The Sussex County Coalition for Healthy & Safe Families recently held a Town Hall Meeting to discuss underage drinking in Sussex County. The purpose was to hear what community members had to say about youth use of alcohol; to share compelling facts about alcohol use among youth; and to empower communities to make a difference. Some of the solutions developed at the meeting were:

• Become involved- report incidents to police
• Use the law as your "excuse" not to allow underage drinking at your home or at another home where underage teenagers would be attending
• Advocate for .08 Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) versus .10 BAC by emailing Governor McGreevey
• Enact local ordinance #5-19.2 (Hopatcong & Newton currently have this ordinance) to help enforce underage drinking laws
• Improve communication between police and school administrators
• Promote the We Check for 21 (Too) prevention program offered through the Center for Prevention and Counseling
• Empower youth to educate and advocate
• Ensure confidentiality for youth reporting youth use
• Offer teen AA meetings
• Provide a "Safe Home" prevention program (Sparta implemented this program in the past)

Above is a photo from a Town Hall meeting in Hamburg NJ. The drug alliance members (including the school superintendent, town council member, police officers and a local EMT volunteer) helped to pull the event together on May 3rd at the Hamburg Elementary School in Hamburg, NJ. Fore more information and pictures, go to our Childhood Drinking Page.
Discussion centered on childhood drinking and ideas were suggested for reaching out to middle school parents to educate them on the issue and encourage them to be proactive and talk to their kids about alcohol.

Students answered the question - Have you ever tried alcohol?

Click image to enlarge chart.

Students answered the question - Have you used alcohol in the last twelve months?

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Students answered the question - Have you used alcohol in the last 30 days?

Click image to enlarge chart.

Click here to access Underage Drinking Action Plan PDF File.

Click here to access Underage Drinking Action Survey and Checklist PDF file.

For an easily printable PDF version of the Informed Parent's Guide to Alcohol-Free Parties, click here.

Parents: Help your teen party right at proms and graduation

For an easily printable PDF version of the flyer "Senior Year of High School, A time of nostalgia, excitement, possibility and temptation", click here.

A letter to parents - click here to access important information for parents of teens.