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SAFE survey sheds light on perceptions of underage drinking
A total of 521 surveys were collected from parents and students. While some of the results showed a similarity in views, many significant differences were discovered between the two groups. One of the most interesting findings involved the reasons that students drink. Fifty-six percent of the parents surveyed believe that teens drink as a way of fitting in with peers, though only 35 percent of students agreed. The largest difference of opinion concerned the idea that teens are drinking to reduce stress. Thirty-one percent of students believed that drinking is stress-related, compared to only 11 percent of parents. This discovery is a red flag for parents, suggesting that their children may be under more stress than they realize. Another point of interest is the means by which teens are procuring alcohol. Both parents and students agreed that friends or older siblings are the primary source, and that parents’ stashes are a close second. This indicates awareness that teens are being supplied rather easily, and although only 1 percent of parents surveyed believed that teens are getting alcohol directly from their parents, 21 percent entertained the idea that teens are using fake IDs. Capt. David A. Stone of the Chesterfield County Police Department confirmed the findings. “Since the beginning of 2010, Chesterfield County police officers have made 339 arrests for unlawful purchase or possession of alcoholic beverages and six arrests for purchasing alcohol for an unauthorized person,” he said. “Eighty-three arrests have been made for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and though that charge isn’t always related to underage drinking, it is the most common reason.” In today’s world, most parents work outside the home. Adults are struggling to make ends meet, especially in the current economy. Though some argue that the parent-child hierarchy has dissolved in recent years, with some parents looking the other way instead of enforcing rules, others suggest that everyday worries leave parents too frazzled to pay attention to their children. The current generation hasn’t re-invented the wheel in terms of underage drinking, but there have been distinct changes in recent years. For example, teens are now consuming alcoholic energy drinks, which act as both a stimulant and a depressant simultaneously, masking the effects of being intoxicated. Students with whom energy drinks are popular, and who also consume alcohol, will naturally want to purchase a combination of the two. And in some cases, these drinks are easier for teens to purchase since clerks don’t realize they’re alcoholic. Sharyl Adams, a substance abuse prevention specialist with Chesterfield County Youth Planning and Development, noted the ways in which alcohol is being consumed and a need for change. “Young people are now drinking strictly for the purpose of getting drunk. They’re binge drinking, and it’s very dangerous. When we conducted the SAFE survey, it was more educational for us than it was for the parents and students. We wanted to get an accurate picture of what’s going on in our community.” Adams also feels that, although underage drinking occurs on a daily basis, there are measures parents can take. “There’s a certain amount of trust that parents have to have for their kids; they can’t be hanging over them all the time, but they have to pay attention to what they’re doing,” she says. “Also, we’re a society that tends to focus on the negative. Parents should devote equal attention to the good things their kids do, not just the bad.” SAFE is looking to the future, planning to implement programs for parents so they can share strategies and reinforce each other. The SAFE website includes a wealth of information for parents and students, opportunities to volunteer for projects and events, and other sections dedicated to substance abuse awareness. The results of the 2010 survey can also be found in its entirety at www.chesterfieldsafe.org. Adams summarized SAFE’s mission, stating: “In Chesterfield County, we want to show that it’s not okay for substance abuse to occur. We’re going to change the norms.” SAFE survey findings Below are a few highlights from SAFE’s recent survey on underage drinking, based on teens’ answers: |
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