Myths and Facts about Underage Drinking
Myth: Alcohol affects everyone the same.
Fact: There are many factors that affect reactions to alcohol. Body size, gender, your body chemistry are just a few of the dozens of factors that can alter the way a person metabolizes alcohol. Research tells us that teens are particularly susceptible to alcohol abuse, since their bodies are still growing and changing.

Myth: Black coffee will “sober you up.”
Fact: This is one of the biggest myths out there about alcohol use. With coffee, you’re introducing a second “drug”, caffeine, which simply makes you a “wide-awake drunk.” Only time will make a person sober.

Myth: Drinking alcohol, will give you more energy.
Fact: Nothing could be farther from the truth. Alcohol is a depressant, meaning that it actually slows down your ability to perform tasks such as walking, breathing, thinking and moving, correctly. Do yourself a favor: if you want to increase your energy, try exercise, good nutrition, proper rest and healthy living.

How Teens Say "No" to Underage Drinking
A National Youth Movement on Alcohol Issues called “Take it Back” empowers youth to reduce alcohol problems and increase the health and safety of youth. Their goals are to:

• Increase public awareness of the problems due to alcohol use and misuse by youth
• Educate on a local and national level the complexity and breadth of the alcohol and youth issue
• Reduce the number of alcohol-related incidents among youth
• Change local policies that affect the availability of alcohol to youth

• Parents to “Grow up!”
• Policy Makers to “Wake up!”
• Enforcement Agencies to “Harden up!’
• Store Owners to “Listen up!”
• Schools to “Wise up!”
• Communities to “Charge up!”
• Youth to “Stand up!”

Are you UP for the challenge? For more information, go to www.Utakeitback.org

Parent's Corner:

Parents,

Today’s youth experience a different drinking environment than when we were young. Think about the following list of What Has Changed, and use these facts as “jumping off points” to start conversations with your own children. Remember the key is two-fold: frank and frequent discussions will send the message that you’re there for them, and that the discussions are on-going.

What Has Changed in A Generation:

• what kids today drink (way more potent than the “Boons Farm Ale” of yesterday)
• how much they drink (binge drinking is a national epidemic, commonly defined as 5 or more drinks in a 2-hour period, or drinking to “get drunk”)
• frequency of drinking (more than a one-time celebratory occasion)
• age they begin (national statistics show an alarming rate of 11 year first-time drinkers!)
• overall availability (most kids report obtaining alcohol from their own homes, or a friend’s house)
• definition of a drink (sugary wine-coolers and “alternatives such as “hard lemonade” are marketed toward youth and made to seem “harmless”)
• parental and adult supervision (many parents are still unaware of the ordinances that now allow police to fine homeowners who “host” parties with underage drinkers

What's New in Our Community:
Breathalyzers at Amity

The Orange Drug/Alcohol Action Committee (ODAAC) would like to commend the Amity Board of Education for their successful use of the Breathalyzers at school dances.  ODAAC requests that they be made available at all school sponsored events, including sporting events, talent shows, etc., as needed. 

National statistics, as well as our own anecdotal data from Amity, tell us that Breathalyzers are successful deterrents to underage drinking.  The fears that “no one will come to the dance”, “it will infringe upon my rights” “will I be singled out?” have not materialized, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive experiences at the last few Amity dances. (The Homecoming Dance this past fall was sold out in record time!) An added benefit has been that the presence of the Breathalyzer has taken the pressure off of those students who do not want to drink, or to worry about their own safety because others may be drinking.  100% compliance and 100% incident-free dances are numbers Amity can be proud of!
           
ODAAC supports the Amity High School community in their commitment to keeping our youth safe from the dangers of underage drinking. Amity has sent a strong and positive message that underage drinking is not acceptable at school dances.  ODAAC would like to see that message expanded to include all school sponsored events.  It is our position that Breathalyzers be available to be administered by trained professionals, in select situations that warrant intervention.  This proposal, coupled with positive police presence, will serve as a deterrent to underage drinking behaviors, at sporting and other events. By having the Breathalyzers on site, and making sure that the students know that they are there, we are adding another layer of protection and awareness to our community.  We are sending a clear message that their health and safety is of paramount importance to us. 

View previous articles from "What's New in Our Community."

