March 27, 2007
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Local estimates of Cobb youth ages 12-20 who used alcohol in the past 30 days:
21,042 youth reported drinking
5 percent were 12-13 year olds
18 percent were 14-15 year olds
32 percent were 16-17 year olds
52 percent were 18-20 year olds
Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among our young people. Youth use alcohol 10 times more than all illegal drugs combined. Alcohol is the leading contributor to the top three leading causes of death among young people. Underage drinking is reported in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes and 50 to 65 percent of youth suicides. As many as two thirds of all sexual assaults and date rape are linked to alcohol use. Alcohol is also a contributing factor in unprotected sex among young people, exposing them to unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
Research indicates that most underage drinking takes place in private settings such as home parties. Private parties often provide a means to introduce younger youth (ages 14-16) to alcohol by older youth (ages 17-19). One in 12 parents of teens said they allowed the friends of their own teens to drink in their home under their supervision.
Communities large and small have begun to address the problem of social hosting through dialogue and local policy making. Currently, hosts who allow underage drinking on their property as well as supply the alcohol consumed or possessed by the minors may be in violation of two distinct laws; furnishing alcohol to a minor and allowing underage drinking to occur on property they control.
Because of all the negative consequences of underage drinking – coupled with the fact that, on average, young people first use alcohol at 13.1 years of age – youth access to alcohol must be addressed pro-actively. To advocate for all the children please check out the two websites below and start talking to other adults in your neighborhood about ways to stop underage drinking.
Underage Drinking is not a rite of passage it is against the law.
www.stopalcoholabuse.gov and www.cudtf.org
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 4:15 PM
June 16, 2006
Parenting is not a "solo" job
Whether you're single or have a partner, you need people around you and your children who are supportive, affirming, and encouraging. Seeking advice, help and support from others gives you the ideas, encouragement and positive reinforcement you need to be a good parent and care for yourself. Research from Search Institute shows:
Only 45% of middle and high school youth indicated that they have three or more caring adults who they can turn to for advice and support about important questions in life
71 % of parents surveyed say it would really help to have other adults they trust spend time with their kids
Many adults believe they should be supporting young people and want to find ways to do so but
Nearly 3 in 10 parents report NO support from any source other than their spouse or partner
How to build a support team of Adults:
Strengthen your partner relationship - Reguarlarly set aside time to strenghten your relationship with your spouse or parenting partner. Be sure to check in every day, get away for a meal and conversation and take overnight retreats. And above all, continually encourage each other.
Build relationships in the neighborhood - Take advntage of or create opportunities to get to know your neighbors, such as block parties, invite them over to dinner and help them to become a friend to both you and your children. Plan or participate in events in ways that include and connect all generations.
Connect with other parents - Get to know other parents with children the same ages as your children. Share your expectations and struggles, brainstorm solutions and in general just be there for each other. Join Parent Corps by contacting pat.giuliani@parentcorps.org to form Parent Peer Groups or Neighborhood Networking Groups.
Stay involved during stressful times- Stay connected and involved with supportive people and places for your family-particularly during times of stress and transition. This may include extended family, a faith community, a social network, a service organization or other important people and places.
Parents with multiple sources of support are more likely to be better equipt to handle the challenges of parenting.
For more information about Parenting Matters go to http://www.mvparents.com
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 10:53 AM
May 22, 2006
Parents should enforce clear messages about alcohol
Many parents are driving their kids to drink. Some parents think by letting their kids drink with their pals at home fosters responsible drinking and will make alcohol less alluring. The data strongly contradicts this thought. Studies show that teens who get booze from their parents are twice as likely to drink and binge drink, because their parent appears to sanction alcohol use.
Many parents also believe that the Europeans' attitiude towards youthful drinking yields more reasonable consumption. But an international report in 2004 found that 15 and 16 year-olds from 34 European countries drank and participated in binge drinking more often than Americans the same age.
Parents afraid their children will resent the no tolerance rule are relunctant to lay down the law. But research shows that kids need clear rules and enforcement of consquences.
What's a parent to do???
1. Set clear family rules about teen drinking, such as never drink with friends and never ride in a car with a driver who has been drinking.
2. Remind them that underage drinking is illegal, unhealthy and life threatening.
3. Never host a party unless you are willing to supervise it closely. Don't be on the second floor if the party's on the first.
4. Call parents whose home is to be used for a party. Make sure that adults will monitor the kids and that alcohol won't be served.
5. Don't supply liquor for your child's socializing. Parents who do double the chance that their teenager will become a heavy drinker.
6. Monitor the alcohol supply in your home. Make it clear that you don't allow unchaperoned parties in your house.
7. Set a good example. If you use alcohol, use it moderately. Don't glamorize your past alcohol use.
8. Ask your child where he or she is going, who they will be with and what they will be doing. Have your child check in regularly. Get to know your child's friends and their parents.
