More Gun Violence -- 3 Marines Dead at Quantico

This morning, thoughts and prayers are with three Marines who are dead at Quantico, VA. This includes the gunman, who took his own life. None of us have all the answers. Most of us believe strongly in the right to protect ourselves against criminals or the government. But most of us know of someone who we wouldn't want anywhere near a gun or carrying a concealed weapon on their person. The problem is that most of the corporate media is focusing on the symptoms of gun violence and not the causes. Mental illness is one of the causes of gun violence, as is excessive exposure to lead. We submit that there is another cause as well -- allowing teens under 18 access to alcohol. In Sterling, VA, a teen was shot and killed by the homeowner after he had gotten drunk and then entered the wrong house. Around here, it is telling that the teens themselves think that it is a problem. We could repeal the Second Amendment, take everyone's guns away, and we still would not have a handle on the plague of violence sweeping our country.

Drunk doctors would face criminal charges under new bill

Doctors who perform medical procedures under the influence of alcohol would face criminal charges under a proposed measure debated Monday by the House Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety. "I was shocked to discover that it is not a crime for a doctor to perform surgery while intoxicated," said Rep. Vicki Schneider, R-O'Fallon, who introduced the bill. Paul Passanante, a medical malpractice attorney in St. Louis, told the committee about a physician who was intoxicated while operating on a patient. "He actually underwent a random drug test on the day that he performed a colonoscopy on my client, and he tested positive," Passanante said. Because the doctor was intoxicated, the patient ended up in critical condition. Passanante said he supports the bill and hopes it prevents this from happening again. Jeff Howell, spokesman for the Missouri State Medical Association, agreed that the problem needs to be addressed. However, he opposes the bill, calling it "unworkable." "It pretty much requires some type of drug test at the operating room door," Howell said. "Not only does it apply to physicians, but it casts a much wider net. It applies to any licensed health care professional." No immediate action was taken on the bill. The committee's chairman, Rep. Rodney Schad, R-Versailles, said the bill will be taken up at a later date.

Dallas Legalizes Alcohol

With their vote to legalize alcohol sales, Dallas has finally gotten with the times. It was one of the last cities in the US to be dry. Before, it had been a patchwork of wet and dry districts.

http://reason.com/archives/2011/02/01/wet-at-last?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+reason/Articles+

Casey Guernsey: Drug Testing for TANF Recipients

This week, our work in the House continued to move quickly as we advanced common-sense legislation to help Missouri’s economy and families. A bill I co-sponsored, House Bill 73 seeks to reform the way Missouri pays out welfare benefits to children and families in need. Sadly, around 60,000 children each month are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (or TANF) welfare payments. While this program means well, these benefits are distributed to whoever is registered as the child’s parent, and far too often these “parents” spend money meant to feed their child on themselves. Not surprisingly, if one talks with the individuals actually responsible for administering these welfare programs, they will tell you it isn’t difficult to figure out who the drug abusers are.

One ugly example of how these welfare payments are spent is on drugs and alcohol. In bad cases parents are abusing taxpayer good will on a bad habit that is otherwise meant for hungry children, but in the worst instances pregnant “mothers” who receive the benefits are choosing a bad habit over their child. In the data we have from 2010, there averaged around 85,000 individuals on TANF every month. None of these individuals were tested for illegal drugs as a condition of receiving their money. However, most people can’t get a job today without taking a drug test, yet those who would live off of the work of others are not made to take this same test – it is simply ridiculous.

In addition, numbers from (FY 2008) indicate that only 14.9% of Missouri families receiving TANF welfare payments are participating in some form of work. While there’s no way to know if drug-testing is part of this “work” – it probably isn’t. Even if all of these individuals are drug-tested as part of their work, it is still a very small minority that are tested. Simply put, we can do better and we should do better. If we are going to decide to give assistance to needy children and families there must be some accountability to the taxpayers. Opponents criticized this proposal because they said it lacked compassion and was irresponsible. I feel like one of our greatest responsibilities is to taxpayers and not addressing this issue is abusing the compassion of all those Missourians whose hard earned dollars are helping these families get by. Besides, how is enabling drug abusers with welfare money compassionate to these innocent children?

