Sussex County towns set meetings on underage drinking

Newton - Several towns in Sussex County will host a town hall meeting on underage drinking as part of the national “Start Talking Before They Start Drinking” campaign. The town hall meetings were created to alert communities to new research on the risks of underage drinking and empower the community to take action against it. Community members are welcome to attend any of the following meetings: May 18 • Franklin/Hardyston Alliance - 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. at Hardyston Elementary School Library, 50 Rte. 23, Franklin May 23 • Ogdensburg Alliance - 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Ogdensburg Elementary School, 100 Main St., Ogdensburg • Sparta Alliance - 10 a.m. at the Sparta Middle School, 350 Main St., Sparta • Lenape Alliance - 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Tapestry Cafe, 6 Rte. 183, Netcong May 30 • Southwestern Alliance (Stillwater, Hampton, Fredon) - 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Kittatinny Regional High School May 31 • Action Alliance (Andover, Green, Newton) - 7 to 9 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 54 High St., Newton June 5 • Sandyston/Walpack Alliance - to be announced June 7 • Vernon Alliance - 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Vernon PAL , 21 Church St., Vernon “Childhood drinking is a serious problem that many New Jersey residents and people all over the country overlook,” said Barbara Adolphe, executive director for the Center for Prevention and Counseling. “The town hall meetings are forums that will provide opportunities to inform the public about the community problem of childhood drinking so that we can begin to discuss possible solutions.” The term ‘childhood drinking’ was developed because research is finding that children as young as nine years old are beginning to use alcohol. Alcohol is the most abused drug by children, more than tobacco or any other illicit drug. Research indicates that families exert a great deal of influence on whether a child uses alcohol later in life. “What parents may not realize,” says Charles G. Curie, of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, “is that children say that their parents’ disapproval of underage drinking is the key reason they have chosen not to drink. “We hope to change the way individuals think and feel about underage drinking,” said Fran Miceli, the governor’s representative lead for the N.J. team. “This is about educating the people about the severity of the problem and its long-term effects. We’re arming parents with the knowledge and resources for maintaining a healthy home environment to protect their children.” For information about the local meetings, call the Center for Prevention and Counseling at 973-383-4787 or one of the local municipal alliances listed above. New Jersey’s town hall meetings are made possible by a grant from the N.J. Dept. of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services.