9. Set a curfew and enforce it
10. Impose consquences if your teen breaks one of your rules. Youth who expected a verbal reprimand if caught drinking were 1.5 times less likely to drink, and youth who anticipated loss of privileges were two times less likely to drink or binge drink than those whose parents did not respond to their drinking.
11. Work on the overall relationship with your teenager. Studies show good parent-child communication, mutual respect and collaborative decision making lower incidences of teen drinking.
12. Don't kid yourself into thinking your child is not at risk.. ALL KIDS ARE AT RISK
To find out more about Parent Corps and how to become a member contact pat.giuliani@parentcorps.org
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 4:38 PM
May 4, 2006
Compliance check finds four businesses in violation
On Thursday, April 27, local Cobb County police with the assistance of teenagers made compliance checks at 30 business in the East Cobb area. The four businesses that failed are: Chevron, 400 N. Cobb Parkway, Cafe' Hot Wings, 1153 Roswell Rd., Faces Lounge, 138 Powers Ferry Road, Clock Tower Inn, 999 Whitlock Ave. Teens using their individual driver's license attempt to make an alcohol purchase. If they are successful then the individual with the teen cites them for noncompliance with the law. The first time a business is cited, it is flagged and monitored. If this is the businesses second time within 12 months, they could lose their liquor license for 28 days. The Georgia Department of Revenue also levies a fine. The employees of these stores will go before the judge who will determine the fine and provided them dates for when they must attend training class on how to avoid selling to underage teens in the future. Although none of the businesses cited in this recent sweep had prior citation this year, two of them, Cafe'Hot Wings and Faces Lounge have citations dated in 2001 and 2003. To find out more about compliance checks and underage drinking in Cobb County go to http://www.cudtf.org
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 2:22 PM
April 10, 2006
What's Your Style of Parenting?
The risk facing teenagers today are real. Did you know that rural and suburban teens are more likely than urban teens to have problems with alcohol or illict drugs? Did you know that even after all the warnings about imparied driving, more than half of teens report that they've ridden in cars with drivers under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. Surveys of teen shows that they want and expect their parents to play a key role in their lives. They appreciate you and they listen to you. They remember your advice even if it seems like they're not paying attention. Whether you are a single or married parent, a grandparent or other caregiver your style of parenting is molding todays teens. So, what's your parenting style? Are you strict, balanced, lenient or hands off? Check out http://www.theantidrug.com Click on "Advice", then go to " Parenting Teens" and the Parenting Style quiz will be to the right. Learn about how to make adjustments in your style for the betterment of your teen. Many of you are already doing a wonderful job in raising your teen and you might need affirmation that you are on the right path. Others of you might be struggling and need concrete ideas to help you through the teen years. Whatever your reason, check out the website and always be there for your teen.
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 4:02 PM
March 2, 2006
Get Serious About Underage Drinking
Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous. Over 5,000 kids die each year from alcohol-related causes. Underage drinking cost society $53 billion a year-$19 billion from traffic crashes and $29 billion from violent crimes.
Recent research shows that over 95 percent of the adults in this country who are alcohol dependent started drinking before they were 21
In 2004 youth saw 30% more alcohol ads on television than they did in 2001.
Enough is enough. I urge you to go to the following website and sign the petition generated by Join Together. It is time for us as parents to let our elected officials know they should act NOW to address proven policies that curb underage drinking. Go to the link below and let your voice be heard.
http://www.GetSerious.org
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 3:44 PM
March 1, 2006
Town Hall Meeting
Today I attended a Cobb Underage Drinking Task Force held at the Adult Detention Center. There were 30-40 individuals present representing: law enforcement agencies from Cobb, Acworth, Kennesaw, and City of Marietta, local businesses, local public health providers, prevention and intervention counselors, and parents. The purpose for this meeting was to discuss the upcoming Town Hall Meeting to be held on Monday, March 27th at the Center for Family Resources, 995 Roswell St., Marietta. To find out more about this Town Hall meeting please go to
http://www.cudtf.org We want to hear from you on how we can: increase community awareness on the issue of underage drinking, identify how underage drinking affects the community, and brainstorm possible solutions.
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 4:34 PM
February 15, 2006
SURVEY SAYS: Girls are getting into trouble
Although the overrall illicit drug use among youth 12 to 17 has decreased, The National Survey on Drug Use and Health released a report showing that girls are using marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes more often than boys. The national survey based on 70,000 families discovered that 1.5 million girls between 12 to 17 starting drinking alcohol compared to 1.28 million boys, 730,000 girls started smoking compared to 565,000 boys and 675,000 girls used marijuana compared to 577,000 boys. Girls may become addicted to smoking faster than boys and even moderate drinking can effect their growth and the development of their reproductive systems. To find out more about this recent survey and what you as a parent can do to help provide positive measures to change this survey go to http://www.theantidrug.com
Posted by Pat Giuliani at 7:11 AM