Teenage parties have long been part of Westport — and American — life.
But several recent ones have caused local leaders to take notice.
An email sent yesterday on behalf of 1st selectman Kevin Christie — and signed by Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice, Police Chief David Farrell, and 4 other town officials who work with youth — said that since September, Westport Police have responded to 7 “large scale” parties, each with over 100 teenagers.
One had “several hundred teens, including middle school students.”
(Stock photo)
When they were shut down, “many teens walked in the dark to reconvene at other homes and local businesses.”
Several young people were hospitalized for “severe alcohol intoxication.” Arrests were made for assault and “social hosting.”
Police and Christie call this “a troubling rise in large, unsafe gatherings of youth where alcohol and other substances are present.”
Police Captain Jillian Cabana adds, “This is a larger problem than just a year ago. Social media like Snapchat can quickly turn a small gathering into a large, unmanageable event. We encourage residents to call us for assistance when a situation is beyond their control.”
Police cite risks, including driving under the influence, walking in streets in the dark, alcohol poisoning, potential for assault, and risk of property damage.
The Westport Prevention Coalition — whose members include parents and professionals, with representatives from the Aspetuck Health District, Positive Directions, the Police Department, Westport Public Schools, and Westport Human/Youth Services — urges “parents to talk with their teens now, and make clear safety plans together.”
Kevin Godburn, director of Westport Youth Services, recommends teaching children “refusal skills” starting at an early age. “It’s also critical to have an agreed-upon exit strategy for risky situations,” he says.
Parents are also at risk. Connecticut’s Social Host Law holds adults responsible when youngsters consume alcohol or use cannabis on their property – even if the adults were unaware that it was happening.
Social hosting is punishable by up to a year in prison — with fines of up to $2,000 per youth involved.
However, Positive Directions prevention director Margaret Watt says, “It’s not just about following the law. Research shows that early substance use can damage teens’ brain development, and increase the risk of mental illness and addiction.”
The Police and Westport Prevention Coalition encourage parents to “create their own zero-tolerance policies for underage drinking and cannabis use.” The Coalition offers free resources such as Operation Parent books, lock bags for safe storage of prescription drugs and adult-use marijuana, and liquor stickers to deter access to alcohol at home.
For more information, email Watt (mwatt@positivedirections.org) or Godburn (kgodburn@westportct.gov).
In addition to Christie, Farrell and Scarice, the email was signed by:
- Elaine Daignault, director, Westport Human Services
- Kevin Godburn, program director, Westport Youth/Human Services
- Luci Bango, director of health, Aspetuck Health District
- Margaret Watt, prevention director, Positive Directions — The Center for Prevention & Counseling
In the 1970s, the legal drinking age in Connecticut was 18. This photo appeared in the 1975 Staples High School yearbook.
This goes back to parenting. Where were the parents of the middle school or high school student walking home in the dark? Did they come home smelling like alcohol? The parents are responsible!
I do think it starts at home. Parents may not be able to control all things related to their children, and mental health issues top that list. But certainly they can control what goes on in their homes. I love that our town has all those various local resources available to parents who may feel overwhelmed.
It is hard to believe these sizable groups, with outsized behavior as described here, can gather without the homeowners’ knowledge. Some will say, “I’d rather my kids are home doing this than somewhere else.” OK? But at least keep it safe?
I don’t know how today’s parents who themselves were in middle and high school during the St Elmo’s Fire, 16 candles, Risky Business years parent – incl local police – with a straight face 😉
isn’t it better to let kids experiment, test their limits, find out that ‘yes, doing XYZ will make you sick, adults aren’t just saying that to stop you fr having too much fun’ WHILE they’re in a – relatively speaking – extremely safe small town where everyone knows everyone … before they go to college where at least at 1st there won’t be that same real sense of care for them if/when they do breach the limits ?
remember, it’s always the kids who didn’t party in high school who when they get to college go berserk and that’s not so safe.
Ridiculous.
Huh?? You can prove that kids who didn’t party in high school go “ beserk” in college? I find that an unusual claim.
Now you see the problem, namely parents who cling to the old, ridiculous adage that “better they do it at home than out in the street”. Having been in Westport for almost 30 years and shepherded 2 kids through Westport schools we can attest to the fact the biggest hurdle to keeping our kids from alcohol and weed was their friend’s parents. Bad enough to screw up your own kids but allowing (even providing) alcohol to other parent’s kids without their knowledge is obscene. Whether it’s alcohol, weed or even something as seemingly innocent as allowing your teen to start learning to drive without a permit, models the wrong message. That’s what parenting is, modeling the behavior, qualities and emotional intelligence you’d hope your kids adopt. But most parents are too entitled, too selfish and too self-absorbed to sacrifice their own pleasures for the sake of their kids. The schools are no better. It’s common knowledge that kids bring (and sell) spring water bottles filled with vodka or gin (both clear liquids) on school grounds and at sporting events on campus. With our kids we resorted to demanding their friends parent’s phone numbers before they visited or attended any parties so we could grill the parents as to whether alcohol was being provided, whether a parent was going to be home during the party and whether there were any guns in the house. You can just imagine how popular we were with our kids because of this, but that’s the point, parenting is not being a friend to your kid, not being popular or liked by them or their friends, it’s doing the hard work to place and keep guardrails for their not-yet-fully-formed brains to follow. Keeping them safe is tough enough knowing a teen’s penchant for circumventing rules, peer pressure and “bullet proof” attitude, the last thing parents need are other parents working against them. It’s not OK.
Mr. Perri is right on the money with his comment. Parents need to be parents…
When I was in high school (late 1980s) we had a few bad alcohol related accidents. I’ve heard that in the 1970s-early 80s there were bad accidents in town almost every weekend. I’m sure Dave being out on patrol would know better than anyone else.