51.2 Percent of Surveyed Branford Students Admit to Drinking Alcohol

Of all the information divulged at this past week’s presented by the Branford Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking, those in attendance were most interested in the local statistics that show of 715 seventh, ninth and eleventh grade students surveyed, 51.2 percent admitted to having more than one to two sips of alcohol.

Nancy Jakubiak, who was at the meeting said afterward, “It was very worthwhile. The survey results were more than I expected.” Though she and her husband have been speaking with their three children about drug and alcohol use for years, she said they may have a “big talk,” in the future after learning from the forum.

The event held at the , which was emceed by WTNH’s Chris Velardi, drew less people than some had hoped for but Coalition Director Pat Andriole (who also runs the ) felt, “it was a wonderful start.” She said that principal Lee Panagoulias had asked the Coalition to hold the forum before tonight’s annual Spring Formal held at the high school. Andriole hopes to have more forums on a regular basis to encourage more community participation.

About 18 people RVSPed for the event and more than one dozen additional people arrived as well. Velardi commented on the small attendance: “That means a couple things – it’s the first time we’ve ever done this or either that everybody in Branford – all the parents – know exactly how to talk to their kids about alcohol. I am guessing that’s not the case.”

Katina Gionteris provided a power point of the Coalition’s 2010 survey, which highlighted statistics on drug, alcohol and tobacco use as well as the determining factors that contribute to both student’s use and non-use of the substances.

“Overall,” the study found, “when students felt their family definitely had clear rules discouraging them from drinking, they were much less likely to report ever drinking alcohol (35.3 percent) when compared to students who felt it was definitely not true that their family had those rules (62.2 percent).”

Of the 392 students who had reported not drinking alcohol, the top reasons were personal choice, followed by health reasons and disapproval of parents. Disapproval of parents, the study showed, became less important as the grade level increased.

Of the 715 students completing the survey, 3.4 percent of seventh graders, 22.3 percent of ninth graders and 46.8 percent of eleventh graders reported ever having used marijuana. After marijuana, the most frequently reported drug used was prescription medications with 8.4 percent of students overall reporting use.

In attendance at the meeting was Anne Marie Sutherland and her husband, Carlton who have a tenth grade student at Branford High School as well as one other child at BHS and a child already graduated. The Sutherlands have recently had to deal with talking to their son regarding drug and alcohol issues following the recent news of Anne Marie shares that her son associated with several students who were involved with the school-handled issue of “prohibited conduct.” She and her husband had to explain to their son, who has not been implicated in “prohibited conduct,” that he could be guilty by association. “I am just straight forward and right to the point,” said Anne Marie.

Anne Marie said she probably talks to her son too much but feels it necessary. She added that the recent incident brought to light how bad decisions can reflect later with job applications and receiving financial aid for college. “This is reality,” said Anne Marie.

Another point Anne Marie made was the importance of knowing what children bring with them ­– water bottles are not always filled with water.

“No matter what precautions you take, kids will do whatever – they don’t understand consequences,” said Anne Marie.

This sentiment rang true to the forum’s segment on the Connecticut Social Host Law, which was presented by Peter Berdon, Esq. Berdon, who has two children in the Branford School system, is the Executive Director of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut. He stated the importance of the SHL, which makes it a crime to host a party for minors at which alcohol is served or consumed.

Berdon reported that this law is extremely important because 68 percent of alcohol consumed by minors is obtained from friends and family. Those who break the SHL can be fined up to $500 and/or be forced to serve up to one year in prison.

The local statistics on how alcohol is obtained as well as more detailed questions is only available for seventh grade survey takers; the Coalition reports a glitch in the system made a series of alcohol consumption questions invalid for the ninth and eleventh grades. The group plans to offer the survey again this spring and annually through 2014. Of the 59 seventh graders who said they had more than one to two sips of alcohol, 62.7 percent said the most common place to get alcohol was at home with parents’ permission.

Doctor Sheryl Ryan who spoke at the forum reported 33 percent of deaths in adolescents, age 15 to 19 were alcohol related (2006).  She added that 13 percent of youth reported driving a motor vehicle after drinking and that 33 percent ride in cars with drivers who have been drinking (this includes parents who have been drinking). “Alcohol,” she said, “impairs judgment and young children have difficulty with judgment anyway.”

Last to speak was Carole Cohen of MADD who offered numerous pieces of information to attendees about speaking with children about alcohol use.

Looking to the future, the Coalition hopes to grow the forum and perhaps, someday fill the high school auditorium with parents. For now, they are hoping families will continue to talk with children about the issues on a regular basis (you can join the Branford Patch conversation on the topic).

Anne Marie, who said she often tells her children, “If you never start, you never have to stop,” is happy to keep the dialogue ongoing with her kids. On a recent long car ride with her son, Anne Marie reports she had talked maybe too much. Even though she had to combat with headphones and texting, she said she kept talking in the hope that something would get through. Upon returning home, Anne Marie said her son, out of nowhere, asked her to go for a jog. Of course she obliged, taking a good step in the direction of communication.