Parents should closely monitor teens on New Year's Eve

By Staff Writer

A recent editorial in the Centre Daily Times suggests that parents who have teenagers should be diligent come New Year's Eve, a popular time of year for adolescents to experiment with alcohol and drugs.

Dawn Taylor, who represents a community organization based in Pennsylvania, wrote the advice piece for the news provider. She suggested that parents should employ thoughtful planning this holiday season because it could make the difference between a fun-filled New Year's Eve or an alcohol-related tragedy.

If a teen is attending a gathering with friends at someone else's residence, his or her parents should make sure that the party is alcohol- and drug-free, as well as supervised by responsible adults. Before allowing an adolescent to attend a party, Taylor said that his or her parents should contact the host family to make sure that their will not be alcohol available.

She said that nine in 10 high school seniors say it is fairly easy or very easy to obtain alcohol. Therefore, if a parent is hosting a party that will involve teens, Taylor said it is wise to lock up the alcohol in a liquor cabinet.

According to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, approximately 42 percent of high school students reported that they had drank some amount of alcohol within 30 days of taking the survey.