By Paule T. Pachter, ACSW, LMSW, Deputy Executive Director, Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services, Inc.

The statistics are often staggering when it comes to what we as a society know about underage drinking. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in the past year 7.2 million youths between the ages of 12-17 drank at least once; 2.7 million drank about once a month or more; and 1 million drank at least once a week in the past year.

What's more disturbing is where these underage drinkers are actually drinking-in the comfort of their own homes; at a friend's house; in our parks and playgrounds; and in our schools. Furthermore, the statistics also reveal the beginnings of serious medical and psychological problems for our underage drinkers. According to the SAMHSA survey, 13 percent reported having at least one serious problem related to drinking in the past year such as involvement in criminal behavior, automobile-related accidents, and destruction to property. Six percent of those youths surveyed reported that they had built up tolerance to the effects of alcohol. This can also be interpreted as a potential 6 percent increase in the number of new alcoholics on the fringe of needing treatment. Three percent reported psychological problems related to their drinking and 1 percent reported health problems related to their drinking. These statistics are certainly higher and more disturbing when you measure them for children who are drinking on a weekly or monthly basis.

The reasons why adolescents use alcohol are certainly complex but they include curiosity, a need to fit in with friends, and a desire to relax and escape problems. It might be difficult to fathom why a child between the ages of 12-17 might feel the need to relax and escape problems. But children do have problems, and it is incumbent upon parents, educators, professionals and society to identify these problems, seek appropriate interventions, and ultimately prevent future situations in which our children are becoming substance abusers.

Our communities and parents must work together to understand the scope of the problems related to underage drinking. Clearly any parent hosting a keg party or beer pong tournament for their underage child, even in the confines of their own home, is violating the law and subject to numerous sanctions including termination of insurance policies and jail time. The cost to our healthcare and insurance industries, educational institutions and families can be quite high when we need to expend resources to help underage drinkers. Understandably, no parent or family wants to hear that his/her child has a drinking problem. But we cannot afford to sweep what might appear to be an innocent curiosity about alcohol under the rug. There are too many problems associated with underage drinking to ignore it. Thankfully, we have excellent community resources on Long Island to effectively respond to this issue.

In an effort to help parents, families and our communities understand the scope of this problem including potential causes, symptoms, consequences, and treatment resources, Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services will host a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. The meeting will feature representatives from the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, law enforcement and treatment agencies who will discuss the impact of underage drinking on our communities and families. This special Town Hall Meeting is free and open to the public. If you would like to attend, please call our Community Program at 822-4060.