DRINKING REMAINS PRESSING CONCERN

Anyone who refuses to believe that alcohol is one of the most abused and
dangerous drugs in this state need only consider two recent incidents in
Waukesha County.

In the first and perhaps most dramatic case, a 30-year-old Milwaukee woman
was arrested by Oconomowoc police officers Wednesday -- just one week
before her baby's scheduled delivery -- on suspicion of drunken driving.
Incredibly, it was the second time the woman had been arrested on charges
of drunken driving during her pregnancy -- behavior not unlike that of
Waukesha County's so-called "cocaine mom," whose drug abuse while pregnant
led to a controversial new state law.

On the same page of the Journal Sentinel's Waukesha edition that day was
another article graphically illustrating what some law enforcement
officials and educators have been saying for some time -- that alcohol
abuse is a serious problem with teens, too, despite what some unsuspecting
parents may believe.

Waukesha school officials are investigating a "senior camp-out" at which
numerous South High School students -- including some athletes -- were
busted for underage drinking at the Ottawa Lake Recreation Area.
Incidentally, the "camp-out" took place the night before classes started
for the year -- which speaks volumes about the problem of alcohol abuse
among the young.

And, should you think this is an isolated incident, think again. "Underage
alcohol consumption is one of the bigger problems we have in our forests,"
said John Hasse, a ranger for the state Department of Natural Resources.

One would like to think this was a wake-up call. Unfortunately, it's not
going to help if people simply hit the "snooze" button, roll over and go
back to sleep.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski