Report shows underage drinking a problem in area
Image Source/Paul Michael Hughes
A 2017 Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) Report on underage and high-risk drinking found that area students are above or near the state average in the number of children willing to try alcohol, or who have engaged in binge drinking.(Image Source via AP Images)
Results of a Pennsylvania Youth Survey released by the state Liquor Control Board shows students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 have a willingness to try alcohol.
Image Source
A 2017 Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Report on underage and high-risk drinking found that area students are above or near the state average in the number of children willing to try alcohol, or who have engaged in binge drinking. (Image Source via AP Images)
Image Source/Paul Michael Hughes
A 2017 Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) Report on underage and high-risk drinking found that area students are above or near the state average in the number of children willing to try alcohol, or who have engaged in binge drinking. (Image Source via AP Images)
A 2017 Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) Report on underage and high-risk drinking found that students in Washington and Westmoreland counties are above or near the state average in the number of children willing to try alcohol, or who have engaged in binge drinking.
The report cites the 2015 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), conducted every other year with students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12.
“Alcohol is a problem among out 10th and 12th graders,” said Tammy Taylor, Washington County Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc. prevention director.
According to the PAYS, 31.8 percent of the students surveyed were willing to try alcohol and 10.5 percent have engaged in binge drinking, which is defined as consuming at least five drinks in a row. The state average for the willingness to try alcohol is 27.3 percent and is 7.8 percent for binge drinking.
Ten of the 14 school districts in the county participated in the PAYS.
“It shows that more than half of 10th graders have already tried alcohol. That’s alarming,” Taylor said.
The commission implements alcohol, tobacco and drug use and prevention programs beginning in the elementary school level.
“We are doing a lot when it comes to education,” Taylor said. “Early intervention works. The earlier we get them, the better.”
She said a national study says every dollar spent on education and early prevention could eliminate $18 in treatment costs.
“Protecting you, protecting me,” is a program used in third and fourth grades that teaches drinking can lead to injuries and death, and impairs brain development, Taylor said.
A middle school program “Too good for drugs,” reinforces the risks of using alcohol, tobacco and drugs, and imparts lessons on handling peer pressure, she said.
In addition, the program uses positive lessons to combat the perception that everybody is using and includes goal setting, decision making and stress management.
“Washington County Speaks,” a survey conducted by the commission asking students how they obtain alcohol, tobacco and drugs, points to adults as the primary source.
“Adults host parties and provide alcohol. Parents believe it didn’t harm them so it’s OK.
“It’s their right to allow kids to drink in their homes,” Taylor said. Caregivers also are sources of alcohol, she added.
Starting education and prevention programs at an early age and reinforcing the lessons as students progress through school is the goal, she said.
“Will it stop it completely? No, but it will give them tools to say know why they should say no,” Taylor said.
The LCB report notes that several new state laws increase convenience and access to buy beer, wine and liquor, but they also can impact communities and increase public health risks.
Taylor said some convenience stores in the county have begun selling alcohol.
The commission hosts Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP) classes conducted by the LCB for owners of restaurants, hotels, clubs, distributors and hosts of special occasion events, she said.
RAMP teaches how to detect impairment and how to identify underage people and fake or altered identifications.
In Westmoreland County, programs to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors are aimed at parents.
Messages warning adults about the consequences of allowing minors to drink are delivered on billboards, public service announcements, local government proclamations and stickers on cases of beer and pizza boxes, said Julie Roebuck, Westmoreland County Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc. prevention coordinator.
“We just try to educate parents,” Roebuck said.
In “Project Sticker Shock,” stickers on cases of beer remind people not to buy it for minors, she said.
“Parents who Host Lose the Most,” is a message on billboards, public service announcements and government proclamations.
“If you let your kids host a party there are consequences for you,” Roebuck said.
Parents who host parties and allow minors to drink can also face consequences.
“I’m hosting this party, but is OK because I’m taking their keys. It’s not OK,” Roebuck said.
Regarding the PAYS, only six of the 17 school districts participated so the results do not accurately reflect all youth in the county, she said.
“It’s not really a true representation of Westmoreland County,” Roebuck said.
The results indicate 27.2 percent, a hair less than the state average, are willing to try alcohol and 9.5 percent have engaged in binge drinking.
“We’re trying to provide more positive messages to kids instead of ‘don’t do this, don’t do that.’ Sixty percent said they don’t drink underage,” Roebuck said.
A problem with minors who drink are the potentially dangerous methods they use to ingest alcohol, she said.
Vaporizing alcohol and breathing it in, mixing alcohol with energy drinks and gummy bears, and girls soaking tampons with alcohol and inserting them are growing trends, she said.
Youth who consume alcohol in ways other than drinking and end up with alcohol poisoning can’t be forced to vomit by doctors because they didn’t drink the alcohol.
“Hospitals can’t make you throw up if you didn’t drink it,” she said.
The boost from energy drinks can counteract the drowsiness from alcohol and make kids believe they are not intoxicated, which can lead to drinking excessive amounts.
“They’re getting creative. They’re trying to hide it. Many kids walk around with energy drinks. They could be mixing it. Energy drinks mask signs of intoxication,” Roebuck said.
She said the laws that expand alcohol sales can add to the problem. Restricting liquor sales to state stores is one way to keep minors away from alcohol, she said.
“State stores have better control over it,” Roebuck said.
“Other states have all the access that Pennsylvania has. We just try to educate parents.”