Harford County is one of hundreds of communities nationwide that will hold an Underage Drinking Prevention: National Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 to discuss and raise awareness about the issue of underage drinking. This event is open to the community and will take place from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn Conference Center, 1700 Van Bibber Road in Edgewood. The Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy, FACE-IT (Faith Activated Community Empowering Intervention Training),and Governor’s Office of Crime Control Policy in collaboration with the Federal government’s Interagency Coordinating Committee for the Prevention of Underage Drinking is sponsoring the event. Parents, teachers, officials, youth, and other community members will be educated about the impact that underage drinking has on the community, and they will develop possible ways to address this issue.

New data nationally shows that approximately 29 percent of youth ages 12 to 20 have used alcohol illegally. By the time they reach eighth grade, 41 percent of adolescents have had at least one drink, and almost 20 percent report having been “drunk.” Joseph Ryan, Director of the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy states that “According to the 2004 Maryland Adolescent Survey, Harford County high school students binge drink at a rate higher than the State average.” Binge drinking is the consumption of 5 or more servings of alcohol on the same occasion. What do these percentages tell us? Ryan says that it means that on average, 6 tenth grade students and 11 seniors in each classroom are binge drinking.

Research indicates that families exert a great influence on whether a child uses alcohol later in life. “What parents may not realize,” says Charles G. Curie, Chairman of ICCPUD and Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “is that children say that their parents’ disapproval of underage drinking is the key reason they have chosen not to drink.” SAMHSA reports that children and teens are less likely to abuse alcohol if parents are involved in their children’s lives, make and enforce clear rules, and are positive role models. Harford County Executive David R. Craig agreed with Mr. Curie’s statement saying “My wife and I were always involved in every aspect of our children’s lives as they grew up, from coaching their sports teams to chaperoning their dances and field trips. The key is being committed to knowing their friends and providing alternative activities.”

Tom Lantieri, President of FACE-IT, concurs with Ryan and states that “it is only through the support of the entire population including the faith community that we will have enough support and impact to alleviate this form of alcohol abuse that is destroying our youth.”

For further information, please contact Joseph Ryan at 410-638-3333 or by e-mail jvryan@co.ha.md.us

dContact: Joseph V. Ryan, Manager
Office of Drug Control Policy
410-638-3333