She’s young, tall-model-slender, beautiful and with a song bird voice. I’ll call her Annie. And, today she sits in jail, serving a lengthy term for her history with drugs. Like so many others, her road to trouble started with alcohol.
So, we all want our children safe, right? Few debates elicit unity in the way child protection issues do. Here in the East Valley we’re a family community and we work hard at providing every opportunity for the next generations. But still many are not willing to provide safety at adult expense. Case in point: the world’s addiction to alcohol.
Did you know Arizona ranks at the top nationally in regards to youth drinking (U.S. Center for Disease Control, June 8, 2012)? Arizona high schools surveyed rank No. 1 “for alcohol use and binge drinking” and No. 2 “for cocaine use and drinking alcohol on school property.”
We yip and carry on about gun dangers, yet right in our own homes are the roots of not only death, some of them slow and torturous, but also the collapse of marriages, endless lost jobs and more sorrows than can be recounted in one little column. Just ask Annie.
It’d be a wonderful world if there were no killing machines, but humans have proven we’ll still find a way to do ourselves and others in. It’s when we lead our kids down destructive paths that we really stand condemned. Yet we remain complacent because we don’t binge and are not addicted — so what’s the big deal, right?
I’ve harped on this before, but when we see news reports about high school students binging, and dying, and involved in alcohol related rapes and other violence, the topic cries to be revisited with the same passion as gun control, infant car seats and fast food.
Experts tell us in today’s culture, teens feel extreme social pressure to drink. Then, as their youth/adult crossroads overflow with confusion they discover alcohol suppresses feelings. Without adults to show them a better way, their choices are predictable.
Still not convinced?
Think about this: Women are the fastest growing segment of the alcohol abusing population. Yet, women’s bodies are less tolerant to alcohol than men. Further, “binge drinking can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, heart disease, unintentional pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and auto accidents” (CDC).
Of 23,000 annual deaths attributed to excessive alcohol use among females, binge drinking accounts for more than half (CDC).
One other small fact: The CDC reports for every gun related death, there are ten alcohol related deaths. Yeah. Let’s “get the guns.”
Politics drive this issue; we know that, while one of the biggest killers ever is sitting right in children’s homes, used by their parents, night after night “just to relax,” or as a primary social beverage.
Not your problem? Really? This is one monster failure of society. The affects touch everyone from taxes to spiritual deprivation. Ask Annie and all the others.
Why wait for social norms to change? As just one parent, your example and educated outreach might save a child, or dozens. One of them might just belong to you.
East Valley resident Linda Turley-Hansen (turleyhansen@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist and former Phoenix veteran TV anchor.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:07 am on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
The solution is simple, outlaw alcohol and make marijuana legal!
Alcohol stimulates people do all kind of violence.
But I've never seen anyone who use marijuana get violent :-)
openureyes posted at 11:18 am on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
So wait, we can't have a societal alcohol problem and a societal gun problem? Alcohol is a real issue, while rampant gun violence is a political football? Wow.
Bluepoet posted at 11:49 am on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
Wait--I had to check the date--thought for a minute that it was 1920 again.
We tried legislating morals before, remember, Linda? That really worked well, didn't it? Prohibition only made things worse..
Of course, your perception would be that more religion would be the fix. Well, wrong again. Just check around, and you'll see that alcohol consumption is higher, among teens who live in regressive, strict, religious homes, than any other domicile envrionment, save perhaps a violent home, and often, the two go hand in hand.
Being a parent, concerned about the mistakes that one's children will make, is inevitable and normal, and laudable. But, it doesn't mean that there's a societal fix for it, since every child comes with their own, unique path in life. As a parent, the effort must be applied, according to that. My agreement with you stops right there, however.
As for parental complacency...that is a far deeper problem than alcoholism in teens. That is more of a mental health issue, and the alcohol is just a symptom, in that regard.
Anyway, I missed that part of the subject in which you offered a solution...being an example is probably lost on a teen...
Cerulean posted at 12:00 pm on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
Alcohol, guns, petroleum and coal all mind numbing self-destructive vices.
IAB posted at 12:19 pm on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
How and why are they paying her to write this drivel???? Although laughably entertaining this can't be taken seriously can it? My guess is her church doesn't allow her to read a history book. PROHIBITION DOESN'T WORK!!!!!! As for the SAVE the CHILDREN crowd. Try parenting.
Mike McClellan posted at 12:54 pm on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
Normally, I find her writing as funny as IAB above. But I don't read this column and see a call for prohibition, but for us to be aware of how our kids behave with alcohol.