It is time we took a stand and in the Missouri House of Representatives we have taken the first step. Please join me in supporting HB 73 as it moves to the Senate and hopefully lands on the Governor’s desk for approval. As always, feel free to contact me at (573) 751-4285 or Casey.Guernsey@house.mo.gov. I look forward to your thoughts.

A Moment with Mike for July 16th, 2008

It is that time of year when many are making plans for vacations and summer fun. For some that means enjoying a week on a beach in some tropical locale but for many of us it means enjoying some of the recreation areas that our state has to offer. Water activities are a popular option and local lakes like Mozingo or Big Lake may become especially popular as gas prices inhibit travel to some of the bigger lakes in our state. As we plan to enjoy some well-deserved time away from work, it is important to put safety first with everything we do.
Our lakes and rivers provide a natural vacation destination for Missourians, however, these spots for family fun can also become dangerous when irresponsible consumption of alcohol is added to the mix. Alcohol has played a part in far too many of the boating accidents and fatalities we have seen in recent years and part of the problem has been that our legal intoxication limit for boating is not in line with the similar requirements we have for driving. Fortunately, legislation we passed this year makes that much-needed change to enforce the same limit for boating as we do for motorists on our roadways.
House Bill 1715 lowers our legal intoxication limit for boating from .1 of one percent to .08 of one percent. With this we create consistency with all legal limits for operating a vehicle. We hope this will help reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents on our waterways just as it has on roads and highways. In addition, the law clarifies the definitions of persistent and chronic offenders and ensures those who repeatedly offend will not get off easy.
I also want to mention another piece of legislation signed into law this month that will help reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents on our roadways. Senate Bill 930 requires repeat drunk driving offenders to have an ignition interlock device placed on their vehicle before they can regain their driving privileges from the Missouri Department of Revenue. These devices are proven to be effective as they won’t allow an individual who has consumed a dangerous level of alcohol to start his or her vehicle. While this is a method the court system has as an option for repeat offenders, our new law makes it mandatory and shifts the responsibility to our Department of Revenue. This change should help keep dangerous drunk drivers off our roadways and make traveling in our state even safer.
With both of these bills we can take comfort in the fact that Missouri is sending a strong message to those who operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. We want Missouri to be a safe vacation spot for our residents as well as visitors from outside our borders. May your travels this summer be safe and enjoyable.
If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 406A State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

Tougher Laws against DWI Offenders Signed.

As many Missouri families prepare to travel this holiday weekend, Gov. Matt Blunt signed tough legislation to better protect them from drunk drivers requiring repeat offenders to modify their vehicles with ignition interlock devices to ensure they cannot endanger other Missourians by drinking and driving.
"Drunk drivers take thousands of innocent lives every year. My heart goes out to the parents, the children, the brothers, the sisters, and the friends who have had their lives changed forever by the criminal irresponsibility of drunk drivers," Gov. Blunt said. "No one should have to suffer through the pain caused by drunk driving accidents. When someone abuses their driving privilege they should have to prove their trustworthiness to get their driver’s license back. And not just by promising not to do it again, but through ignition interlocks which verify sobriety."
"I appreciate Gov. Blunt signing this comprehensive transportation reform package," Sen. Stouffer said. "These reforms come from several years of collaborative work which will result in moving transportation forward in Missouri."
Senate Bill 930, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, amends Missouri law regarding the issuance of ignition interlocks as penalties for repeat drunk driving offenders. Under current law courts are required to mandate ignition interlock devices, a vehicle modification system that disables a vehicle’s ignition if the driver is drunk or drinking, on the second or subsequent offense.
The legislation shifts responsibility for interlock devices from the courts to the Department of Revenue. To re-gain their driving privileges from the Department of Revenue, convicted drunk drivers must use an ignition interlock device.
In 2005 there were 3,163 drivers convicted of second and subsequent offenses. Of those only about 19 percent, or 614, were required by the courts to install the interlocks. The shift of this responsibility for interlock devices from the courts to the Department of Revenue should address this problem.
The legislation signed by Gov. Blunt also addresses a loophole in our current drunk driving laws. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled, essentially, that municipal DWIs could not count in a prosecutor’s calculation of whether to charge a defendant as a persistent prior offender. This legislation closes this new loophole and with Gov. Blunt’s signature, municipal DWIs will once again count against a defendant.
Gov. Blunt’s action continues his strong stance against alcohol offenders. He has signed legislation closing a loophole in the law that had allowed some arrested for drunk driving to avoid prosecution on a technicality. He also signed legislation creating two new classes for repeat DWI offenders, aggravated and chronic, that both carry increased penalties. In addition the governor strengthened Missouri’s laws against underage drinking by changing penalties to address both the possession and consumption of alcohol by minors. In Missouri a minor could be found guilty of a "minor in possession" if he or she is visibly intoxicated or has a blood alcohol content of more than .02. New laws enacted by the governor also prohibits adults from allowing minors to drink on their private property unless they are the minor’s legal guardians and requires school districts to create a policy detailing the consequences if a student is found to either possess or drink alcohol on school property or at school events.

