CARE presents Panhandle Underage Drinking Town Hall ..................

by Kathy Foster

Serving on Tuesday night’s panel were Royce Reagan, Moderator; David Taylor, CARE; Milton Brown, Green Dot/Former State Trooper; Jim Dean, Karen Johnson, Washington County Health Department; Greg Parker, Department of Juvenile Justice; Scott Thompson, Barbara Finch, State Attorney’s Office; and Larry Moore, Superintendent of Jackson County Schools.

“It is critical that parents and other trusted adults initiate conversations with ids about underage drinking well in advance of the first time they are faced with a decision regarding alcohol.” – Xavier Becerra

The message put forth at Tuesday’s Town Hall concerning underage drinking was – Set a positive role model!

Commenting on the Green Dot program Milton Brown noted that the program trains students that bystanders can help change things. He said it comes down to the goal of Green Dot is to change culture and get more people involved in assisting young people.

Barbara Finch seconded that message, commenting, “It is important to get families involved early on.”

It was also pointed out that underage drinking is less likely to produce good workers and that overall impacts the local workforce and that there are too many instances of children raising themselves, resulting in no accountability.