Forum to center on underage drinking

BUCKSPORT – Underage drinking will be the topic of a town hall-style meeting next week sponsored jointly by the Bucksport Bay Healthy Communities Coalition and the School Department’s Coordinated School Health Program.

The meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 19, at the Alamo Theater is a response to the U.S. surgeon general’s call to action earlier this year in which he urged Americans to do more to reduce and prevent underage drinking.

“We want to raise awareness about the level of underage drinking going on in the country and in Maine,” said Mary Jane Bush, town health planning director. “This is one of many town hall meetings being held around Maine and the United States to bring awareness of this national and local problem.”

Maine’s Attorney General Steven Rowe will deliver the keynote address. The Performing Arts Class from Brewer High School will offer a dramatic presentation, which they created themselves, dealing with underage drinking. There also will be a round-table discussion featuring High School Principal Bob Doar, Sgt. Sean Geagan from the Police Department, and Gabe Sousa, a high school student. Parents, community members, students and town leaders will be encouraged to participate in the discussion.

“The attorney general is going to give the main view of the state’s experiences with underage drinking and the effects on the children and families and other areas of community life,” Bush said. “We will also have local representatives to present the Bucksport Bay area view of the issue. We’re hoping for an active dialogue with everyone who attends the session.”

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu issued the call to action in March.

“Alcohol remains the most heavily abused substance by America’s youth,” Moritsugu said then. “This Call to Action is attempting to change the culture and attitudes toward drinking in America. We can no long ignore what alcohol is doing to our children.”

According to the surgeon general, research shows that young people who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life. National statistics indicate that nearly 10.8 million youth between ages 12 and 20 are currently underage drinkers. Approximately 10 percent of 12-year-olds nationwide say they have used alcohol at least once, and by age 13, that number doubles. Approximately 50 percent of all 15-year-olds have had at least one drink.

That trend is reflected in Maine and in Hancock County, Bush said. According to Maine’s Youth Drug and Alcohol Use Survey, which is administered to students in most schools in Hancock County, 48.1 percent of Hancock County high school seniors reported using alcohol in the 30 days before taking the survey.

Bush said the coalition hopes the meeting will lead to a plan to better deal with the issue in the region.

“We’re looking for input from community residents about ideas that they have to develop an action program about how we can raise awareness about this issue and more effectively intervene,” she said.

rhewitt@bangordailynews.net

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Summit planned in Lubec

LUBEC – Attorney General Steven Rowe will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 Underage Drinking Summit at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Consolidated School Cafeteria.

Parents of students in grades six to 12 will receive an invitation and the booklets “Your Teen and Alcohol – A Resource Guide for Maine Parents” by Maine’s Office of Substance Abuse and “A Guide to Action for Families” from the surgeon’s general’s call to action.