Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
April was Alcohol Awareness Month and my wife, Sally, and I were pleased to welcome Acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven Galson to Nebraska two weeks ago during a visit highlighting the seriousness of underage drinking in our state.
The fact that more of our young people drink alcohol than use tobacco and illicit drugs combined makes underage drinking an important public health issue. During his visit, Dr. Steven Galson talked with parents, teachers, community leaders and all those who work with young people about underage drinking.
Since his appointment to head the Office of the Surgeon General last October, Dr. Galson has been actively involved in raising awareness about underage drinking. His office has partnered with a coalition of Governors’ spouses who are focused on preventing childhood drinking by encouraging more Americans to join in this fight in their local communities.
After spending her career as a teacher and principal, Sally has a special interest in young people and the issue of underage drinking. As First Lady, she has been involved in alcohol-prevention efforts. Sally and I are committed to encouraging parents to play a bigger role in the education of their children, and this is an area where a parent’s involvement can have an enormous impact.
One of the challenges we face is that the risks of drinking are perceived to be less than those associated with smoking or other drug use.
The message Dr. Galson shared during his visit is there is more we can do to connect with young people who are already drinking and help prevent others from starting. We need to change the perception that part of our culture is that drinking is a rite of passage to adulthood.
More than two out of five high school students in Nebraska drink, and the patterns that are formed by the time a student reaches high school impact the decisions they make later in life. Research shows us that approximately half of all U.S. teens have had a whole drink – not just a few sips – by the age of 15. A 2004 study revealed that about a third of young people had their first drink before the age of 13.
In Nebraska, those in their late teens and early 20’s are more likely than any other age group to binge drink, to drive after drinking, and to be injured or die in an alcohol-related crash.
Parents have a very important role to play in changing the culture of underage drinking. As parents, we set expectations for acceptable behavior in our families. Our children need to know that underage drinking is not acceptable. While youth group leaders, teachers, mentors, older siblings, and friends, among others, have a role to play as well in helping young people make better choices, parents are key to helping more young people in Nebraska choose not to drink.
The good news is that we are beginning to see improvements in the number of students who drink. The latest research shows that rates of young people who binge drink, those who drink and drive, and those who ride with inhibited drivers have decreased – but we still have more work to do.
Our state is not unique in the challenge we face, but we know that Nebraska youth drink at slightly higher rates than those across the country. In a state where we put a high priority on giving our children the best education, it’s equally important that we prepare them to make better choices when it comes to alcohol.
