Start Talking Before They Start Drinking

Posted by on May 29, 2012

Events focus attention on underage drinking

Individuals who start drinking before the age of 15 are more than six times more likely to develop alcohol problems than those who don’t drink until after they are 21.

To highlight the issue, the Council of Southeast Pennsylvania is inviting parents and other community members to Start Talking Before They Start Drinking on Thursday, May 31st from 7-8:30pm at Maple Point Middle School, 2250 Langhorne-Yardley Rd., Langhorne.

This town hall meeting on underage drinking will feature This Place, a 15-minute film that dramatically captures today’s youth drinking culture and the impact of underage drinking. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more young people use alcohol than any other drug, including tobacco and marijuana. In 2010, some 10 million 12- to 20-year-olds, or more than one in four, reported drinking.

The program will also include a panel presentation and question-and-answer period. The panel will be comprised of representatives from law enforcement, the medical community, a prevention specialist, a person in recovery, a parent and a concerned youth.

The program is free. For information, call David Fialko at 215-230-8218, ext. 3162, or email him at dfialko@councilsepa.org.