Sixth-Grade DARE Essays

D.A.R.E Essay
By Sana Charania 6-M
My name is Lara and I am going to tell you about how I lost my best friend, Carly S. Carson. Carly was my best friend since 1st grade. It all started on the first day of high school. As Carly and I were walking home from our first day of school, we saw some popular tenth grade girls at the park, smoking cigarettes. “Hey Lara and Carly, why don’t you join us?” said the leader of “the popular group”, Sally. I forgot to tell you one thing. Carly has always wanted to be popular, I would feel the same way if I had five other brothers and sisters. I started to protest, but Carly dragged me along. “Try some of these cigarettes, they’re awesome!” said another one of the girls, Mattie. “I don’t know if we should take one, we don’t know what they will do to us,” I said to Carly. “Come on, Lara, don’t be such a baby. They’re smoking and nothing is happening to them!” said Carly. “I am leaving, are you coming?” I told Carly. She didn’t say anything for a few moments, and then she walked up to Sally and took a cigarette. I stood dumbfounded. “How could Carly do this to me,” I thought, “how could she choose popularity over friendship!” I stood there watching Carly taking a cigarette from Sally, and lighting it. After she took her first puff, I started heading home. I started thinking about what happened. I knew how hard it was for my uncle to stop smoking. I decided that tomorrow, after school, I would checkout some books about smoking. When I got home, I acted like nothing had happened and went to bed. The next morning I double-checked that I had my library card, and headed for school. Throughout the day, I tried to talk to Carly, but she avoided me in front of her new friends. When the day was over, I started to walk to the library, feeling a little upset and angry. There, I found some useful books. Here are some facts I found: Smoking can cause many diseases that include lung cancer, mouth cancer, and tooth loss. Also, there are many poisons in cigarettes such as rat poison, nail polish remover, and much more. The most important fact was that it is illegal to sell tobacco under anyone age 18 or under. Now I knew the real facts about smoking. I wanted to throw all of these books in Carly’s face, but thought better of it. I finally decided that I would write all of the facts on a piece of paper and give it to Carly in the morning. As I was walking home, I saw Carly with her “new friends”. It seemed like she was having a lot of fun. To tell you the truth, I missed Carly a lot: talking with her, laughing with her, even walking to and from school with her. I wonder when she would start talking to me again. At night, I made sure to set my alarm extra early so I wouldn’t miss Carly. The next morning I waited outside, at the end of the block where Carly and I used to meet at in the morning. After a few minutes, I saw Carly walking towards me. “Hi Carly,” I said, cheerfully. “Hi,” she replied in a dull tone. Then, I gave her the paper with all the facts. She looked at it for a few moments, and then she tore it into tiny pieces! I was amazed. I thought she would say sorry and quit! Then she kept walking, not wanting to wait for me. I stood there mad, hurt, and a little surprised. As I walked to school, I thought about what had happened. Did I really want a friend like that? Did I want to be friends with someone who doesn’t care about what I think? I decided that I didn’t want to be her friend anymore. I can’t believe she ignored the true facts about smoking and our friendship. When I got to school, I looked at Carly. She changed a lot. Now she wore lipstick, and eye shadow, and all that makeup that ruins your skin. Before, the only kind of makeup she used to put on was lip-gloss. Now, I see Carly always gossiping with her friends at the “cool” table. Also, her teeth were not white anymore, they were a little yellow. Plus her breath usually smells. For the next few weeks, I ignored Carly and made some new friends that were far better than being friends with the new Carly. Then a few months later, the “cool table” dumped Carly. “You aren’t any fun, you are not part of our gang anymore.” said Sally. After that incident, Carly was mad. She probably spent hundreds of dollars just to look like the popular girls. “Hey,” said Carly. “Hey,” I replied, as if I didn’t want to talk to her. “Lara, I am really sorry for not listening to you. Can we be friends again?” asked Carly. I thought about it for a few minutes. What was the guarantee that she wouldn’t abandon me again? Then I replied, “I don’t think I want to be friends with you. I tried to show you the right way, but you didn’t listen to me. If the popular gang didn’t dump you, would you still want to be friends with me?” Then I walked away. After that, Carly and I never talked with each other. Carly didn’t, I mean couldn’t stop smoking, probably because of her addiction. I was happy with the new friends I made. Soon I forgot about Carly. A few years later, Carly was in the hospital. She was on the last stage of cancer. A month later, she died. If she had listened to me, she probably would have lived longer. You should always trust your best friend and listen to them (unless it is something wrong). Friendship needs two trustworthy people, not one. So if you ever have to make a choice between your best friend or someone else, choose your best friend, or else some day you’ll regret it. I will never smoke, no matter how much pressure I am put in. DON”T EVER SMOKE!!!!!!!

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