More Evidence That a Lower Drinking Age Won't Solve Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is a phenomenon that knows no national borders. Although proponents of lowering the drinking age often cite Europe's relaxed laws around youth and alcohol as an example of how to teach kids to drink "responsibly," new evidence shows that when it comes to teens, there is no responsible drinking.

French hospitals report a dramatic increase in alcohol-related admissions to their emergency departments. One addiction specialist attributes the rise in binge drinking to the breakdown of family supervision and the ever-lower ages of initiation into drinking, with kids as young as 13 gathering to binge drink.

Find the complete article at:

http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2008/french-youths-pick-up-bad.html

Do You Really Need Another Reason to Drive Sober?

If so...check out the DUI Foundation's new website (http://www.duifoundation.org/). You'll find a wealth of information covering health issues, legal information, and the most current news on impaired driving.

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Remember that a single drunk driving accident can have permanent and deadly consequences.

Is Your Teen Tricking You? Here are 5 Tricks and Tips Just for Parents!

Teens use many tried and true methods of getting around rules and hiding things they know parents disapprove of. Check out this article for 5 common tricks and advice for parents on how to anticipate them before the fact:

http://www.timetotalk.org/Downloads/ttt_halloween_tool_final.pdf?utm_source=ttt_eBlast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Halloween_Alert_Oct2008&tr=y&auid=4166534

Remember, kids who are not monitored are four times more likely to use drugs than kids who are.

Celebrate National Teen Driver Safety Week with a Game!

Drug Free Communities Program Reduces Teen Substance Use

(Taken from Join Together)

A new report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) says that alcohol, tobacco and other drug use rates were lower than national averages in cities and towns with coalitions funded by the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program.

Annual youth marijuana, alcohol and tobacco use in DFC communities was 9.9 percent, 23.3 percent, and 10 percent lower, respectively, than the national average for use of these substances. Trends in current use among DFC communities were compared with national data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

The report also found that youth drug use declined more rapidly in communities with DFC coalitions than the national average.

The 769 DFC coalitions are made of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, health care and business professionals, law enforcement and the media. The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community organizations that facilitate citizen participation in local drug-prevention efforts.

Do U know how 2 txt? IDK either! Learn how to talk to your teens:

(Taken from Partnership for a Drug-Free America's www.timetotalk.org)

Back-to-school is a stressful time for teens, and new research from the Partnership shows the top reason teens use drugs is to cope with school pressures. Take every opportunity to talk to your teen, and help them manage stress in a healthy way. Text messaging is a great way to send a quick reminder of your support at back to school—or anytime. All thumbs when it comes to texting? We can get you started.

Find the complete Time to Text guide on the DCCCA website:

http://www.dccca.org/documents/ttt_time_to_text.pdf

Why 21?

A spate of recent articles in The Lawrence Journal World have sparked heated discussion throughout the state of Kansas and nationwide. More than 100 colleges have come together under the umbrella of the Amethyst Initiative to suggest a dialogue on lowering the minimum drinking age from 21 to 18.

We commend KU for not joining the Amethyst Initiative. There is no evidence that lowering the drinking age will reduce binge drinking or other risky behaviours. In fact, the minimum 21 drinking age law has been heralded as one of the most effective public safety laws ever passed. It is also one of the nation's most examined laws, with countless studies that have been conducted to measure the law's effectiveness--all of which have come to the same conclusion: this law saves lives.

Alcohol-related fatalities and injuries have decreased, saving 900 lives per year as estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 17,000 Americans are alive and well today thanks to the adoption of this law by all states in 1988--that's more than enough to pack Allen Fieldhouse to the rafters. Youth drinking rates have also declined since 1988. Binge drinking has decreased 15% among high school seniors. A look at all the research between 1960 and 2000 shows that the minimum 21 drinking age laws decrease underage consumption of alcohol.

For a complete fact sheet on "Why 21" please visit our DCCCA website. History of the law, research and statistics, and responses to many common objections to the law (i.e. age of military service) are included.

For Journal-World articles visit:

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/aug/20/ku_abstains_effort_lower_drinking_age/
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/aug/19/should_drinking_age_be_lower/