News
Town hall meeting calls for parents not to be party to teenage drinking
By Sesame Campbell
CHATHAM — Although some parents think that taking car keys away from their teens at parties is a protective gesture, law enforcement and prevention officials, along with addiction specialists, urged parents at a recent town hall meeting not to be a party to teenage drinking.
The town hall meeting April 23 at Chatham High School was the second evening of a two-part series public awareness campaign with the intent to educate parents about the health and safety risks of serving alcohol at teen parties and to increase awareness of and compliance with the New York state Underage Drinking laws.
The event is part of the Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking, a national public awareness campaign that was developed by Drug-Free Action Alliance in 2000. Panelists included Tom Gillespie, executive director of Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties; Captain Scott Brown of the New York State Police; Margaret Kennedy, planner and contract manager for the Columbia County Department of Human Services Mental Health Center; and Harold Schmitz, a psychologist from Old Chatham.
“Too often, communities look the other way when it comes to teen drinking, assuming it is a ‘rite of passage,’” said Shari Franks, Chatham Middle School SADD Chapter advisor. “It’s not unusual for well-meaning parents to provide alcohol to their teen’s friends at house parties and take away their keys in an attempt to keep them safe.”
However, such actions can result in serious consequences for all parties, including parents and ultimately the teens involved.
New York is increasing penalties for adults who host or allow teen drinking parties, which can include jail sentences and stiff fines. Parents were informed that they cannot give alcohol to their teens or their teen’s friends under the age of 21 under any circumstance, even if the alcohol consumption was occurring in their own home. Parents were also told that they could not knowingly allow a person under 21, other than their own child, to remain in their home or on their property while consuming or possessing alcohol.
“Choices or decisions our students and parents make and the consequences of those choices will affect children for the rest of their lives,” said Lt. Gene Hallenbeck of the New York State Police. “As parents, you have a choice to make. Are you willing to gamble on your child’s life or others?”
Hallenbeck was joined by Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Michael Cozzolino, Deputy Sheriff Wendy J. Moon from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Mark Leggett, a retired captain from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and currently deputy chief of the Chatham Village Police Department to discuss the legal consequences of underage drinking.
Parents were informed that they can be arrested, as was the case in Warren County, where parents were arrested for providing alcohol to teens.
“If they kill someone, that’s something they will have to deal with for the rest of their life,” said Lt. Hallenbeck. “Every year, Sean’s Run should act as a reminder of what could happen and the need for parents and children to make the right choice.”
A surprising turn of events in the evening came when a group of high school students who attended the meeting spoke up.
“I came here because I wanted to talk about what’s going on in our community,” said Chatham High School junior Myranda Adams. “I see teens not being able to open up to their parents about what is going on. Parents don’t listen before assuming. Their lack of being open is what makes drugs and alcohol such a big problem in Chatham. Teens can’t talk without their parents getting mad.”
A conversation ensued between the adults and students. One student remarked that she thought the evening’s program will help parents realize that they need to talk to their kids more. “We came because we want parents to know about what’s going on,” she said.
During the question and answer period, Leggett was asked by a parent about the drug and alcohol situation in Chatham. “It’s the same situation as Copake, Valatie and other surrounding towns,” Leggett said. “Chatham is not a street-corner store, but there are burglaries going on and people are getting their drugs from friends at parties. What’s most prevalent often with teens is prescription drug medication.”
“As parents we can’t shut the door and pretend like there is no party with alcohol going on,” said Paul Walters, a physician’s assistant and addictions specialist at St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center.
At the end of the evening, parents and students were told they could call an anonymous tip line (1-866-UNDER21) to report violations. For more information, call Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties at (518) 828-8660.
The town hall meeting April 23 at Chatham High School was the second evening of a two-part series public awareness campaign with the intent to educate parents about the health and safety risks of serving alcohol at teen parties and to increase awareness of and compliance with the New York state Underage Drinking laws.
The event is part of the Parents Who Host, Lose the Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking, a national public awareness campaign that was developed by Drug-Free Action Alliance in 2000. Panelists included Tom Gillespie, executive director of Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties; Captain Scott Brown of the New York State Police; Margaret Kennedy, planner and contract manager for the Columbia County Department of Human Services Mental Health Center; and Harold Schmitz, a psychologist from Old Chatham.
“Too often, communities look the other way when it comes to teen drinking, assuming it is a ‘rite of passage,’” said Shari Franks, Chatham Middle School SADD Chapter advisor. “It’s not unusual for well-meaning parents to provide alcohol to their teen’s friends at house parties and take away their keys in an attempt to keep them safe.”
However, such actions can result in serious consequences for all parties, including parents and ultimately the teens involved.
New York is increasing penalties for adults who host or allow teen drinking parties, which can include jail sentences and stiff fines. Parents were informed that they cannot give alcohol to their teens or their teen’s friends under the age of 21 under any circumstance, even if the alcohol consumption was occurring in their own home. Parents were also told that they could not knowingly allow a person under 21, other than their own child, to remain in their home or on their property while consuming or possessing alcohol.
“Choices or decisions our students and parents make and the consequences of those choices will affect children for the rest of their lives,” said Lt. Gene Hallenbeck of the New York State Police. “As parents, you have a choice to make. Are you willing to gamble on your child’s life or others?”
Hallenbeck was joined by Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Michael Cozzolino, Deputy Sheriff Wendy J. Moon from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Mark Leggett, a retired captain from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and currently deputy chief of the Chatham Village Police Department to discuss the legal consequences of underage drinking.
Parents were informed that they can be arrested, as was the case in Warren County, where parents were arrested for providing alcohol to teens.
“If they kill someone, that’s something they will have to deal with for the rest of their life,” said Lt. Hallenbeck. “Every year, Sean’s Run should act as a reminder of what could happen and the need for parents and children to make the right choice.”
A surprising turn of events in the evening came when a group of high school students who attended the meeting spoke up.
“I came here because I wanted to talk about what’s going on in our community,” said Chatham High School junior Myranda Adams. “I see teens not being able to open up to their parents about what is going on. Parents don’t listen before assuming. Their lack of being open is what makes drugs and alcohol such a big problem in Chatham. Teens can’t talk without their parents getting mad.”
A conversation ensued between the adults and students. One student remarked that she thought the evening’s program will help parents realize that they need to talk to their kids more. “We came because we want parents to know about what’s going on,” she said.
During the question and answer period, Leggett was asked by a parent about the drug and alcohol situation in Chatham. “It’s the same situation as Copake, Valatie and other surrounding towns,” Leggett said. “Chatham is not a street-corner store, but there are burglaries going on and people are getting their drugs from friends at parties. What’s most prevalent often with teens is prescription drug medication.”
“As parents we can’t shut the door and pretend like there is no party with alcohol going on,” said Paul Walters, a physician’s assistant and addictions specialist at St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center.
At the end of the evening, parents and students were told they could call an anonymous tip line (1-866-UNDER21) to report violations. For more information, call Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties at (518) 828-8660.
Copyright © 2010 - The Register Star Online