N.B. warns of dangers of underage drinking
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Half of the middle school students in Middlesex County have used alcohol.Many New Jersey students report their first use of alcohol at age 11. Half of teen car accidents involve drinking and driving, and more than 50 percent of youth suicides involves alcohol.

Because of these statistics, provided by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) of Middlesex County, the North Brunswick Municipal Alliance Committee hosted a panel on underage drinking April 14.

The panel began with Jim Brittain, an alliance member who is a former alcohol and drug addict. He said his last substance was used in 1982, and since then, he has pursued a career in substanceabuse prevention and treatment, and is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

He currently works at a welfare office doing substance-abuse assessments. Yet he said that dependence problems happen at every socioeconomic level, and that the younger someone begins using, the more likely a serious problem will develop. He said underage drinking also leads to increased criminal and gang activity.

Jennifer Smith, a prevention educator for NCADD, said that alcohol is the most common substance that teens use and that "when young people drink, they tend to drink a lot."

She explained the vital role that parents must play: being a positive role model, using responsibility when they drink, watching the messages they send to children about needing substances to cope with life, setting rules and being consistent in enforcing them, monitoring children's activities, talking to their children about alcohol use, explaining how advertisements can be persuasive, practicing refusal skills to avoid peer pressure, letting children know that you will pick them up from a party if they are uncomfortable, creating a code word so that a problem is not easily noticed by others, encouraging extracurricular activities, recognizing risk factors such as family history or change in behavior, and rewarding good behavior with positive reinforcement.

She also said parents should stick to the age 21 rule because "[children's] bodies are still developing and their bodies are still growing. The brain stops developing after age 21 so drinking and adding alcohol can [affect] that process."

North Brunswick police Detective Michael Campbell said that many juveniles get arrested at the park, behind a day-care center, or at home when their parents are away. He advised parents to check under the bed and in the closet if they suspect bottles could be around, and to mark the liquor bottles in the house to see if any has been used.

He also said local convenience stores are hot spots for teens and college students because they sell liquor. He said the police are out there as much as possible, but that more resources are needed.

"There needs to be some accountability," he said.

Campbell also made note of the township's house-party ordinance, which makes it illegal for minors to drink socially on private property, and could result in a delay or suspension of a driver's license if caught.

The ordinance, however, does not apply to religious celebrations.

"It makes sense that people will learn how to drink in families where drinking is not a problem," Brittain explained.

Mark Zielinski, a social studies teacher and football coach at North Brunswick Township High School, said that as a father, he knows how it is to have your children out, not knowing what is going to happen. He said he has seen family members, colleagues and former students struggle with alcohol. He said that the older people are, the more mature and able they are to deal with the problems that may be associated with alcohol use.

David Meyers, a student assistance counselor at Linwood Middle School, is also a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor. He said that character development could combat abuse, if a student is given a place of safety. He said students must be responsible for their choices, and that families must be aware of how family addictions can affect minors.

Gina Marie Tischio, a student assistance counselor from the high school, said that "when a lot of kids have a lot of time on their hands, they go off and do different things because they're bored and want to experiment."

She said especially with proms and graduations coming soon, parents must know where their children are going, who they are going with, what they are doing and if there will be supervision.

"This is your child and you obviously care about your children, so ask questions," she said.

The North Brunswick Municipal Alliance Committee received a $34,000 grant from theMiddlesex County Board of Freeholders to support school programs and alternative activities.

The committee is now accepting funding requests for the year 2009. A one-page request including the funding amount and contact information is required for any programs that promote awareness of drug and alcohol education.

The deadline is April 30. For more information, call Lou Ann Benson at (732) 247-0922, ext. 475.