Parents need all the help they can get

Courier News, Home News Tribune, myCentralJersey.com

By Jack Ciattarelli

Parenting is challenging in any era. However, the challenges parents face today seem all the more daunting for many reasons, not the least of which are the frantic pace of everyday life and a constant barrage of mixed media messages children are exposed to each day.

My wife and I, as parents of four — ages 15, 13, 11 and 9 — do all we can, like all parents, to protect our children from the hazards of everyday life. We believe strongly that genuine interest and active involvement in our children’s lives goes a long way toward mitigating these dangers, one of which is underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Recent studies suggest that alcohol and drug abuse are starting at ever-earlier ages. Countless other studies have shown that predispositions toward abusing alcohol are very often developed early in a young person’s life.

These same studies also conclude, among other things, that drinking is considered a "rite of passage" for young people; that alcohol abuse can and often does lead to abuse of other substances; that poor sleep habits can induce teenagers to try alcohol; and that parents benefit by "practicing what they preach" when it comes to alcohol.

Parents need to know this information. We need to be acutely aware that preventing alcohol exploration and experimentation among our children is a critically important goal. We also need an "alcohol abuse action plan" that empowers us.

With this in mind, the upcoming Somerset’s Initiative for Partying Safely (SIPS)/Health Options for Prevention and Education (HOPE) forum at Raritan Valley Community College on April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m., which focuses solely on alcohol use in Somerset County’s 18-to-25 age group, is an invaluable resource and an exceptional opportunity for parents (my wife and I included).

Why the focus on the 18- to 25-year-old group? According to various experts, this group of young people contains the highest percentage of problem drinkers and the highest rates of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Alcohol also has been shown to be the "drug of choice" for this age group, far outstripping the use of cigarettes, marijuana and other illicit drugs.

Another telling statistic: Almost three-quarters of youths ages 8 to 17 cite their parents as the primary influence in their decisions about whether they drink alcohol or not.

All of us — parents, citizens, taxpayers — also need to be aware there are significant public health and policy considerations with respect to underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Indeed, according to About Alcohol Abuse, an online educational and informational resource, alcohol dependence and abuse cost the United States an estimated $220 billion in 2005. That’s more than the cost associated with obesity ($133 billion) or cancer ($196 billion).

No one disputes that the values and behaviors we successfully teach our children will be carried into young adulthood and beyond.

And so, it’s up to us, as responsible parents, to take advantage of every opportunity that increases our probability for success. That’s what the SIPS/HOPE forum is all about.

As an elected official concerned with the well being of all Somerset County citizens, I strongly encourage parents to attend the upcoming SIPS/HOPE forum. I also encourage anyone with a personal or professional interest in drinking among 18- to 25-year-olds to attend.

Again, the forum will be held at Raritan Valley Community College on April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.empowersomerset.com or call 908-722-4900.

Finally, let’s not forget to acknowledge all of the selfless individuals who have dedicated themselves to making Somerset’s Initiative for Partying Safely and the SIPS/HOPE forum a reality. Their commitment and efforts contribute to ensuring that our great county remains a healthy, happy and safe community.

Jack Ciattarelli is the director of the Somerset County Board of Freeholders.