By taking a pledge, parents can help put an end to underage drinking in Elizabethtown. That's the mission behind No One's House, a new initiative launched by Elizabethtown Area Communities That Care (EACTC).
"No One's House is a parent-focused campaign that is working to educate parents about the importance of not providing alcohol to teens, not even in your own house," explained Allison Bridgeman, assistant director of EACTC. "A lot of parents think they want to provide a safe environment for teens to drink, or it's not a big deal to let some teens drink at their home, but this program is working to change that mindset."
No One's House is a parent-to-parent campaign, meaning Bridgeman hopes parents will talk to each other about it and increase participation. "We want to encourage parents to talk to their teens about underage drinking and talk to each other," she stated. "We want them to say, 'It's not OK for my teen to drink in my house. I know they are coming over to your house. Do you have conversations about underage drinking there?'"
To participate, parents sign an online pledge against allowing teens to drink at their house. Other parents can view the names of those who have signed.
No One's House fits well with the mission of EACTC, Bridgeman noted, adding, "We are a prevention-oriented organization. We work to build up protective factors and decrease risk factors." The organization has been serving the Elizabethtown community for more than 20 years and works to improve the lives of children, youths and families.
Bridgeman was motivated to start No One's House after learning about its effectiveness in other communities and after reviewing results of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey, which surveys students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades.
"We know from this data that 62% of sixth-grade students who have used alcohol said their parents gave it to them," she said. "Parents think, 'They're going to try it anyway, so I should provide a safe environment to try it in my home.' This campaign is about talking to your kids and saying, 'I don't think it's OK for you to drink alcohol under the age of 21.'"
Not only is underage drinking illegal, but it also can have devastating consequences, Bridgeman stated. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people a year, more than all illegal drugs combined. Nine out of 10 people with alcohol addiction started using before they were 18 years old.
"What we really want parents to know is that providing teens with alcohol is not positive for teens. It's not helping them in any way," Bridgeman stated. "We all as parents want to help our kids be as healthy as possible, and that includes having those conversations about alcohol use."
To learn more about No One's House or to sign the pledge, readers may visit https://eactc.org/programs-initiatives/nooneshouse.
Leave a Review