Alcopops Awareness Kit Announced

Missouri's Youth/Adult Alliance (MYAA), a statewide organization specializing in underage drinking prevention, announces a resource that urges parents, schools, law enforcement, and retailer workers to look twice at what youth are buying and drinking. Many may not be aware of a current trend in alcoholic beverages that is very inviting to youth. This alcopops awareness kit provides information and suggestions for raising awareness of an issue which is currently camouflaged.
'Alcopops' are alcoholic drinks that taste sweet and very much resemble fruit juices, teas, and energy drinks that are already popular with youth. The marketing of these products employs methods which reach and appeal to youth, while prices remain low due to tax classification as a beer.
The cans and bottles that are used to package most alcopops are nearly identical to their non-alcoholic counterparts. Upon inspection, three items will distinguish the products: nutritional facts will be listed on non-alcoholic beverages, but not on those with alcohol. On alcoholic drinks, the percentage of alcohol and the Surgeon General's warning will be present somewhere on the can or bottle, though it may be hard to find.
These products not only mislead young consumers by mimicking non-alcoholic products; they dupe parents as well. An 18 year old girl's Facebook page states, "I had a six pack of [alcopops] in my room and my mom found it, but she had no idea and thought they were just energy drinks."
Missouri's Youth/Adult Alliance's, Debunking the Disguise: An Alcopops Awareness Kit, contains information about Alcopops and how to raise awareness in your community. The kit also includes a post card which can be sent to members of your community to raise awareness of the issue. Copies of the kit and additional post cards are now available through MYAA. Call (573) 635-6669 or visit our website at www.myaa.org.

