Coalition leader takes steps to curb underage drinking
A law change would hold adults accountable for allowing or participating in underage drinking.
CANFIELD — Can three words and a comma work together as a viable weapon in the battle against underage drinking among area youths?
As chairman of the Coalition for Capable and Healthy Youth, Sam Landry said he’s willing to fight to find out. From his point of view, the words knowingly, negligently, or recklessly — once added to state law — could become tools used to extinguish alcohol abuse among youths.
Landry, who also serves as South Range School District’s drug-free schools coordinator, hosted an informational town hall meeting Tuesday night that addressed the role adults play in substance abuse among adolescents. Sponsored by Landry’s coalition and the Mahoning County Family and Children First Council, the meeting was one of hundreds of community sessions conducted across the country to increase awareness about the issue.
Landry said a major reason for concern among area educators, law officials and parents is the realization that many youths have acknowledged drinking and smoking cigarettes and marijuana in the presence of a parent or another adult.
Also disturbing is the number of high school students who reported that a parent or other adult has bought alcohol, cigarettes or marijuana for them. He based his information on the results of several surveys conducted between 2004 and 2007 among school district across the country.
“This is alarming,” Landry said. “Do we take the information we have here and sit on it, or do we try to do something about it? I think the answer is pretty clear.”
The meeting consisted of a power point presentation, videos and comments by a panel made up of Larry Moliterno, chief executive officer for Meridian Services; Lt. Chris Heverly, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Canfield Post; Mahoning County Juvenile Judge Theresa Dellick; Jerry Carter, Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic; and state Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd.
Landry stressed the need for educating the public. He also explained the importance of changing language in the Ohio Revised Code to hold adults accountable for allowing or participating in underage drinking. The “social host” language would penalize adults if they were to act “negligently, or recklessly” in cases of underage drinking.
He said the law now requires law enforcement to prove the adult “knowingly” permitted underage alcohol use or provided alcohol for underage use.
He explained, for example, that if he were to stock his refrigerator with beer and leave for a weekend and his children threw a party and consumed the alcohol, he as the parent would not be responsible because he did not “knowingly” permit the drinking.
“That has to change,” he said. “It had to change. With three words and a comma. We have to try.”
He acknowledged the coalition has a lot of work to do to get the legislation amended. A primary goal is securing a state lawmaker to sponsor the wording change.
Boccieri said it is “very difficult to get legislation passed.” He said there has to be a consensus in the general assembly before the proposed changes can be made.
Boccieri admitted he doesn’t know whether changing the law would make a difference.
“Will three words and a comma make more responsible parents?,” he asked Tuesday’s group of about 120 people. “I don’t know. It’s illegal to sell alcohol to kids but it still goes on .... It’s something we’ll all have to ponder.”
Landry said the effort is worth it. “We know it could be a long haul, but we’re willing to keep at it.”