Troubled Teens Resources

Sometimes parents don’t know where to turn. Teen age drug abuse, binge drinking, steroids, violence, internet addiction. Raising teenagers anymore is like going to war. And now some towns and school districts are taking the war directly to the parents, demanding that they do their part.

“Underage drinking is not new, but school districts seem to be talking about it more, while enforcing tough policies that often require year-round compliance. Still, the parties continue.
[…]
The Lake Shore School District last year started requiring parents to attend a mandatory session on drug and alcohol awareness before their children can attend school dances.

“They all go in with a little angst, as in ‘Why do I have to be here?’…“They come away with a tremendous amount of knowledge and the understanding of how important it is to fight this.”

And for a good many student athletes in this Buffalo community, the season is over. It sounds like the schools and police have a great deal more educating to do before teens at risk are going to get the message.

“More than three dozen high school students — most of them athletes — are serving suspensions this week for drinking alcohol during parties in at least three different incidents in Erie County last weekend.

On Grand Island, a birthday party last Saturday got out of hand, attracting at least 70 teenagers.

The same night, 34 underage drinkers were at a house party in Evans.

And in Sloan, eight students showed up drunk to the homecoming dance.

School administrators spent the week interviewing students, talking to parents, and meting out the punishment required by codes of conduct. For some of the athletes, the sports season is over.”
(source)