Hudson County Kicks OffChildhood Drinking Coalition

JERSEY CITY—The Hudson County Childhood Drinking Coalition held it’s Fall Kick-Off Event at the Partners In Prevention office on Newark Ave. The event brought together leaders from several Hudson county-based non-profit organizations, school counselors, clergy, concerned parents, politicians, and high school students to discuss problems and solutions related to childhood drinking.
Childhood drinking is early underage alcohol use by children ages 10-14 years old. It creates a number of problems for the families that experience it, as well as the community as a whole. Research indicates that students under the age of 15 who use alcohol are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol problems by the age of 21 than students who do not drink at that early age.
“The average age of first alcohol use is now eleven years old,” Doug Bratton, Community Outreach Coordinator for Partners In Prevention, said. “Alcohol is the drug used most frequently by young people, used more often than tobacco and illicit drugs. It is also the leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. Clearly, childhood drinking is a growing problem, and community action and parental education are a big part of the solution.”
Childhood Drinking Coalitions are coordinated in every county of New Jersey through local affiliates of the New Jersey Prevention Network, and is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Dept. of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services. Through the Childhood Drinking Coalitions, community advocates seek to educate youth and parents, change community norms that are favorable to childhood drinking, and promote legislation that can help reduce minors’ access to alcohol.
Anyone interested in joining the Hudson County Childhood Drinking Coalition can attend the next meeting on Tuesday, November 19 from 6pm-7pm at the Partners In Prevention office at 309-311 Newark Avenue in Jersey City. For additional information, please call Doug Bratton of Partners In Prevention at (201) 653-6776.
About Partners In Prevention:
Partners In Prevention is a non-profit service organization that addresses substance abuse in individuals, families, schools and others concerned about the impact of addiction in our communities. It serves thousands of individuals from all twelve municipalities of Hudson County. Partners In Prevention has been designated by the State Department of Human Services, Division of Addiction Services as the prevention resource center serving Hudson County. As such, it maintains a library of literature and other educational resources available to parents, students, educators, schools, municipal alliances, clergy, health care professionals, treatment facilities, public housing authorities, employers and others seeking information regarding substance abuse and related problems. For more information, please call the agency at (201) 653-6776.

Contact:
Doug Bratton
Partners In Prevention
309-311 Newark Ave.

Jersey City, NJ 07302
Phone: 201-653-6776
http://www.partners-in-prevention.com
info@partners-in-prevention.com