Messages for May
Posted May 1
Finally …
As summer quickly approaches there are many events sponsored by the school and others that present the opportunity for students to engage in activities that might involve alcohol and drugs. This is especially true for our older students who are attending proms not only here but also at other schools. I shared with you an article about alcohol use in last month’s newsletter and listed below is an article on binge drinking. I invite you to have a conversation with your daughter about this topic.
Once again I would like to remind you that as a school community, we have a policy (handbook page 44) concerning alcohol and drugs. It is our hope to see all of our students remain safe and we cannot do this without the support of parents. Our goal is to work in partnership with you. If you have concerns or need support in dealing with this issue, please do not hesitate to contact us. In working together we can help all of our students remain safe as they make wise choices.
UNC Study on Binge Drinking:
Effects Last a Lifetime
The majority of people who binge drink are adolescents. Hear what these teens have to say … “Oh, we’d get drunk. When we drink, we’d get drunk until we were like drunk-drunk. Like you don’t even know what you’re doing anymore, you’re like ‘ahhh’ you’re like all over the place,” says Renee, 16.
“That’s the only reason to drink, I don’t to see, I don’t believe in drinking just to drink. If I’m gonna drink, I’m gonna get drunk. Not only drunk, I’m gonna get faded, I’m gonna get messed up,” says Terrell, 17. “Have it ALL, like the whole bottle, just get really, really drunk,” says Jasmine, 15.
What impact does teenage binge drinking have on their lives as adults? Findings from a University of North Carolina study report that adolescents who drink heavily may be more likely to have deficits in adapting to life situations as adults. Teen drinking affects long-term structural changes in the brain’s frontal cortex, the part of the brain that allows us to predict consequences, control our impulse and refine reasoning.
Experts agree: Alcohol is the most dangerous drug of all. “There’s not even a comparison. This is by far the number one health problem that young people face in our society,” says Jim Mosher, J.D., with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.
What can we do to stop underage drinking? Experts say it’s time to speak up about expectations and lifelong consequences. “By not commenting directly, they’re, in essence, giving their child permission to continue to drink or get stoned or do whatever they’re doing because the child will interpret their silence as it’s okay, it doesn’t matter. I would tell parents if you don’t talk about things with your child, it’s probably going to happen again and again and it’s probably going to get worse,” says Dr. Alexandra Phipps, a psychologist. (From Connect with Kids newsletter)
Peace,
Donna Bridickas
Principal