This subcommittee of the Salem Youth Committee
dedicates its efforts to minimizing the acceptance of drug and alcohol use
among the youth of Salem. Our emphasis
is ensuring that parents of adolescents understand that common, yet general,
acceptance regarding the underage use of alcohol and illegal drugs is not
acceptable. Inherent in this
understanding is agreement that an effective way to keep our children safe from
harm is to develop a community coalition that includes parents, safety officials
from the police and fire departments, school officials, and business
leaders. The purpose of this coalition
will be a unified effort to promote attitudes and behaviors that will help
minimize opportunities for adolescents to use alcohol or illegal drugs and
increase the probability that they will avoid such behavior.
Within our community there are
different standards regarding the acceptability of the underage use of
alcohol. For some parents, it is a
“fait accompli” that young people will drink alcohol, and therefore these
parents provide what they believe to be risk free environments for adolescent
drinking. Yet, all available
information contradicts the concept that youth and alcohol is an appropriate
combination. Parents seeking to keep
their children safe often feel deceived by those who turn a blind eye to
activities that involve underage drinking.
Assigning blame, however, is not a solution. For parents who object to such behavior, and there are many, it
would be helpful to know that others share similar expectations.
The
statistics are glaring. Based on a
spring 2002 survey completed by Salem students in grades six through twelve,
almost half of all freshmen students expect to use alcohol or other drugs
sometime during their high school years.
While 52% of our freshmen students reported no involvement with alcohol
or other drugs, only 28% of our seniors reported no involvement. Alcohol and illegal drugs are as much a part
of an adolescent’s life here in Salem as anywhere else. In fact, it could be characterized as normal
behavior. Unquestionably, parents’
efforts are the best defense against underage use of alcohol and illegal
drugs. However they need the support of
a like-minded community.
It is our belief that a coalition of parents and
other community members agreeing to a common set of expectations is our best
hope for minimizing the acceptance of drug and alcohol use among our
youth. This coalition can be involved
in three separate efforts to support the achievement of our mission. First, we can initiate programs that provide
information to the parents of middle school students. Second, we can establish a Safe Homes directory, listing parents
of high school students who agree to a common set of expectations for the home
use of alcohol among underage youth.
Third, through a variety of mediums, including newspaper and television,
we can impress on the community the significant benefits to be gained by
minimizing underage drinking and illegal drug use.
Through these efforts, we will establish a growing
coalition, sharing common concerns, dedicated to supporting parents’ efforts to
raise their adolescents in as risk-free an environment as possible.