Toxic Parents
A timely article by the Washington Post gives us an opportunity to follow up on our recent post about Virginia's new law regarding parental liability for teenage drinking. Marc Fisher of the Post wrote an informative article about the indifference of some parents towards teenagers drinking in their house. We’d like to pass along some highlights, but be sure to read the entire article when you have time.
- Montgomery County, Maryland sends home a “Safe Home Pledge” with all its high school students. Essentially, the pledge asks parents to promise not to serve alcohol to underaged kids, to supervise all parties they host, and to work with other parents to ensure a safe environment for high school students. When the pledges are returned, the school district prints a list and circulates of households who have signed the pledge as a way of letting parents know which houses are safe to let their children party atttend parties.
- Silvia Johnson, a Colorado parent, was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison for hosting a party where alcohol was available to minors. In an effort to be considered, in her words, “a cool parent,” Johnson did shots of whiskey, rum, and peppermint schnapps with 15 and 16 year olds. She also supplied the party with methamphetamines.
- A study of Maryland high schoolers indicates that 38% of high school seniors who drink responded that their parents were okay with them drinking.
- The same study shows that 16% of tenth-graders had smoked pot and 31% used alcohol in the last month.
