The local DC National Public Radio station is reporting that nine middle school students were caught drinking yesterday morning in a suburban Maryland middle school. Eight seventh graders and one sixth grader were sent home with their parents after other students reported that these kids were drinking alcohol, in the morning, before 8 a.m.
This middle school is no different than many of the middle schools our kids attend. I'm familiar with that particular neighborhood, as I was a youth minister there about 20 years ago. More recently I've visited the area that is made up of medium sized homes, strip malls, fast food, and soccer fields. The area is full of kids participating in all the activities our kids are involved in.
I'm interested because this is considered news. In fact, it is not unusual for middle school kids to be experimenting with alcohol. The average age for kids to try their first drink (without parental knowledge) is 13. This age is definitely before high school, which is when many of us are talking to our children about drinking.
Kids this young are not getting alcohol from the local convenience store. They are getting their alcohol from home and friends. Almost 50% of surveyed eighth graders said that alcohol is fairly easy or very easy to get (Pride National Survey pg 107, 2008) Short of locking up all alcohol (including beer in the fridge) what stops kids from accessing alcohol is their own conscience.
That conscience is formed by what we teach them. The Pride Survey tells us that we have less influence on our children as they move through high school, but in middle school we hold a lot of influence. Talk to your middle schoolers. Ask them about attitudes of the kids at their school. Ask them if they would know how to turn down alcohol, tobacco, or drugs when they are offered to them. If they are vague, talk them through it. Just Say No was a spectacular failure. Role playing and "what if" situations are much more likely to prepare your children for what lies ahead.
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