Community can combat drinking
The old adage that it takes a village to raise a child is
sometimes true
– especially when it comes to teenagers. The goal of a new
program launched by the San Benito County Behavioral Health
Department substance abuse program staff last week is meant to put
that sentiment into action with a community coalition on teen
drinking.
Community can combat drinking
The old adage that it takes a village to raise a child is sometimes true – especially when it comes to teenagers. The goal of a new program launched by the San Benito County Behavioral Health Department substance abuse program staff last week is meant to put that sentiment into action with a community coalition on teen drinking.
As reported in the Pinnacle this week, 40 percent of San Benito High School students surveyed in a bi-ennial statewide questionnaire said they had had an alcoholic drink in the last month. More than two-thirds of students surveyed had had a drink in the last year.
The numbers go up for students enrolled in alternative high schools such as San Andreas Continuation School. Even though the numbers at traditional schools are on par with state averages, it reflects a culture of acceptance – an environment where teen drinking if not openly approved by residents, is not really discouraged.
County staff took a step in the right direction to begin changing a culture that denies or ignores teen drinking when the San Benito County Office of Education received a grant in 2008. The Office of Education staff made a good choice in partnering with Behavioral Health staff to implement a program in schools that doesn’t lecture kids about the harms of teen drinking, but creates an interactive program where they set up a mock trial for the kids to defend and prosecute an alcohol-related crime.
Staff members have also identified at-risk students with whom they are working one on one to increase leadership skills and build confidence.
But working with the students directly is not enough. The next step is to start a program called “Communities Mobilizing for Change.”
As its name implies, the program relies on members of the community to join a coalition with the Behavioral Health staff so that they can set county priorities on policy implementation that will limit access to alcohol for teens and make it less socially acceptable to drink.
At the first meeting, a half dozen community members showed up with many ideas of which direction to take. But more people from all aspects of the community will be needed to make the effort successful – teenagers, parents of teens, school leaders, law enforcement members, church leaders, outreach workers and more. The first step the coalition should take is a look at existing policies that prevent teen drinking – such as requiring identification to purchase – and how well they are being enforced in the community.
The next step would be to look at other policies that have worked in other communities to change the culture around drinking. But before the coalition can make many changes, they will need more members and support.
Contact the Behavioral Health staff to find out more.
