Seminar helps parents keep children safe
On Thursday, we reported on a seminar at Knoch High School given by Butler County drug and alcohol prevention specialist Lisa Gill, where she stressed the dangers of underage drinking and the importance of parents sharing that information with their children.
The Power of Parents seminar, a program of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, highlighted that the human brain is not fully developed until the mid-20s, meaning that prolonged alcohol consumption before then could greatly impair development.
While MADD reported that only about half of all parents feel comfortable talking to their child about underage drinking, it’s a necessary conversation to have.
“You don’t have to do it all in one sit-down conversation,” said Gill. “It can be several short conversations.”
The necessity of conversations like these outweighs any fears of introducing actions children might not have thought about. We agree it’s a hard conversation to start, but according to Gill, it can be stopped if it gets too heated.
As difficult as the discussion might be to navigate, it ensures that parents are doing everything they can to keep their child safe, especially with summer on the very near horizon.
It’s important for children, especially those who are old enough to drive, to enjoy their summers and make positive memories while in school, but they have to be made aware that bad decisions can lead to dire consequences.
We commend Gill on her efforts and all attendees of the seminar, and urge all others to follow her expert advice.
—CM
