Print |
E-mail to a friend
NEWS
Huntington Middle students lead underage drinking town hall
Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership members speak during an Underage Drinking Town Hall Meeting hosted by students of Huntington Middle School on Monday, April 27, 2010 at the Marshall University Student Center.
Purchase this photo
HUNTINGTON -- Several Huntington Middle School students helped organize and lead a town hall meeting Monday evening about the dangers of underage drinking.
The event, held in conjunction with the Cabell County Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership, highlighted the use of alcohol in the community as well as local and national statistics. But the most important message sent was the strong front of the students, who have chosen to take a stand against underage drinking.
"I don't like seeing my classmates and friends drinking," said eighth-grade student Riley Aulick. "I don't want to see them die. I want to see my community safe and clean."
The students, who are members of the CCSAPP, prepared a PowerPoint presentation and read a list of myths vs. facts regarding alcohol use.
The evening also included five "question stations" to help spark discussions about possible courses of action. The topics included: what influences a student to drink or not drink; limiting social access to alcohol; limiting alcohol use by Marshall University students; stricter control for bars in downtown Huntington and raising taxes on alcohol.
All generated good talking points, but one statistic shared by Anne McGee, the CCSAPP project director, stood out among them all. She said teenagers continue to report that their parents still hold the most influence in their life. The problem is that parents who have been surveyed think they have lost influence.
"Parents are the No. 1 influence in a kid's life," McGee said. "The earlier and more often a parent speaks to their children about the use of drugs and alcohol, it delays their use."
In addition to parents, children need a support group. Aulick said knowing that he will enter Huntington High School next year with a group of friends who agree with his beliefs will make it much easier to choose not to drink.
Tim White, the Weed and Seed coordinator, said this group can really make a big impact on their peers and their school.
"Kids listen to kids," White said, adding that the student-driven RAZE campaign has dramatically decreased the use of tobacco among middle and high school students.
"Anybody that knows me knows I'm big on youth leadership," he said. I"m big on giving kids a voice and a seat at the table. They jumped on the opportunity to lead and plan this (town hall). Given a chance, young people can really step up and with a profound message."
Aulick's classmates include Emily Chambers, Mary Irr, Allie Hildebrand, Joey Keith, Jonathan Riner, Simone Svingos, Adriane Johnson and Katie Norman.
Their advisers, Diana Archer and Laura Thackston, have helped the students along this year and were proud of the message they put out Monday evening.
"I applaud them. I think they are in a minority," Archer said. "These kids don't have a problem standing up for their opinions."