Worth Caring Coalition Continues Underage Drinking Dialogue

The Worth Caring Coalition met again Tuesday night and continued their ongoing dialogue about the problem of underage drinking in the county. Immediate needs in the area were recruitment, getting together activities that were alternatives to alcohol, and bringing more people into the process. Chris Turpin of the Heartland Foundation encouraged them, saying that their efforts would make a difference down the road. "It used to be that when I grew up, there was Joe Camel," he said. "Now, smoking is not such a cool thing to do any more. And that was the result of people like you."
Coalition members reported that they had already got together two dance classes, taught by an instructor from Mount Ayr; they said that there were 15-20 people at both of these events. Coalition member Megan McClain said that the hardest part was getting peers to change. "The stuff I found out was so shocking, I didn’t even think of that stuff," she said.
Gary Hillebrand of Preferred Healthcare and Turpin suggested some ideas for the students -- designing T-shirts, setting up rules for members, giving out cards for staying clean, and scholarship opportunities for other kids. McClain said that those were ideas and that the main thing for the coalition was to keep on track with what they were doing. She said that they were working on having a drive-in movie for the summer as well as reaching out to the elementary students as well. Hillebrand said that a lot of what they did would have a major impact and then pointed to a surprising statistic -- "75% of you will come back here." Turpin added, "You will have an inside track on telling kids what they need to hear about underage alcohol."
McClain said that anyone over 21 could get alcohol for younger teens and that more and more, people in their 30’s and 40’s were hanging out with high school kids. She said that was one of the main factors driving the underage drinking problem in the county. As Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith pointed out, this could lead to further problems down the road such as domestic violence. Deputy Sheriff Dennie Mildfeldt said that in 98% of the arrests that he made, alcohol was involved. Hillebrand said that one of the strengths of the coalition’s activities were that they were reaching out to the adults in the community. "It used to be that programs were just focused on you, and that is not enough," he said. "Youth are not always in the position to get things done, and adults are."
Mildfeldt said that one attitude that led to the problem is that people think, "I got drunk when I was young, and I don’t see the problem." He said that youth were drinking more than their parents were, reinforced by the fact that parents buy 2-3 cases of beer. But Judge Joel Miller said that the problem was not necessarily the local convenience stores; he said that when the state did a recent sting operation, the clerks all ran the kids out of the store. He said that the difference between Worth County and other places was that older people were generally working the registers.
Hillebrand said that attitudes towards drunkenness were another factor. "Most cities have the problem of stores selling underage people liquor," he said. "We’re not proud in St. Joseph that our rate is so high, and one of the first steps to combat that is to raise public awareness. It used to be that it was a matter of public embarrassment if you showed up drunk to something."
Hillebrand said that another attitude that he saw was the misconception that if someone only drank one day of the week, they were not an alcoholic. "But if they only drink on Friday, and they are focusing all that week on Friday, then they are still an alcoholic," he said. Hillebrand, who works with kids who are trying to get free of substance abuse, said that it used to be that there was no empathy or compassion for students. "No community organizations or schools understood what was going on with these kids," he said. "Fortunately, we have moved beyond that." Hillebrand encouraged the coalition members to come up with a set of best practices that have been proven successful in many different settings that they could use for their program.
Hillebrand said that another myth about alcohol that he encountered was that it was better for the kids to drink at home than it was to go away and do it. But he said that myth ignored the fact that the human brain does not fully develop until it is 25. "People who start drinking before that don’t reach their potential," he said. He pointed to the case of Yankee baseball superstar Mickey Mantle, whom he said hit all those home runs, but still did not play up to his potential because of his drinking problems. "He could have done even greater things than what he did," he said. The dying Mantle himself said that kids should not look up to him as a role model.
Then, Hillebrand challenged the students to look for ways to make things better. "We’re not looking to blame anyone," he said. "We’re looking for how we can make things better." He said that merely doing mass assemblies, horror stories, and reciting facts would not be enough; only a combination of activities would reach the community and the people that they were trying to reach.
Hillebrand said that too often, such efforts only focused on weaknesses; he said that the students should focus on strengths and resources such as law enforcement, the school system, and youth groups. He said that once the community got a handle on the alcohol problem that other problems, such as robberies, domestic violence, and drug abuse would go down in the community as well. "And alcohol is involved in 75% of domestic violence cases," he added.
He said that it was also a matter of getting out and talking to as many different people as possible. "Even people who oppose you won’t stand in your way if you talk to them," he said. Superintendent Dr. Linda Gray Smith said that she would call around and see if she could find someone interested in providing self-defense classes; there was a lot of interest in that expressed by area youth along with dance classes.
McClain said that one of the problems was that there was nothing to do in the area but ride four-wheelers. She said that it was a matter of figuring out how to get people involved.

