Officials hope drug and alcohol survey results enough to bring out parents

Stonington - For the past few weeks, school and town officials have been urging parents of the town's 2,512 students to attend a March 9 forum in which they will formally present the results of an extensive survey that shows students here drink alcohol and smoke marijuana more than their peers across the country.

They have written a letter to the editor, sent out e-mails via the schools' Alert Now system and sent home announcements with students.

But the question remains: Will anyone show up?

Over the years, similar forums here and in surrounding towns have attracted just a handful of parents despite local examples of teen alcohol and drug use leading to fatal car crashes, sexual assaults, arrests, alcohol poisoning and school discipline.

Officials here hope the results of their survey as well as Tuesday's release of a national report that shows a rise in teen alcohol and drug use will convince more parents to attend the forum with their children.

"Recent events prove that Stonington is not immune to issues of substance abuse. Parents are encouraged to bring middle and high school students, as the program will provide information and the opportunity to extend conversation at home. Residents who don't have children are also urged to attend; as the responsibility for protecting our youth belongs to us all," states a letter signed by First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr., Board of Education Chairwoman Gail B. MacDonald, Superintendent of Schools Leanne Masterjoseph, Human Services Director Beth-Anne Stewart, Police Chief J. Darren Stewart and Leanne Theodore, the chairwoman of the Stonington Prevention Council.

The confidential survey of 420 students in grades 7 through 10 here shows that 21 percent of eighth-graders and 41 percent of 10th-graders drank alcohol in the past 30 days compared to the regional average of 14 and 32 percent. Almost 10 percent of seventh-grade girls said they had drunk alcohol in the past 30 days.

The survey found that 19 percent of eighth-graders and 36 percent of 10th graders have used marijuana compared to 11 and 32 percent regionally. A majority of students also said it is very easy for them to get alcohol or marijuana. Fifty-five percent of students in the four grades took the survey.

In neighboring North Stonington, a survey released in January showed that nearly 68 percent of youths there reported having their first alcoholic beverage before turning 15.

Meanwhile, the 21st annual national study of 3,287 teens in grades 9-12 and 804 parents done by the Partnership for a Drug Free America and the Met Life Foundation shows marked increase in alcohol and drug use by teens from 2008 to 2009.

It also shows that 47 percent of parents who discovered their child is using drugs or alcohol either waited to take action or took no action at all, which studies show puts children at greater risk, according to the two groups.

"This new data should put all parents on notice that they have to pay closer attention to their kids' behavior - especially their social interactions - and they must take action just as soon as they think their child may be using drugs or drinking," said Steve Pasierb, the president and CEO of Partnership for a Drug Free America.

Dennis White, the president and CEO of MetLife Foundation, added that "the earlier parents take steps to address a child's drug or alcohol use, the greater the chance they'll be effective in preventing a serious problem."