Underage drinking: The facts and reality

This month’s Coffee Break, held April 12 at the Surf & Sand hotel, addressed the myths and realities of what really goes on in Laguna Beach with underage drinking.

Judy Anderson, chairwoman for the Coffee Break series, introduced three essential questions for the panel’s consideration.

These questions were: Since we live in a beach community where many people come to drink and engage in the party scene, what is the scope of Laguna Beach teens who drink alcohol regularly; what can parents do in terms of what works and what doesn’t regarding teen drinking; and how might parents and our community best collaborate to prevent teen drinking problems?

Jonathan Scott, from the Miles to Go Program, shared what he has learned over the years from his work with our Laguna Beach kids. Much of his work in our schools centers on teaching kids about the six stages of intoxication.

These include: 1) decrease in judgment, morals, and values; 2) decrease in motor skills; 3) loss of ability in detecting hot and cold; 4) loss of consciousness; 5) coma; 6) death.

Specifically, he wants kids to be able to assess how far along others may be in terms of intoxication, so they are aware of the degree of danger present. He recommended that parents meet the child when they return home at night, if only for five minutes, to establish contact.

According to Scott: “This is not about policing, but parenting.”

Parents were also strongly encouraged to be pro-active in making their home a place for kids to be, be it watching movies with a group of friends, or allowing a band to play in the garage.

Laguna Beach Police Capt. Danelle Adams said the police were the “clean-up team,” coming in at stage two or three of intoxication.

Adams stressed that the police are not here to incarcerate, but keep kids safe. She added that the numbers of kids coming to their attention is relatively low, thanks to the Laguna Beach parents and community, and that kids are getting the message not to get into an automobile with alcohol or someone who has been drinking.

She talked about Laguna’s 10 p.m. curfew to protect kids until they are aged 18.

She warned that the police will arrest the adult if underage drinking is occurring at their home, and encouraged parents to know where their kids are going and where they can be reached.

Linda Grossman, a parent and psychologist who wrote the book “Kids, Drugs, & Sex,” emphasized that, “We need to use the village aspect to increase networking among ourselves to save our kids’ lives.” She suggested that we not only need to know who is using drugs, but speak to the kid directly, and/or the parents.

Karen O’Connell, another parent and mental health professional, debunked the “control and conquer” technique in managing your teen, and shared her own challenges and vulnerabilities raising her own daughter. Her focus has evolved into one of staying connected with compassion to what the teen and parent is wanting, even in the midst of heightened disagreement.

O’Connell offers weekly Compassionate Communication parenting groups and classes based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg, founder of the Center for Non-violent Communication. She can be reached at (949) 683-5683 or karenoconnell@mac.com.

Last, but certainly not least, the audience heard from Breanna Duplisea, an 11th grade student at Laguna Beach High School. Breanna described the peer-counseling program at the school aimed at drug prevention.

According to Breanna, the No 1 predictor of kids’ inclination to drink has to do with their perception of how others in their peer group are behaving. The data suggests that two out of 10 students believe others to be drinking even when they are not.

When healthy behaviors are considered part of the norm, teens are less likely to drink alcohol. The prevention program at the high school advocates the strengthening of protective factors along with a “social norms” approach. Protective factors include keeping teens connected to school, community, and positive role models, along with parents who stay communicative and emotionally connected with them.

The social norms approach aims at informing students that most students are not using alcohol and that most parties do not have alcohol, so it’s not about the choice of staying home alone or going to a party with alcohol.

Sometimes social opinions are influenced by the loudest voice, rather than a consensus of students’ opinions. Ultimately, Laguna Beach parents were informed that even though alcohol is the No 1 drug of choice ? in that kids use alcohol more than tobacco or all illegal drugs combined ? parents have more influence on a child’s decision about drinking before he/she begins to use alcohol.

Even when the teen does drink alcohol, a good relationship helps protect against developing an abuse problem.