Turpin said that sometimes, it was a matter of trial and error; for instance, one idea that worked for one teacher was taking his students to the local jail and having his students lie down in the hard beds. "They did not want any part of that," he said.
Brooke Adams said that one of the problems in the county was that there were hardly any Minor in Possession (MIP) arrests in the county. Highway Patrolman Scott Pritzel said that juveniles were routinely taken to Maryville or Bethany where they were detoxified and released to their parents; usually, he said that they would not tell them who supplied them with alcohol. He said some people supplied alcohol to teens for the money; for instance, they would take money from the teen to buy alcohol and then get some for themselves with the remainder.
Hillebrand reminded the students that they were in the majority; for instance, 80-88% of students don’t smoke pot. "Most would rather do fun stuff," he said. "Focus on the ones who would rather do fun stuff than hang out and use alcohol and drugs," he said.
He said that when power was given to youth, their involvement skyrockets. But Hillebrand said that there were obstacles that the coalition had to deal with. For instance, parents hosting parties or not securing alcohol might be an obstacle as well as new problems, such as abuse of prescription medications. He said that one key would be for the group to train people as advocates; another idea would be to meet with representatives and discuss laws that they could pass. "You need to decide what it is you need to do," he said. In places that stay at square one, things will continue to get worse; your goal is to get to square two and square three."
Teacher Jonell Cook said that there was a family issue that was involved. "Some people see underage drinking in the family as natural and normal because they’ve always done it," she said. McClain said that a lot of times, people were not open to new ideas. Hillebrand responded that "we can only do what we can. We can’t change backgrounds, but we can be role models to other kids," he said. Turpin added that a lot of times, the family members were absent. "That’s when you have to step in as a teacher," he said.
Cook said that a lot of times, it was generational; another factor was that there were a lot of different ways that people looked at things. She recounted a poverty project where everyone had to take pictures of what they thought poverty looked like. The students focused on old barns and houses, she focused on gardens "because that was their food," and others focused on spiritual poverty.
Hillebrand came back to his point about role modeling. "Even 5th graders can see for themselves how alcohol affects people," he said. He said that it was a matter of setting norms that stated that this was not acceptable as well as enrichment of strengths. "Focus on what you would like to see done, and plan a campaign or strategy that fits your needs," he said.

Opinion: How Split-Second Decisions Imperil Youth

By Stephen Wallace, M.S. Ed.
Educating young people about the dangers inherent in their everyday lives is not an assignment for the faint of heart. It takes reams of information, no small amount of courage, and tenacity not easily maintained. Yet, as we enter one of the most dangerous seasons for teens, the call to action has never been greater.
Even well-intentioned teens may fall victim to a natural neurochemical process that may swiftly erase past reasoning, replacing it with split-second decisions that may surprise, or in some cases confound, them.
During adolescence – and somewhat beyond – dormant cognitive order gives way to mind-numbing change as the brain literally prunes itself, recasting its very structure in the interest of what psychologists call "higher order" thinking skills, such as appraising, predicting, and evaluating. This massive reorganization, in which the gray matter of the brain (which had been thickening up to the start of puberty) begins to thin as excess connections are eliminated and remaining ones strengthened, creates a leaner, meaner thinking machine.
Sounds great.
The only problem is that along with such transformation comes a (hopefully) temporary slighting of the part of the brain responsible for judgment. And a lack of judgment can lead to serious, even deadly, consequences.
Jay Giedd, M.D., a neuroscientist at the National Institute of Mental Health – and a leading researcher on adolescent brains – calls this period " a time of enormous opportunity and of enormous risk," pointing out that, among other things, it coincides, or perhaps collides, with other developmental forces. In an interview with PBS' Frontline, Dr. Giedd said, "It's also a particularly cruel irony of nature, I think, that right at this time when the brain is most vulnerable is also the time when teens are most likely to experiment with drugs or alcohol."
And that is especially troubling when it comes to teens and cars.
Research from SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and Liberty Mutual Insurance reveals that, despite more than two decades of progress in the area of adolescent impaired driving, one in five teens reports combining driving with alcohol and almost one in eight says the same thing about marijuana.
Add to that analysis other key indicators of teen driving safety – using a cell phone (62 percent), having more than three people in the car (64 percent), and text messaging (22 percent) while driving – and you begin to see the scope of the problem.
And just when more teens than ever are climbing behind the wheel.
According to SADD and Liberty Mutual, during the summer teen drivers average 44 percent more hours behind the wheel each week and are more likely than they are during the school year to drive with three or more teens in the car (23 percent versus 6 percent), to drive late at night (47 percent versus 6 percent), and to drive when tired or sleepy (24 percent versus 9 percent).
These sobering statistics may help to explain why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that more teens die in car crashes during the summer months (June through September) than at any other time of the year. Another cruel irony of timing – the joy and freedom that summer brings crashing headlong into an unyielding cognitive makeover that leaves even the most responsible of teens at risk.
In her book The Primal Teen, New York Times health editor Barbara Strauch recounts the tale of one such teen, a girl who gets good grades and takes pains to avoid making poor choices. Nevertheless, Strauch reports, she sometimes "acts crazy," such as the time she countered a truck that had passed her on the highway by then passing it herself ... at a speed of more than one hundred miles per hour. As Strauch says, "She nearly killed herself."
Speeding cars, and impulses, call out for the type of deliberate, thoughtful processing of information that perhaps only fully mature adult brains can truly master, thereby placing a big, bold exclamation point on the value of parental intrusion into the carefree world of teen driving. After all, young people themselves say that their parents are the biggest influence on how they drive and they report that when Mom or Dad sets and enforces driving rules, they are more likely to stay safe behind the wheel.
Yet another place where judgments can be clouded, and lives forever changed, in a snap!

