Community Corner
Marin County's Silent Epidemic: Alcohol and Other Drugs
A Novel Educational Program for Teens & Parents - This Wed., Oct. 22 at Tam High School, 5:30pm
Marin County’s Silent Epidemic: Alcohol and Other Drugs
A Novel Educational Program for Teens & Parents - This Wed., Oct. 22 at Tam High School, 5:30pm
Marin County’s Silent Epidemic: Alcohol and Other Drugs
A Novel Educational Program for Teens and Parents on October 22 at Tamalpais High School
The binge-drinking epidemic has long-lasting consequences for Marin teens. More than 90% of the alcohol consumed by the teenagers is consumed in the form of binge drinking. 1
The statistics are revealing – for the 5th year in a row, Marin residents ranked poorly in the County Health Rankings for excessive alcohol use. In addition, Marin County had a higher rate of overdose deaths than most California counties according to the 2014 rankings.2
On October 22 at 5:30 pm in the Ruby Scott Gym at Tamalpais High School, the Marin County Bar Association’s Public Outreach Committee, in conjunction with the Marin County Office of Education, will present a program to educate teens and parents on this silent epidemic.
“Teens don’t want yet another lecture, and parents are often unaware of the depths of their children’s substance use and abuse. As a Deputy District Attorney, I have seen far too many poor choices made while under the influence of alcohol and drugs that have destroyed lives,” according to Dorothy Chou Proudfoot, who leads the Marin Bar’s Public Outreach Program. “We wanted to educate parents and teens in a different and novel way,” adds Proudfoot. The Teens and the Law program incorporates a dramatization with students portraying what can happen under the influence of drugs and alcohol and a mock sentencing hearing that illustrates the legal consequences that can follow. The cast includes an actual Marin County Superior Court Judge, a Prosecutor, a Defense Attorney and a Medical Expert. And there is a Q&A discussion to round out the program. All students attending are eligible to receive credit for 2 community service hours and credit for 2 additional hours if a parent also attends.
RSVP is not required but appreciated at http://teensandthelaw.eventbrite.com.
