The native-to-Palo Alto Alcohol and Drug committee, which was responsible for previous years’ "Most of Us" surveys about teens and drugs and alcohol at Paly, is looking to reach out to parents and teens in the community about the issue of underage drinking and ways to prevent it.

The committee, which formed more than three years ago and has been meeting monthly ever since, conducted a "Reality Check" panel event at the PAUSD office last month. According to the flier for the event, the purpose of the panel was to convey "the truth about underage drinking and the legal consequences for parents and teens."

With PAPD captain Dennis Burns, Johnny Gogo from the District Attorney’s office, family therapist Donna Lera and Ellen Corman from the Stanford University Medical Center speaking, the panel offered a wide assortment of views and facts on the controversial issue.

The panel, attended by both parents and students, some of whom were motivated to attend due to extra credit being offered from in the Living Skills classes, offered several pieces of advice to parents if they suspect their child is or had been drinking. Paly graduate and community officer Ken Cratt warned parents to check MySpace.com to view evidence of their children drinking in the form of pictures they have posted on the site.

"Start looking at [the site] and see what’s going on," Ken Cratt said to parents in the audience. "I think you’ll be pretty surprised."

Family Therapist Donna Lera of Sequoia Counseling Services instructed parents that their advice to teens about the dangers of underage drinking could overpower possible peer pressures. Lera also claimed that a family history of alcoholism leads to a boy being four times as likely to drink underage, and a girl being eight times as likely to drink underage than if they had no family history of drinking.

Gogo took a slightly different angle on the issue by relaying the potential consequences for teens. According to him, being arrested for alcohol or drug possession is not a conviction, contrary to common belief, but merely a petition. Therefore one arrested for such charge can still honestly answer on a college application or job application form that they have never been convicted of drug possession. Once minors turn 18 they also have the opportunity to request that their juvenile records be sealed.

Despite these cushions for teenagers, the PAPD wants to ensure that they face underage drinking as seldom as possible. The PAPD, along with the Menlo Park and Atherton police departments, recently bought STONE, a simulated impaired driving experience for use in demonstrations at schools, with hopes that if kids understand that driving drunk impairs their driving abilities, they will not do it.

According to organizer Carol Zepecki, the Alcohol and Drug Committee would like to expand its audience and reach out to as many members of the Paly committee as possible.

"We would like to ‘go on the road’ with the meetings and address as many groups as possible, PTA’s, citizen groups, neighborhood associations so that we can get the message out. We would be willing to speak to any students, groups or classes as well." Burns said.

For more information on the Alcohol and Drug Committee and its goals, contact Carol Zepecki at [email protected].