Stephen Wallace, author of the new book Reality Gap–Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex, What Parents Don't Know and Teens Aren't Telling, serves as the national chairman and chief executive officer of SADD, Inc. (Students Against Destructive Decisions). For more information about SADD, visit sadd.org. For more information about Stephen, visit stephengraywallace.com.

50% of Parents Lack Info to Prevent Teen Alcohol Use

The early teen years are not only a turbulent time for kids themselves, but also usher in a period of increased insecurity and need among parents when it comes to preventing teen drug and alcohol use, according to the 20th annual national study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America®. The study shows that as kids transition into teendom, their parents' need for useful information and help talking about drugs and alcohol peaks. At the very same time, parents' confidence in their ability to influence their teens' decisions about drugs and alcohol begins to wane. According to data from the 2007 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), half of all parents (51 percent), with kids in 6th-8th grade, feel they lack the tools and information to prevent drug and alcohol use, where just 35 percent of parents of elementary school children (4th-5th grades) feel they need more help.
Parents of teens and 'tweens in middle school are the most likely group of parents 46 percent to sense their kids' reluctance to talk to them about drugs and alcohol, and overall, four out of ten parents (37 percent) of teens and 'tweens feel they have little influence over their middle schooler's decision to try drugs. Yet, Partnership research shows that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use. Now in its 20th year, the 2007 PATS study surveyed 1,045 parents or caregivers of children ages 10-19 (margin of error: +/-3 percent). Top-line findings from this nationally projectable tracking study show:
-The number of parents who report they need more tools and information to help their kids deal with drugs and alcohol jumps 45 percent between 4th-5th grade and 6th-8th grade. (35 percent of 4th-5th grade parents report they need more information, versus 51 percent of 6th-8th grade parents)
-Parents of 6th -8th graders are more likely to say that their kids are reluctant to talk to them about drugs and alcohol (46 percent) than are parents with children in 4th -5th grades (33 percent)
-Also, 37 percent of 6th-8th grade parents feel they have little influence over their child's decision to use drugs, versus 26 percent of 4th-5th grade parents who feel the same way. "Parents are the most powerful influencers in their kids' lives, including on their choice to try drugs or alcohol, but this study clearly shows that many parents feel increasingly overwhelmed as kids become teenagers," said Connie Berhorst, ACT Missouri. "These vulnerable years are when teens are exposed to drugs and alcohol, and parents can't let the normal turbulence and frustrations of raising teens interfere with their determination to keep their kids from risking their health. Science has helped us understand that the brain doesn't fully develop until age 25, and while teens are attracted to experimentation and risk, they are simply not prepared to make good decisions about drugs, new social situations, sex and other tough issues that affect their futures. Parents have to step in and help their kids, no matter how challenging the conversation."
"Should I Be a Parent or a Pal?" Some parents feel conflicted in parenting their teens because they value having a strong friendship with their child. Parents' wish to be their child's friend, and their reluctance to set rules and limits for their kids increases dramatically during the middle school years. PATS found 36 percent of parents with kids in grades 6th-8th agree "it is very important to me that my child consider me a friend" compared to 20 percent of parents with children in 4th-5th grades.
As their children get older, parents are more likely to report that "I would never go through my child's things when he/she was not there;" 23 percent for 4th -5th grade parents vs. 38 percent for parents with children in 6th -8th grades. Parents of middle school kids (6th -8th grades) are more likely than parents of elementary school children (4th -5th grades) to agree that:
-I have a hard time saying "no" to my child when he/she wants to do something or go somewhere I have doubts about (37 percent vs. 18 percent) .
-It's hard to tell my child not to do something if all of his/her friends' parents allow them to do it or if other parents approve (40 percent vs. 19 percent).