What's wrong with that? We should be concerned about teen drinking, shouldn't we?
downtownresident posted at 5:00 pm on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
Your target audience does not come here.
Noble thoughts, none the less.
JMJ posted at 6:20 pm on Fri, Jan 18, 2013.
Responsible parent, here, with adult offspring who do not abuse alcohol [though, on occasion in college, I am hearing, they did...]. Maybe the difference is being an example, as one of their parents imbibed and lost the family due to this very issue. The other parent was the designated driver, and, the designated spouse, unfortunately. That parent demonstrated how to ask their father to pull over if there was even a hint of alcohol in the air. A painful lesson, but learning by example is important.
The problem is of alcohol abuse is a very real one, and it destroys families and has for far too long. But, again, you cannot legislate morality, you cannot legislate smart, and you cannot always fight stupid.
Connecting with kids and other family members when this problem rears its ugly head is the key. Communication matters. Blowing off alcohol as a minor problem is a big mistake. Parents of my kids' peers used to host parties for underaged drinkers and take their keys. Another bad message. Arguments to say that it was a controlled environment, as good intentions, only sent the message to teens that with a wink and a nod it was OK.
Downtown, you are right. The "target" audience isn't going to read this--nor will they listen. The only good advice you can give is to stay off the roads, stay away from parties where the alcohol flows, and, if you can't, take pictures. People should see how stupid they act while under the influence.
I know great families who do everything they can to educate their offspring, who still end up with alcoholics in their midst. This is another issue that has no easy answers. And, I've seen enough "non-drinking communities" who have their share of these issues, as well. It affects all demographics.
Arizona Willie posted at 8:55 am on Sat, Jan 19, 2013.
There is nothing funny or amusing about this author.
If she and her fellow travelers could have their way, they would force their morality and their ideas of how people should live on everyone.
Nothing funny about that.
chatmandu002 posted at 9:50 am on Sat, Jan 19, 2013.
Seems to be a culture of non-responsibility. Nobody is responsible for their actions and the big government will take care of you if you fail.
Irons1 posted at 10:18 am on Sat, Jan 19, 2013.
Arizona Willie is right. She and her ilk, constantly tries to force her morality on others. And there is nothing funny about that.
Obviousman posted at 1:49 pm on Sun, Jan 20, 2013.
Still, we can all learn something from this article:
1) Alcohol is responsible for ten times the deaths of firearms.
2) The US tried prohibition of alcohol. It was only a dismal failure, it made the problem WORSE by spawning organized crime, increased violence, and an alienation between the average citizen and his government. It was the only portion of the constitution that was ever repealed.
3) Today, Democratic radicals are moving to attack the "gun problem" with… prohibitions on guns and gun accessories. What will the results be?
Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation and makes crimes out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.
-- ABRAHAM LINCOLN
The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.
-- ALBERT EINSTEIN
To know the correct answer to question #3, you don't have to be as smart as an Einstein -- just smarter than a Feinstein.
dshelley posted at 1:50 pm on Sun, Jan 20, 2013.
I did not read anywhere in Linda's article that she promoted legislation to ban alcohol (prohibition.) Nor did I read anything about morality or religion. I read about trying to protect our children from death and a life of misery. Like JMJ, I read a plea to be a responsible parent. Is this something only religious zealots do? Regarding her CDC fact that there are 10 alcohol deaths to every gun death... buying alcohol is illegal and still kids die from it. Banning guns will have the same effect.
Arizona Willie posted at 11:49 am on Tue, Jan 22, 2013.
The EVT must have problems getting material.
This is the second time they have put this article in the Spotlight position.
I guess they figure constant repetition is working on changing peoples attitudes towards illegals so they will just do the same thing with this drivel.
Sadly, when right wingers own / control all the media all you get is right wing propaganda.
VofReason posted at 12:38 pm on Thu, Jan 24, 2013.
A fish never realizes that he is in water. I suppose that Mike McC, Tina Dupey and John Beydler are centrists? I don't read anything about prohibition here either. See that is the difference, when conservatives don't like something, they don't partake in it and speak out against it. When liberals don't like something, they want to take it away.
truncate posted at 9:52 am on Wed, Feb 6, 2013.
Hey Linda! It's time to get real about your addiction to looking down on every on who is not like you!!! You and you ilk are dinosaurs!!! Stop telling us to be like you, we don't want to be!!! Dear Jesus, please save us from your purported followers...