Teens’ responses to the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Student Survey in the Fall of 2008 indicate that most underage drinking is taking place at “Someone Else’s Home” or “My Home.”

Tips for Teen Parties at Your Home:

• Only allow teen parties when you are home to supervise.
• Consider making parties at your home ‘by invitation only.’
• Offer plenty of alcohol-free beverages.
• If a teen arrives at your home possessing or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, call the teen’s parents.
• Do not allow anyone under the influence to go home alone or drive. Call the appropriate law enforcement, if necessary.
• If you have alcohol in your home, monitor the supply and secure it out of reach of teens.

Remember that serving a minor is a criminal offense, and adults are potentially liable for resulting negative consequences.  Parents may be sued for damages and injuries caused by the underage individuals they serve.  The adult is held responsible, NOT the underage host or drinker.

More Tips for Safe Teens:

• Know where your children are. Assure them that they can telephone you to be picked up whenever they find themselves in a situation that is uncomfortable or threatening.
• Get to know your children’s friends and their parents.
• When your child is invited to an activity, verify the location and occasion with the adults responsible for the activity.
• Check on adult supervision, and verify that no drugs or alcohol will be available.
• Be awake or awakened when young people come home at night.
• If you need to leave your older teenagers alone overnight, alert your friends and neighbors, so they know you are planning to be away.

Safe Teen Party Pack Contest!

HEALTH in Columbia County wants to help you have a Safe Teen Party! Enter below to win the Safe Teen Party Grand Prize. The Grand Prize winner will receive all three gift certificates for a summer party for friends or family.

• $50 Wal-Mart gift certificate
• $25 Dairy Queen gift certificate
• $25 Pizza Inn gift certificate

To enter to win the Safe Teens Party Pack, please type your full Name and Email where indicated (ignore the Web Site box.) Type your mailing address, phone number, and date of birth in the big box.

This contest is open to adults, ages 21 and over, in Columbia County, Arkansas. One entry per household please.  Contest ends at 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2009.* Printed entry forms are available at select locations in Columbia County.”"

*Entries from the online submission are emailed to the blog account of HEALTH in Columbia County with time and date stamps. Only submissions received with a time and date stamp before the contest ends at 11:59 p.m., May 31, 2009 will be entered into the random drawing for one (1) Grand Prize winner. The drawing will be held Monday, June 1, 2009 and HEALTH will send notification to the winner by email and/or phone.  The name of the winner will be available to the public at the Community Connections office at Southern Arkansas University. The winner’s name only will be posted on the HEALTH Coalition Facebook Page and HEALTH in Columbia County blog.

**PRINTED COPIES OF THE PLEDGE AND ENTRY FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY:

• Columbia County Health Unit
• SAU Community Connections Office (Peace Hall, Room 209)
• Magnolia/Columbia-County Chamber of Commerce