"Being a parent is really hard work and I don't always know the exact right thing to say or do," Sandra Carcamo, mother of one 'tween boy and two teenagers. "But the one thing that I do know is that I will do whatever is necessary to protect my kids from anything that could potentially hurt them. Even if it means I have to invade their privacy or have conversations with them that make them uncomfortable, that's what I will do to keep my children safe because I love them."
The release of the PATS data on parents' needs coincides with the launch of an innovative digital media tool on the web from the Partnership. The new site, "A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain" and available at www.drugfree.org/teenbrain, helps parents navigate the confusing, often frustrating teen years. The site translates recent scientific findings into easy-to-understand tips and tools for parents. It also helps shed light on how teen brain development takes place later than previously thought and explains how that shapes teens' behavior and personalities as they get older.
"A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain" explains how the human brain takes 25 years to fully develop, with the prefrontal cortex responsible for complex judgment and decision-making maturing last. Through extensive video segments featuring scientists, parents and teens, humorous interactive segments, role-playing and advice from experts, parents learn how adolescent brain development explains the "normal" teen behaviors that often confound parents impulsiveness, rebellion, high emotions and risk-taking and how to use this new information to connect with their teens.
"A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain" is the first in a series of new interactive products the Partnership will introduce at drugfree.org throughout the coming year as part of a major effort to champion parents and provide them with the fact-based, science-grounded tools they want and need prevent and address drug and alcohol abuse with their kids and in their families. DeKadt Marketing and Research, Inc. collaborated with the Partnership and conducted the 2007 PATS survey on parents' needs through self-administered in-home questionnaires.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a nonprofit organization that unites parents, renowned scientists and communications professionals to help families raise healthy children. Best known for its research-based national public education programs, the Partnership motivates and equips parents to prevent their children from using drugs and alcohol, and to find help and treatment for family and friends in trouble.
The centerpiece of this effort is an online resource center at drugfree.org, featuring interactive tools that translate the latest science and research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into easy to understand tips and tools. Research conducted by AP and MTV recently showed that kids see their parents as heroes‹ at drugfree.org, parents can connect with each other, tap into expert advice for children of all ages, and find the support they want and need in their role as hero to their kids. The Partnership depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other contributors. The Partnership thanks SAG/AFTRA, the advertising industry and our media partners for their ongoing generosity.

Worth Caring Coalition Conducts Town Hall Forum on Underage Alcohol Use

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."

Town Hall Meeting on Alcohol Use

The Worth Caring Coalition is hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Thurs., March 27 from 6:30-8 at the Grant City Christian Church. A light dinner will be served.
The results of a survey conducted during the Courtwarming basketball game indicated that 88% of those who responded felt that Worth County has an underage drinking problem.
The town hall meeting will feature a member of the highway patrol, students, a school staff member, and a parent talking about the concern. Efforts begun by the Coalition to educate community members on the dangers of underage drinking, to increase activities for students, and to increase stronger and more consistent enforcement of no-alcohol policies will be shared.
Ideas for families and for communities will be distributed. Please plan to attend, and if possible, RSVP to Kandi Sorensen at 660-564-3389.
The Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall Meetings are a part of a national effort to increase understanding and awareness of the underage drinking and its consequences. Up to 2,000 organizations are hosting meetings thought the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on Underage Drinking.