Parent meeting focuses on education, resources for parents

The Northeast Texas Coalition Against Substance Abuse held a parent information meeting on Jan. 21. The purpose of the meeting was to inform parents of the dangers of underage drinking, and to provide them with resources for discussing underage drinking with their students. The meeting, which was held at Daingerfield High School, brought speakers who discussed different aspects of underage drinking with the parents. After a welcome by high school Principal Ryan Carroll, Lieutenant Steven Blythe, of the Lone Star Police Department, spoke to the parents on the physical effects of alcohol use on young bodies, as well as some of the legal ramifications of Underage use. Lieutenant Blythe was followed by Brandon Davidson, who is the program director for Next Step Community Solutions, which is the parent organization for NETCASA. Davidson gave those in attendance some interesting facts concerning underage drinking. Davidson informed parents that the human brain does not fully develop typically until the early twenties, and that introducing alcohol prior to the legal age of 21 significantly slows brain development. Davidson also shared that the average age for first use in the United States is 12 year. In Texas, the average age drops to 13, and in Morris County, the average age of first use is slightly lower, at 12.7 years. This means that, in Morris County, children as young as 12 years old are taking their first drinks. Davidson offered many tips to help parents talk to their children about alcohol, including discussions with younger children. “Students say that parents are their number one influence on whether to take that first drink or not,” said Davidson, adding “So it is important that we have discussions with them, and to start them early.” Davidson even mentioned conversations he has had with his five year old because of commercial they see on television together to show that a conversation about alcohol does not have to be a tedious, planned event. Dale Shimpock, with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in Northeast Texas, discussed the issue of social hosting with those in attendance. Shimpock informed parents that even though people believe that simply taking the keys or making an underage drinker stay on the premises is safer, under Texas law, it is not acceptable. If adults allow minors to consume alcohol on their property, the adults can be held civilly liable in the case of accident, death, or property damage. The final speaker of the night was Melissa Granberry, who works in Victim Services with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Granberry’s presentation followed Shimpock’s by letting those in attendance know how M.A.D.D. can help those affected by impaired drivers. To continue reading this article, purchase the January 28th edition of the Steel Country Bee, or go to our online e-edition at: http://www.etypeservices.com/Daingerfield%20BeeID312/default.aspx