The Worth Caring Coalition held a town hall meeting on March 27th on the problem of teen alcohol use within the county. A panel of students, educators, school board members, judges, members of the public, and law enforcement officers met at the Grant City Christian Church to discuss what could be done about the ongoing problem.
There were some facts about alcohol use that surprised people. First of all, there was the fact that there were 5,000 deaths per year within the US caused by underage drinkers. Another surprise was the fact that perceived parental disapproval was a strong factor in a student’s decision not to drink alcohol. This was a surprise to many of the participants, given the perception that 13 is the time when teens are at the most rebellious against their parents.
Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith said that the rationale for laws against drinking under 21 is that teens who start at 15 or below are five times more likely to develop long-term drinking problems.
The coalition is in its third year of existence. The project started when students did surveys and found that 88% of respondents felt that teen drinking was a problem in the area. The coalition is applying for a grant from Heartland to help promote education of adults, stronger enforcement of laws, and healthy and positive alternatives to drinking. The coalition has met with the Worth County School Board as well as the Grant City Council and area church groups; they also plan to meet with law enforcement as well as the Worth County Commission.
"It’s a bad thing that the kids had to bring it up," said Grant City Mayor Debbie Roach, who was in attendance at the meeting.
The coalition has already held dance classes at the school for 7th to 12th graders. They are planning to offer self-defense classes as well as a drive-in movie at the Grant City Assembly of God this summer.
There were five panelists who were chosen for the discussion. Teacher Clella Goodwin, highway patrolman Scott Pritzel, NWMSU college student and teacher April Miller, and students and coalition members Megan McClain and Brooke Adams were chosen for the panel. Miller, who was a standout athlete and student for Worth County as well as a national High School Heisman finalist, was hired as a business teacher by the School Board at its March meeting; she will be replacing Josh Allee, who will resign at the end of the school year to pursue other opportunities.
Pritzel said that a lot of times, it was a matter of lack of respect. "A lot of times, it’s good kids from good families, and they do it for no other purpose than to defy the system," he said. Pritzel said that in many cases, it could progress to more serious crimes. As a college student, Miller said that many kids saw college as party time rather than a time to study. McClain said that some younger kids started drinking because of their older siblings and parents doing it, while Brooke Adams said that for some kids, it was a matter of having a social life. "And then it takes up their whole life," she said.
Role modeling was discussed as a way of preventing alcohol use. Panelists said that the reason junior high kids started drinking was to feel cool and because they had access to alcohol somehow. "Usually, it’s a group that gets together and decides to do it," said Miller. Goodwin said that part of the reason was because of the trusting nature of the community. "We’re a trusting community, and a lot of times, parents are not home to supervise their kids," she said.
Turning to what schools could do, Pritzel said that some schools west of the area will expel students who get caught drinking for a whole year. "And then parents get mad, because they see sports as their kids’ only way to get to college," he said. Worth County’s policy in the event of a Minor in Possession was a 10-day Out of School Suspension and a certain period of time when they were ineligible for sports; penalties get progressively worse if a student is caught multiple times.
McClain said that she was shocked by the extent of the problem in the county and that it was a matter of getting the word out so that parents would know. Judge Roger Prokes, in attendance, said that it was a matter of how they were raised. "If kids see dad with a 6-pack of beer in the refrigerator, they will see a hypocrite from a mile away," he said. He also said that early intervention was important as well. "The younger you present these issues to your kids, the more impact it will have on them."
Goodwin said that other problems in the county were pasture parties, which she said some kids see as a rite of passage, and attitudes of parents. "There are parents here who would just as soon see their kids drink as do drugs," she said. Deputy Sheriff Dennie Mildfeldt said that one time, he arrested someone for an MIP and the parent was thankful that no drugs were involved. "Until we change that mindset, we will make no headway in this fight," he said.
Dr. Smith said another problem was house parties, where young adults threw beer parties at which kids were invited. "It is against the law for any person to supply alcohol to kids," she said. Ideas that were thrown out to address this problem were the education of parents and kids, using the school webpage, alternative activities, and law enforcement involvement. Kyla McClain said that as a parent, for her, it was a matter of taking real-life examples and passing them onto their kids. Miller said that what hit home with her was the financial cost of getting caught with an MIP. As a student, Brooke Adams said that the key to get across to kids was to "talk to us; don’t preach." "Tell us how it affects you," added Megan McClain.
Mildfeldt said that it was a matter of playing the odds for some people. "People figure, ‘what are the chances of me being pulled over in Worth County at 1:30 in the morning?’" he asked. "There’s no threat, why not?" added Miller.
Prokes said that it was a lot more important to focus on the shattered lives that underage drinking causes than people who got killed. "You get a lot more alcoholics that start drinking at the age of 12 than people who get killed," he said. "It impacts your brain and leads to broken families. Me and [Associate Circuit Judge] Joel Miller would be selling pencils if it weren’t for underage drinking." Teacher Josh Allee said that another problem was the mentality that enforcement was OK until "it’s my child."
Dr. Smith urged people who know about an upcoming beer party with teens present to call the Highway Patrol Office at (816) 387-2345 or the Worth County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 564-2222. Prokes said that it might also be a good idea for neighbors to ask neighbors having a beer party to stop. He said that there was only so much that law enforcement could do; "they can’t go into someone’s property on a gut feeling," he said. "Law enforcement cannot enter a property without permission unless they see a crime being committed." Both Miller and McClain said that even the threat of enforcement works.
Overall, Dr. Smith said that in order to get a handle on this problem, that it was not just a matter of people looking after their own kids, it was a matter of looking after their neighbors’ kids as well.
Dennis Adams was present at the meeting to talk about their work with the Skating Rink. He said that they were planning to add onto the west side and turn the facility into a safe place where students could go after school. It would include a study room as well as a pool table. "People who can’t drive yet will have a safe place to stay out of trouble," added Karen Fletchall. Adams said that the place had good supervision; "the kids know that if you do something you’re not supposed to, you’re out." He said that it was a matter of respect, which meant not letting things slide. "If you’re consistent, they won’t hold it against you," he said. Adams said that the interest was growing now that younger kids were growing up with the Skating Rink.
But not everyone thinks that the laws banning people under 21 from drinking are good. There is a ballot initiative in Missouri this year that would lower the drinking age from 21 to 18 this year. But both local officials and students all say that it would be a bad idea. "The brain is not as developed at 18 as it is at 21," said McClain. "And most 18-year olds are surrounded by kids who are even younger than they are." April Miller added that "even 21-year-olds are not always mature."
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