Students picking up their corsage for prom might notice a friendly reminder urging them to make responsible decisions.
The Alliance with the Medical Society of the State of New York is launching its annual “Think, Don’t Drink” campaign to heighten awareness among teens about the dangers of underage drinking. The Schenectady County Alliance chapter is distributing the cards urging students not to drink to local florists and schools to give to students. The campaign is timed to coincide with proms and graduations held countywide.
Cheryl Stier, co-president of the Medical Alliance, said feedback on the program has been “extremely positive” since the campaign was started seven years ago.
“It is a visible reminder for kids to really think about the consequences of drinking,” Stier said. “We have been told by the high schools in Schenectady County that they look forward to the card every year.”
Stier, a Niskayuna resident, said schools rely on the message to reinforce and support efforts to prevent underage drinking. She said sometimes it only takes a visible reminder for a teen to change his or her mind.
“Underage drinking is a problem no matter what community you are discussing and I think education and awareness is probably the first step in beginning to deal with underage drinking,” Stier said.
There are also some younger students in Niskayuna leading the push for responsible decisions, too.
Niskayuna eighth graders Rose Parisi and Olivia Kin are the first co-presidents of the youth chapter of the Medical Alliance. This is the first year youth alliances were created across the country.
“We think it is important to raise awareness about health and making sure people understand the dangers of substance abuse,” Parisi said. “We also want teens to think and act responsibly.”
The “Think, Don’t Drink” campaign is one of the activities the group has taken part in this year. Parisi and Kim also helped distribute the cards to local florists. The state Alliance also partnered with Price Chopper to distribute cards to florists in its stores.
This year, over 10,000 cards will be distributed statewide through the partnership with the Golub Corporation, and an additional 12,000 cards will be distributed to secondary schools and florists in communities statewide.
According to the Alliance, studies show 72 percent of teens have consumed alcohol by the end of high school and 37 percent have consumed alcohol by the end of eighth grade. Also, around 5,000 people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking, according to the Alliance.
“The teenagers going to prom will see the card and think about their actions on prom,” Parisi said.
The group meets one or two times a month at the school and has about 15 active members. At the meetings, the members develop project ideas for volunteer efforts.
Another project the group took on was raising funds for The Quest for Grace Foundation toprovide foster parents with items for children. Through collecting bottles and cans it raised $400 and also donated 29 pairs of pajamas.
“Through this process we have met a lot of people and been able to help a lot of people in the community and it is really rewarding to us,” Kim said.
Larry Gillooley, director of physical education, health education and athletic departments at the Niskayuna Central School District, said it is important for teens to understand the consequences and dangers of drinking.
Gillooley said it is important to give students as many reminders as possible.
“We pass out a card to every student who buys a bid to the prom,” Gillooley said.
He said the school has its share of students that violate school codes for using alcohol and the district takes appropriate action to address the situations.
“Niskayuna does take it serious and those who do break the Student Code of Conduct or Athletic Code of Conduct we hold them to the intent of the code,” he said.
He added the district has held many community forums on the topic and has had exhibits showing the effects of drinking and driving. He said reaching kids earlier is important, too, because the message seems to be more effective.
Also, when the message doesn’t come from an adult it is more successful.
“When it is done by peers it seems more of an impact than when adults are saying it,” he said.
