you, dad." Seldom do I know afterward whether my child has taken the time to digest that article. I just count on the fact that I did the right thing.

I now want you as parents and administrators, teachers and employers to go further; go beyond the call with your teenagers. Make them understand the dangers that impulsivity with drugs and alcohol may bring into their lives. Sit down with your young people and ask them about their weekend plans, their evening activities. Ask them about their motivations and their desires. See if their reality lies around getting to a party that is serving alcohol versus just getting together with friends to hang out. I do believe sometimes the answers may be that simple.

Students will be drawn to go to a party where they know alcohol is being served rather than a party they know is going to be dry.

We need to become more cognizant of what is going through our children's minds rather than accepting the fact that showing up for breakfast every morning is a good indication of their stability. Are you even aware of what concerns your son or daughter beyond their GPA, the clothes they wear or their work schedule outside of school?

I am not suggesting that parents do not inherently care about their children's well-being. I am only hoping that with dialogue parents will better understand their student's current motivations, and be able to become instant mediators in addressing the more prominent questions in your child's lives. Ask your child what role alcohol and drugs play in their lives. Ask the difficult questions today.

Perhaps you might also ask your child if they've ever attended a party where there was binge drinking, or kids consuming alcohol to excess. This is the issue, this is the reason I am pleading with you today.

We need to set strict guidelines and rules with our students to ensure their safety. I believe that sometimes consequence for behavior already occurred may be too late, and the awareness has to be raised before the consequence becomes fatal.

Alcohol plays a huge role in our lives. We see the barrage of advertising that suggests to young people that having a beer amongst friends leaves us happy and sexy. A Bacardi ad suggests a woman is downtrodden because she isn't receiving any beads. Drinks in hand, the women are told to take a deep breath, thus enhancing the beadless woman's bosom. An ad for Bailey's Irish Crème suggests the attractive nature of cosmic thinking inherent with sipping this drink with friends. Our children are compelled to look for the moments those advertisements are suggesting. It is an uphill battle; however, the first lesson, the initial strength of character, that solid ground has got to come from the home.

Teach your children the dangers of peer pressure, the realities of false advertising, beauty inherent with not caving to the falsehoods of binge drinking on any given night.

Today, I speak to you on many different levels. I speak as the teacher whom, in the classroom, hears the stories and recognizes the pain and anxiety that goes with making poor decisions. I speak as a adult who has experienced personal anguish from alcohol, and now as a parent knowing the perilous nature of alcohol and its effect on our own children.

These students, these beautiful and open young minds, these vulnerable and full of verve, passionate young children, are your children. Ask them the difficult questions tonight.