Florida Catholic | Protecting God's Children

COMMENTARY

Protecting God's children: another perspective

SAM VAGENIUS | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 10.19.07

Alcohol and drug experimentation should not be dismissed as ‘something that kids will get over.’

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002 issued the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Creating a safe environment within the church and protecting our children and young people from the devastating pain and effects of sexual abuse was the desired outcome. This was to be accomplished through a comprehensive and ongoing educational program for parents, children, teachers and church employees, clergy and lay. Protection through education is the objective.

There is another challenge with which we the church are confronted on a daily basis in our concern about our children and young people: alcohol and other drugs.

Recent studies have focused on the impact of drugs (alcohol and tobacco are included when the word "drugs" is used in the remainder of this column) on the young. In a study of 43,000 U.S. adults, 47 percent of those who began drinking before age 14 later became alcohol-dependent, compared to 9 percent who started drinking at age 21 or older. Alcohol disrupts parts of the brain essential for self-control, motivation and goal setting. Early-age drinking affects a sensitive brain in a way that promotes the progression of addiction.

A 2001 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University came up with these startling statistics. Among students who in junior high school have:

• Ever tried cigarettes, 85.7 percent are still smoking in 12th grade

• Ever been drunk, 83.3 percent are still getting drunk in 12th grade

• Ever tried marijuana, 76.4 percent are still using it in 12th grade

The perception that alcohol and other drug experimentation are nothing but a benign rite of passage, "something that kids will get over" is the biggest myth we can perpetuate.

By the way, it is illegal in Florida for any person to sell, give or serve alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of 21.

Protection through education of children and young people, and their parents, has been a principle objective of this diocese's Substance Addiction Ministry, or SAM program, since its inception in 1998. Educational activities have come through videos, formal presentations by professionals in the addiction field, and young peers who have been afflicted with or affected by addiction in some way. An improvisational teen group from Indian River County, called Deep Impact Troupe, has shared its creative skits as a means to address current teen challenges. A local treatment center, as part of its prevention program, has provided training of addiction ministry team members and parishioners to provide parents with the tools to help their children deal with making right choices when it comes to alcohol, nicotine, other drugs and sex in today's world.

Audiences have ranged from junior high students in our parish schools and religious education classes, high school students in their schools or religious education programs, Life Teen groups, and parish home-school associations.

This past school year, I was invited by Sister Eileen Sullivan, principal of Pope John Paul II High School, to address teen drinking during their prom week. I accepted the invitation under the condition I could talk with each class of juniors and seniors individually. Fourteen classes and three days later, a rewarding mission was completed. The young men and women were respectful and receptive, something I have found in most teen groups with whom I've had the privilege of sharing my ministry. No drinking-driving related tragedies occurred.

Did SAM's presence help prevent this? Only God knows. But we're out there trying to help our young people avoid the problems associated with addiction.

Vagenius, the diocese Substance Addiction Ministry director, can be reached at 561-775-9527.

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