Most Fulton Co. parents think drinking is problem, survey says

By STEVE COLON

Enterprise Editor

Results of a recent parent survey indicate that underage drinking is an important concern to most Fulton County parents. The survey was part of the Fulton County Family and Children First Council's Parents Who Host; Lose the Most campaign during prom and graduation season. About 1,400 surveys were sent to parents of juniors and seniors in each school district in Fulton County and 340 parents, or 24 percent of all polled, returned the survey.

* Sixty-six percent of parents viewed underage drinking as a relatively big problem. Only seven percent viewed the issue as a relatively small problem. The remaining 27 percent had mixed feelings about the size of the problem.

* Seventy percent thought it was relatively easy for youth to get alcohol in their community.

* Seventy-six percent said they had talked with their child about alcohol use within the last month.

One parent had this to say about the severity of the problem: "...my child... has lost many friendships during his high school years due to the fact that he will not give in to peer pressure."

The survey also gives some insight into factors that may contribute to local underage drinking.

* Sixty-one percent of parents said they are very unlikely to allow their child to attend a chaperoned party where alcohol is available. In comparison; 85 percent said they are very unlikely to allow their child to attend an unchaperoned party where alcohol is available.

* Twenty-two percent were not aware that it is illegal to knowingly allow a person under 21 (other than their child) to remain in their home or on their property while drinking or possessing alcohol.

"What this seems to indicate, is that some parents were unaware that it is illegal for kids to drink alcohol even if they are supervised by adults," said Beth Friess, Fulton County Board of DD Superintendent and chair of the Family and Children First Council. "Parents also seemed to not realize that even if they do not provide the alcohol, they can still be held liable for allowing teens to drink on their property."

Research shows that youth who drink alcohol are more likely to perform poorly in school, have unplanned pregnancies, and get into trouble with the law. They are also more likely to drive after drinking, ride with a friend who has been drinking, and take other risks that cause injury to themselves or others.

Teens are also likely to drink to excess and drink to get drunk. This makes brain damage a very real possibility because their brains are still developing.

The survey results highlight the need for parents to actively monitor teens' activities in their homes. Eighty-seven percent of parents thought that a friend's home is the first or second most common place for underage youth to drink alcohol. Ninety-two percent thought that beer - commonly found in many homes - is the leading type of alcohol underage youth drink most often. As one parent commented, "Parents stock the house with alcohol and beer and leave for the weekend."

Another parent commented, "I do not believe that many of the programs to prevent drug and alcohol use are near as effective as the parental influence on a child. Parents need to take a strong stand on these issues and talk to their children. If you want to reach the child - reach the parent."

In response to the issues addressed in the parent survey, the Family and Children First Council and Partnerships for Success, have formed the Partnership for a Drug Free Fulton County. This forum of civic, religious, education and pubic officials will work to seek grant funding to be used to develop programming which addresses the parental concerns.

"We are positioning ourselves where we can be eligible for (grant funds, trying to build up our membership and set long- and short-range goals necessary for application process," said Brenda Oyer, Partnerships for Success coordinator. "What's next is our drug free partnership group will be looking at those parental concerns in future months to further identify really specific areas we feel we need to target."

Oyer said due to time and resources the group will be charged with picking a specific area of focus for its programs and efforts. She noted that drinking and driving has been addressed, but hopes the group can convey that there are more issues to underage drinking than just not getting behind the wheel. Underage drinking can lead to binge drinking, unwanted pregnancy, accidental death and injury, and other health risks.

Friess sees the process working to address those areas not already covered and sees community involvement as key.

"It can't be one person, or two people, or 10 people," she said. "This process needs a whole lot of community input. If it is not something the community wants then it is not a need."

Both Friess and Oyer see the survey results as confirmation of what was already suspected - many parents are concerned with underage drinking.

"We suspect there is some number of parents who didn't understand that it's not okay to serve alcohol to other kids as long as supervised. Its' still illegal for them to provide to other kids, even if it is on their property. That is a misconception out there.

The survey was also "confirmation that parents really are concerned about this. Sometimes its easy to not pay attention to things going on but parents really are concerned about this."

"This survey was families giving comments to what their concerns are and, I guess, it's kind of scary to know this is a validation of a concern we already know about here in Fulton County," Friess said. "The things we have to do as council from here is put forth a plan looking at what we are (already) doing and what areas still could use some help."

Oyer said a timeline for the drug-free group would be to have proposals for grants prepared for January, with applications due in March 2008. If selected for funding, money could begin arriving in October of next year and programming could begin.

"We will use existing resources to do what the team prioritizes through June 30 of next year," Oyer said.