NEW PROVIDENCE ALLIANCE (NJ)
New Providence Alliance 2009 Goals!
For 2009, the New Providence Alliance is planning to:
This is in addition to continuing our existing program offerings of education of our residents from pre-school through seniors!
Alcohol's Harms Are Worse for Young People.
Everyone knows the deleterious effects of heavy drinking. But the effects are far more pronounced for young people. This is because research has shown that the brain does not fully develop until the 20's!
The areas that show the most change between the teens and the 20's are the brain's frontal lobes, which are central to planning, decision making, impulse control, and language. This physiological transformation helps explain why even level-headed teens are prone to riskier behavior, a tendency only aggravated by alcohol.
The consequences are both short and long term. Young drinkers are more likely to drive drunk, get into fights, or engage in unprotected or unwanted sex. And alcohol-related incidents remain the leading cause of death among teens, from car accidents (38 percent), homicides (32 percent), and suicides (6 percent).
Over the long haul, early alcohol consumption can hurt brain development. And the earlier youths begin drinking, the more likely they are to have chronic alcohol and other health problems.
Teenagers who start drinking before age 15 (and there are a very staggering percent who do) are four times as likely to become alcoholics as those who wait until they are 21. And those who drink at a young age are more likely to have other substance abuse problems as well.
New Providence Alliance News
Red Ribbon Week Oct 17-25!
The Red Ribbon Celebration nationwide brings millions of people together to raise awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention, early intervention, and treatment services. This year it will be kicked off on October 17 at 10 AM at Centennial park. The Middle School Peer Leaders will tie red ribbons on trees on Springfield Avenue and South Street.
More
information on Red Ribbon Week.
Click
here Red Ribbon Week Calendar
filesize: (requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
Should I Worry About Graduation from High School? (hint: yes)
Graduating high school seniors, in many ways, are entering adulthood. They are usually 18 years of age, able to vote, eligible to serve in the military, and no longer in school. College, traveling, or working may be planned for the future, but at this time, adolescents often feel powerful and free. And many feel, at graduation, that they have the right to make their own decisions regarding alcohol.
Although your child has now become an adult in many ways, he/she is still not legally allowed to drink. Explore safe ways to celebrate, without alcohol. Again, it may be smart to discuss why it is dangerous for teenagers to consume alcohol — poor judgment, accidents, drinking to get drunk, and the hard brunt of the law. In an attempt to combat underage drinking, some schools have organized post-graduation activities where alcohol is prohibited.
Remember, although your child is an adult in certain ways, he/she is an adolescent in many, many other ways, and is still maturing — and can still use your guidance. Also, although it can be exhilarating to interact with your child on a semi-adult level, do not forget that you are not your child’s peer, you are still the parent, and it is still appropriate to outline your expectations and to be there to ensure your child’s safety.
Click
here to see the New Providence Alliance Prom & Graduation Special Newsletter
filesize: (requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader)
The New Providence Alliance Has a New Phone Number!
The New Providence Alliance can now be reached by phone at: (908) 665-1400 x579. If you would like information, or would like to participate in the alliance, call us or send us an
Help Is Just A Phone Call Away!
The following organizations and agencies provide free emergency, counseling, and referral services. Get needed help for yourself, a family member, or friend.
Click on More below and print it out and post it near your telephone or computer!
More (list of important numbers)
