Early Alcohol Consumption Early Alcohol Consumption = Early Addiction. This was part of the message brought to the students in grades six through 12, parents and community members who attended the Town Meeting forum, "Underage Drinking in Our Community," on Monday, May 5 at BRHS. (Photo Lisa Kristoff)

The statistics are staggering: nearly one-third of youth begin drinking before age 13.

The peak years of alcohol initiation occur in seventh and eighth grades.

Studies have demonstrated that adolescence is a time of heightened risk taking, experimentation of different behaviors and the beginning of the search for independence.

These studies and numerous others, have prompted the Surgeon General's Call to Action to prevent and reduce underage drinking.

Attorney General Steven Rowe joined Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Robert Hasch, St. Andrews Hospital & Healthcare CEO Peggy Pinkham, Department of Health and Human Services Director Holly Stover, YMCA executive director Andy Hamblett, Superintendent Eileen King, State Representative Bruce MacDonald, Jeanne Tonon, Joel Austin, student leaders and parents to devise an action plan.

Mr. Rowe stated that we, as a community, must find ways to reduce young people's interest in alcohol and reduce their access to it.

"When we ask kids why they drink they say peer pressure, stress and the influence of advertising," said Rowe. "Six billion dollars a year is spent on marketing alcohol. Flavored malt beverages and liquors target younger markets, particularly girls who prefer a sweeter taste."

Statistics have shown that eight out of 10 young women prefer such flavored alcoholic beverages.

So, what can we do? Mr. Rowe told adults to be mindful of the messages they may be sending. For example, if your child sees you wearing a ball cap with "Budweiser" or "Smirnoff" on it, what are you telling him or her?

Adults need to be mindful of the attitudes we are projecting - is alcohol at every get together? Do you sit around and reminisce about the -"good old days" - days that center around alcohol consumption?

Do you offer alcohol at gatherings? Any alternatives offered to guests?

Adults also need to listen to their kids. Listen, and talk to them. Ask your kids what you might be doing that encourages them to drink.

Set boundaries.

Reinforce rules - not reinforcing is worse than having no rules.

Adults and youth, parents and children need to have more interaction in one another's lives.

If you are in a store and see alcohol displayed inappropriately, call the store manager on it and request that he move it to another location.

Senior student moderator Soren Barker was the moderator during the panel discussion.

Chief Hasch reported a very high number of incidents involving alcohol and prescription drugs - with prevalence in girls 13 and up.

"The unintended result of underage drinking includes accidents - number 1," said Hasch. "And sexual assaults and criminal behavior - again, it's that risky behavior that seems so appealing to young people."

At the hospital and emergency room, Pinkham said they see the affects of alcohol in many painful ways.

"We see needless accidents, pregnancies, STDs, violence, alcohol poisoning - and if you have never seen someone being treated for this, it is not a pretty thing to witness," said Pinkham.

"The power and euphoria that alcohol induces causes the impaired judgment that leads to the emergency situations we encounter," said Pinkham.

Pinkham said that we all must look at our family relationships and family behavior for indicators of where certain paths may lead. She added that this was something she has had to do as well because of the incidence of addiction in her own family.

"Think about what the impact of what you do on yourself - and how it will affect everyone around you," Pinkham said.

The only way to a solution, said Hasch, had to involve kids - particularly those who are perceived as leaders and are respected by their peers. Younger kids still look up to older kids and this gives the latter the opportunity to be good role models.

"As police we need to take part in community events like this, to be in the schools, at the Y, places we can be seen and get to know the young people," Hasch said.

The police chief also took a few minutes to be sure the audience was aware that it is illegal for people to provide a place for minors to drink and/or provide minors with alcohol. "We have arrested many people for this and we will continue to."

What does not work, stated Rowe, was trying to scare kids.

"You never believe you are going to be the victim of a sexual assault. You should know that in the state of Maine, if you are not in control of your faculties, you cannot give consent," said Rowe.

Temporary loss of faculties is one consequence of alcohol consumption, but the irreversible brain damage that can result from alcohol abuse, over the course of months, is an unintentional consequence that cannot be fixed. The brain cells are gone.

Said Rowe, "Alcohol, binge drinking, it dumbs you down and limits your future."

The development of the brain between the ages of 10 and 20 are crucial and portions of the brain can remain underdeveloped due to teen alcohol consumption.

Twenty-nine percent of seniors admit to binge drinking in the last two weeks. Binge drinking is consuming five or more drinks in one sitting.

"Your brain is your computer, and you only have one," said Rowe.

"The only way we are going to address this, or any other issue, is if we agree, as a community, that this is not the type of community that we want to live in," Pinkham said.

"Youth are part of the solution; and we have to make sure that there are resources in the community to refer people to, and that is really tough in the state of Maine today."

Pinkham noted St. Andrews' behavioral health services where there are two therapists - and the search is on to find someone who can prescribe medications for those trying to wean themselves off of addictive substances.

For the past four to six weeks, Pinkham, along with Hamblett, Chief Hasch, and King have been meeting to brainstorm ideas on how a call to action can be inclusive of the community.

"We have kind of given ourselves an acronym, E.A.S.E. - educate, awareness, support and enforcement," Pinkham said. "And as much as we did not want enforcement in there, it is a piece of the puzzle."

Mr. Rowe invited students to comment on the program, share ideas, talk about why they drink.

"If you think we have said something that is wrong, or we don't understand some things, I would really like to hear it," said Rowe.

A sea of upright hands did not follow his request but, one lone student did come forward.

After admitting he did not drink, eighth grade student Chris Pressey posed this to the adults in the audience: "Maybe your kids drink because of you (parents). Here's a question to parents: raise your hand if you think you would freak out if your child told you they were drinking. (Many upright hands were seen.)

"Now, how many of you kids have parents that ask how your day was, (a LOT of hands are raised).

"Maybe they feel like you stress them out. Talk to your children more, it could help."

The attorney general acknowledged the parties that worked on the development and implementation of the event: King, Representative MacDonald, Pinkham, Boothbay Region YMCA executive director Andy Hamblett, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce executive director Jaimie Logan, Department of Health and Human Services regional director Holly Stover, BRHS Principal Jack Tourtillotte, and BRHS vice principal Joel Austin.

Coverage of the meeting between Mr. Rowe, the panel, members of the student body, other community leaders and parents will appear in next week's edition of the Boothbay Register.