Anti-alcohol messages delivered in person

Three local leaders talked to several School District of Waukesha fifth and sixth grade classes over the past few weeks to deliver a strong anti-alcohol and drug message. April was Alcohol Awareness Month.

Waukesha Superintendent of Schools Todd Gray, a former high school teacher, led the fifth grade classes for one period at White Rock Elementary School on Tuesday, April 28, where he talked about a pact he made with his three sons when they were young.

His oldest son now works for Congress in Washington D.C. on a budget committee on economics for Paul Ryan. His middle son, played golf for Marquette University and won the Big East Championship last year. He lives in Phoenix now and plays on the Gateway Tour. His youngest son runs triathlons and is a student at Marquette.

Gray and his sons made promises that if his sons work to reach their goals and if they don't smoke or drink, then they would be provided with the means to support their goals. "They made the right decisions," said Gray of his sons.

Underage drinking is illegal.

"They would not be where they are now if they drank alcohol," said Gray.

Winners don't drink

He also showed a photo of the boys' cross country champion team from Waukesha West.

"All of these kids would not have won if they drank alcohol," said Gray. "They work weeks to get to a certain level, and one time drinking could ruin that."

"Take care of your brain. Alcohol is a form of poison. When you drink it, it affects your brain and your brain controls your body." He pointed out to the students how alcohol affects each part of the brain and parts of the body.

"A young person's brain and body are still growing. Drinking alcohol can cause learning problems or lead to adult alcoholism. People who begin drinking by age 15 are five times more likely to abuse or become dependent on alcohol than those who begin drinking after age 20," are some statistics included in a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA brochure handed to students.

Getting the message

After the program, Gray explained it is important to start teaching this message to fourth through sixth graders because, "they are at the age when they have to understand the problems of drugs and alcohol."

"Taking the first drink, or thinking about it could happen in fourth grade," said Principal Dorothy Smith of White Rock School. "They need to recognize that alcohol is NOT for children. That's why we have a minimum age for consumption here."

"It's important to learn the consequences so they can make good choices," said Gray. It's also important to hear the same message from many sources including the superintendent and mayor. "The more they hear it, the more the message would stick."

Starting early

Fred Garcia will be presenting a session with materials in Spanish for ESL students at Central Middle School in May.

Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson taught a session with a similar message on Wednesday, April 29 at Blair Elementary School. He also signed an official proclamation on April 24 stressing the importance of teaching the harmful effects of underage alcohol use and to teach kids how to resist peer pressure and resist getting involved in the use of alcohol.

The proclamation included many critical facts about youth and alcohol including there are more than 10 million underage drinkers between 12 and 20 years of age. Alcohol use among children and adolescents starts early and increases rapidly with age. Approximately 10 percent of 9- to 10-year-olds have started drinking and nearly one-third of youth begin drinking before age 13.

Family influence

Family factors exert a significant influence on youth abuse of alcohol and drugs.

Children can avoid the negative effect of alcohol and drugs.

Brianna Duffy of the Addiction Resource Council Inc. in Waukesha said there will be similar presentations throughout the year in schools throughout the county. The council also presents a program, "Parents Who Host, Lose the Most" which educates parents on the legal and health issues surrounding the legal drinking age. The ARC was chosen by SAMHSA to conduct classroom presentations.

The Waukesha County UW-Extension received a federal Drug Free Communities grant which resulted in developing the Waukesha County Drug Free Communities Coalition. The Coalition is participating in the SAMHSA national network of Teach-Ins. The teach-ins are aimed at fifth and sixth graders with materials to be sent home to parents.

For more information, call the Addiction Resource Council at (262) 524-7921.