By Katie Curley
Staff Writer
April 11, 2008 06:07 am NEWBURYPORT — Yesterday as part of the Beacon Coalition's push to prevent underage drinking and start conversations about drinking early, members of Youth Services led groups of sixth-graders through a series of activities aimed to increase alcohol awareness. "If you don't drink and drive you will stay alive," sixth-grader Kelly Conway wrote with colored markers on a white bumper sticker. Part of the event was a bumper sticker contest for the coalition. The winner will be chosen and announced after April school vacation week. "Does alcohol make you warmer?" Newburyport High School junior and youth volunteer Haley Morris asked her group while senior Caileen Norris asked hers, "If someone is pressuring you to drink, what can you say?" From dispelling common myths about alcohol to coming up with ideas about how to confront peer pressure, Beacon Coalition Director Sarah Hayden believes the conversation about alcohol must start earlier than it has in the past. "This is a really effective part of the town hall meetings," Hayden said "Part of it is to start talking about drinking earlier, in the fifth and sixth grades." Last week the coalition held a town hall-style meeting in which a panel of local experts such as Superintendent Kevin Lyons and City Marshal Thomas Howard answered questions which were phoned in or asked from the audience. The Beacon Coalition, formed to combat alcohol, tobacco and drug use, has put a renewed focus on the problems associated with alcohol locally. Through a series of new programs, the coalition is offering advice to parents, helping kids get home safe at night, and trying to change the perception of social drinking. Part of that effort was to bring Hayden to the coalition as project director. Hayden has been researching the problem and looking for answers. One of those, she believes, is to break the societal connection with socializing, celebrating and drinking. Yesterday Liza Stambaugh, 12, listened attentively to the youth leaders' presentation about how alcohol affects the brain. "Drinking affects your brain and can cause permanent damage," Stambaugh said. "The cerebellum is affected when you drink. It can case violence and trouble controlling yourself." Volunteer Morris watched as her group created bumper stickers for the contest toward the end of the presentation. "It seems like they already have some knowledge and are taking it seriously," Morris said. "It seems like they had already talked about alcohol with their parents which is a good thing." Next week the Beacon Coalition and Youth Service volunteers will conduct a similar program for the fifth-graders at the Molin School. "I think this is particularly effective because of the high school leaders," Hayden said. "It means more coming from them and it shows them (the students) what type of leadership opportunities are available in the community." Later this month, Marilyn Belmonte, a national award-winning speaker on substance abuse prevention, will present a series of workshops for parents. A local cable interview of Belmonte will air through May 14 on Channel 9.
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