DRUG, ALCOHOL USE NOT A RITE OF PASSAGE

The recently released University of Michigan study on youth alcohol and
drug use contained some positive news. Its circulation coincides with the
release of the 2002 Lucas County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ADAS)
Board Student Survey. The Lucas County ADAS survey is particularly relevant
because it looks at trends among youth in our community. While many
positive trends have emerged, there is also some alarming news.

Nearly 40 percent of our high school students report that they "binge
drink" (consume at least five drinks at one sitting) on at least a monthly
basis. More than 50 percent of our high school students report that they
have been a passenger in a car when the driver has used alcohol or
marijuana. One in four high school students reported that they have driven
after drinking or smoking pot.

Part of the problem may be in our parenting. Too many of us fondly remember
our youthful adventures and look the other way when our kids follow our
path. We need to wake up. Just because we were lucky enough to survive our
bad decisions doesn't mean our kids will.

Consider the odds. If you have a high school student in your family, the
chances are better than 50/50 that he or she has been a passenger in a car
with a pal whose judgment was impaired by alcohol or drugs. Isn't this crazy?

Alcohol and other drug use by kids is unhealthy, illegal, and dangerous.
Drinking and drugging is not a rite of passage and shouldn't be treated as
such.

As parents it is up to us to change this trend. We should all be sitting
our kids down and letting them know that this is unacceptable and has to
stop. Maybe then we'll see survey results in 2004 that will give us
something to truly celebrate.

JEFF DECKEBACH, CEO, Connecting Point, Cherry Street