by David Flint
There’s still a lot of concern in the Hoosick area about teenage alcohol and drug abuse but the Town, Village and School District appear to be facing the problem head-on and indications are they are making some progress.
Issues Facing Youth was the focus of a Town Meeting last Wednesday evening at the Hoosick Falls Youth Center, in particular the issues of alcohol and substance abuse. The meeting, attended by about 80 persons,
was sponsored by the Hoosick Area Youth Center and Community Coalition (HAYC3). Executive Director Aelish Nealon said the Coalition was thrilled to have two excellent panels, one made up of students from groups with diverse interests and another composed of officials representing the Village, Town and County as well as the school, State legislature, health care and the local courts and law enforcement.
Student Assistance Counselor Mary Ann Strauss introduced the students, mostly seniors with a sprinkling of juniors, sophomores and one eighth-grader, some of them class presidents, others from organizations such as the Youth Summit Group SADD Chapter and the Youth Leadership Group of the Youth Center. Also sitting in was Jason Jensen who graduated from HFCS in 2006.
With Strauss acting as moderator and posing questions, the students openly gave their assessment and opinions about the problem. The students did not agree on everything but there was consensus about most things. About half of them said their parents did not discuss the problem with them. There was general agreement that about 50% of students are using drugs and/or alcohol. Were these kids afraid they would get caught? Yes, but that wasn’t a deterrent and some actually enjoy “testing the odds.”
What would help to reduce the numbers? Jason Jensen said that good things are happening with the Youth Center which he said has really been transformed since he was in middle school and is now providing a wealth of activities and clubs and “building a strong community.”
Others said that what would help is making kids aware of the dangers at an early age, communicating openly so that kids are not afraid to talk about it. Some said there is a lot going on to educate and provide alternatives but they felt some kids will do it anyway. They think nothing bad will happen to them, then they become addicted and the addiction controls them. Several noted that once it gets to that stage, no amount of talk, even friend to friend, will help. They also pointed out that a lot of the problem stems from alcoholism in the family.
It was agreed that the behavior of adults definitely influences the behavior of young people. One panelist pointed out that parents need to be strict about alcohol and drug abuse but not so strict that they drive the kids to rebel.
Regarding driving, most said driving under the influence of alcohol was more prevalent than driving while stoned on marijuana but kids tend not to think that one is impaired as much by marijuana and so might be more willing to get into a car with the marijuana driver.
Abuse of prescription drugs, the students said, was more prevalent among kids a few years ago. Now they think it occurs more with the 25-30 age group. One student noted that he was approached by someone who offered to buy the medicine he had been prescribed as a muscle relaxer for back spasms he was having. Not many kids are bringing prescription drugs into school, but the students do know of some who bring in alcohol in water bottles. Others mix it with energy drinks believing that the caffeine negates the effect of the alcohol. Some actually come to school already high on alcohol or drugs but not so much so that teachers suspect.
Although a lot of this is still going on, there seemed to be some agreement that things are better this year because the consequences in school of being caught are much better known. “People were reprimanded last year,” one said, “and it scared them. (Breaking the code of conduct) could ruin you in sports and academics.”
Schools Superintendent Ken Facin thanked the students for their honesty and candor and confirmed that students have been removed from sports and from the National Honor Society for code infractions whether on or off the school grounds. “We have a code, and we are enforcing it,” he said, adding that the school had not been strict enough in the past. The school is not being punitive, he said, but was concerned about students’ safety. Facin emphasized that it’s not just a school problem but a community problem. He commended Police Chief Robert Ashe for “taming down the [St. Patrick’s Day] parade,” but added that we need more community solutions and a move away from “poor adult modeling.”
Athletic Director Mike Lilac Jr. said the Code of Conduct was updated last year and it now applies year round, not just during the sports season. A student who breaks the code can be suspended from sports for the following year. Students are also being held accountable for things that they post on Facebook. The school has become more vigilant under Superintendent Facin, he said, but it still has a way to go. Lilac noted that there was some resistance in the community to enforcing the open container law during the St. Patrick’s Parade, and he echoed Facin’s comment that we need better modeling from adults.
Police Chief Robert Ashe asked the students what the police could do to help and was told they could get to know the youth and become more familiar with who is doing what. Ashe said that recently the police had been working more closely with the school, and he pledged that they would try to increase foot patrols and would do their best to work more closely with other community organizations.
County Executive Kathy Jimino urged the students to continue spreading their message about safe choices and not to give up. “Even if you think it’s not getting through, it is, and if you save just one life, it’s worth it,” she said.
Town and Village Justice Thomas Restino, Jr. said that he would continue to be tough with drunk driving violations, and he advised students that they risked spending time in jail if they drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He said he, too, had been working closely with the Schools Superintendent with the aim of correcting kids before they reach the court system.
Dr. Marcus Martinez warned of the special dangers of kids abusing alcohol while their brains are still developing. He thought the 50% figure the students estimated was about accurate. He advised parents to talk with their children about it at an early age, well before they get to junior high school.
Social Host Legislation
There was some discussion about Social Host Legislation. Jimino said she was in favor of it for the County as another tool to hold people accountable and provide consequences. Village Mayor Matt Monahan said that the Village had adopted a social host law on a trial basis for one year. It is not currently in effect, but the intention is to consider re-adopting such a law. He said he was willing to support it but needed the support of the community, the school and County and State. He was concerned, however, that it might be another law that they couldn’t enforce since the Village could not afford a police officer dedicated to it. He also feared that it might just disperse the problem to neighboring towns in Washington or Bennington Counties. Joyce Davis responded to this last comment, saying that social host legislation has already been passed in both of those counties.
Hoosick Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly thought that what is needed is rather to strengthen and enforce laws already on the books. He commended the Hoosick Falls Police Department for their vigilance in enforcing current law. Hoosick’s Deputy Supervisor Mark Surdam also spoke up from the audience to voice his qualms about social host legislation. He said the Town had considered it a while ago, but Surdam was concerned that the language was too vague, especially when holding landowners liable if one “has reason to know” that an underage party is going on. “I could change my mind,” he said, “but the language has to change.”
County Legislator Lester Goodermote said the legislature had considered the law earlier but he felt “it didn’t fit our model” at that time. He noted that there have been some changes in the proposed law and so they would look at it again. He commended the students for being straightforward and “not sugar coating” the problem of alcohol and drug abuse. He also praised Ken Facin for getting involved. “It’s a better school than it was four years ago,” he said.
State Assemblyman Tony Jordan said whatever laws we have, they need to be enforced. And parents “have to stop tolerating drinking as a rite of passage. It’s not OK to hold a party and just take the [car] keys away. As the students said, we need models we can model after.” He congratulated the community and the meeting organizers for their willingness to address these problems head-on.
Nealon reported later that the Coalition had received mostly very positive evaluations about the meeting. Many commented how wonderful it was to hear the young people themselves talking seriously about the issues. Nealon said they expect to put together another panel in August, coinciding with the Board of Education meeting, to focus on Social Host Legislation.