Center for Prevention plans alcohol awareness meeting

VERNON — The Center for Prevention will hold an Alcohol Awareness Monthg Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. at Glen Meadow Middle School.

The meeting is geared toward helping parents talk to their children about drugs and alcohol as April is Alcohol Awareness Month in Sussex County.

According to the center, youth are enticed by drinking games they learn, hear and witness such as ‘Flip Cup,’ ‘Quarters,’ ‘Beer Pong,’ and ‘Dizzy Bat.’ Binge drinking in young girls has female youth drinking much more like their male counterparts, whereas they used to lag behind male rates of drinking.

The alcohol industry quickly learned how to cater to our youth creating flavors and sugary drinks that appeal to younger and younger kids whereas, prior to this, the options were not as palatable.

Since The Surgeon General’s call to action in 2006 to prevent and reduce underage drinking, parents, schools and whole communities have taken up the initiative to help. The Center for Prevention and Counseling continues to help Sussex County understand how everyone can be a part of ongoing solutions. With all that youth see and hear that speaks to them about alcohol, drinking games and parties, it’s actually parents, teachers and caregivers who have the most influence and can offer facts to the other side of that story, a news release said.

Alcohol messages are cunning, subliminal and effective, crafted by big name, high paid advertising agencies to sell these products. However, prevention work, grass-roots efforts, parents and caring communities also have a powerful and valuable determination.

For more information or to RSVP to a Town Hall Meeting, contact The Center for Prevention and Counseling at info@centerforprevention.org or call (973)383-4787.