Volume 1, Issue 1

Winter 2011
Our Mission
We’ve created this
newsletter to help inform
parents on the various ways
the Burlington Drug &
Alcohol Task Force is
helping to reduce underage
drinking and youth drug
experimentation.
The Burlington Drug and
Alcohol Task Force
(BDATF) has been in
existence since 1982. This
coalition of volunteers was
formed in response to former
Governor Ed King’s request
for community feedback and
support concerning
BURLINGTON DRUG & ALCOHOL TASK FORCE
Our community has one of
the longest standing and most
stable coalitions in the state.
Since 1982, the Task Force
has held at least six
bi-monthly meetings each
school year and its mission
has expanded to include the
whole area of youth
substance abuse. The group’s
membership is made up of
community residents and
local professionals including
members of PTO’s, parent
groups, the clergy, business
community, law enforcement,
education (students, faculty,
>To promote healthy
choices related to drug
abuse prevention, reduction
of underage drinking,
reduction of alcohol–related
car accidents and decrease
teen tobacco use
>To exchange concerns and
ideas regarding substance
abuse in our community
>To share information from
conferences and other
sources
>To support and cooperate
with community
organizations in their
endeavors to lower youth
substance abuse risk

legislation to combat the

administration), human >To maintain resources for
problem of drunk driving in
PREVENTION CONNECTION

services and local the community including

the Commonwealth.
government. educational materials about
Informed professionals and
reducing substance abuse
concerned citizens formed
Some of the goals of the risk and how to find
the first local group of its
BDATF are: treatment
kind engaged in youth
>To develop and implement
alcohol abuse prevention
substance abuse prevention
activities.
and intervention programs

APPLAUDD for Parents!

The Burlington Drug & reduce risk of alcohol and
Alcohol Task Force will be drug abuse. APPLAUDD will Co-Chairpersons, Marilyn Belmonte and
be presented on Tuesdays Charlie Franich unveil the new logo in
sponsoring a parent workshop 2008
series in March to help March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at
parents take proactive 7pm in the Marshall
environmental and genetic
prevention steps that will Simonds Middle School
risk factors can be trumped
reduce substance abuse risks Auditorium.
by parental engagement
for their adolescents. during the critical adoles-
Parents have long been
cent years”, according to
considered the number one
“APPLAUDD: A Prevention deterrent to youth substance Nora D. Volkow, M.D.,
Program Learning About National Institute on Drug
abuse by most specialists.
Underage Drinking & Abuse (NIDA).
“Parents have been touted as
Drugs” is a four-part program the keys to preventing
designed to empower parents alcohol and other drug (Continued on page 4)
of students grades 5 through problems among youth, and
12 with proven strategies that research now shows that

“The United States simply can’t afford to let millions of kids struggle through their
academic and professional lives hindered by substance abuse. Parents need to play a
more active role in protecting their families, trust their instincts and take immediate
action as soon as they sense a problem,” said Steve Pasierb, CEO of the
Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
Monitoring Our Future
Since 1975 the “Monitoring
The Future” (MTF) survey has
measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette
use of adolescents nationwide. MTF is
one of three surveys sponsored by the
U.S Department of Health and Human
Services that provide government
agencies with data on youth substance
use trends. 46,348 students from
public and private schools in the 8th,
10th, and 12th grades participated in
this year's survey.
The results released in
December 2010 show significant
increases in use of Marijuana, Ecstasy
and cigar smoking, decreases in
cigarette smoking and binge drinking
while prescription drug abuse remained
stable but very high. 8th graders
showed the greatest increase in illicit
drug use. For 12th-graders, declines in
cigarette use and increases in marijuana
use put marijuana ahead of cigarette
smoking.
Teen Cannabis Use and the Brain
The California ballot initiative that
would have legalized recreational use
of marijuana was defeated on Election
Day 2010. California voters chose not
to legalize less than one ounce of
marijuana for those age 21 and older.
Marijuana-related ballot questions in
other states were also defeated.
Perhaps this is a good time for parents
to dispel some myths and to discuss the
science of marijuana with their teens.
The effect of daily cannabis use on the
adolescent teenage brain is worse than
originally thought and the long-term
effects appear to be irreversible.
A recent study published in
Neurobiology of Disease, suggests that
daily cannabis consumption can lead to
depression and anxiety. Led by Dr.
Gabriella Gobbi, a psychiatric
Page 2
"Mixed messages about drug
legalization, particularly marijuana,
may be to blame,” said Gil
Kerlikowske, director of the White
House Office of National Drug Control
Policy. “Such messages certainly don't
help parents who are trying to prevent
kids from using drugs."
But there is good news
because studies show that parenting
styles have a strong impact on youth
substance abuse. Researchers at
Brigham Young University have
found that teenagers who grow up
with parents who are either too strict
or too permissive tend to binge drink
more than their peers. The study was Caption describing picture or graphic.
published in the Journal of Studies on
Alcohol and Drugs.
The parenting style that led to
the lowest levels of problem drinking
struck a balance between both styles:
accountability and support. Parents
researcher from the Research Institute
of the McGill University Health
Centre, researchers found that
marijuana has an impact on serotonin
and norepinephrine. These brain
chemicals help control mood and
anxiety.
Her research
team
observed that
rats exposed
to cannabis
had decreased levels of serotonin,
which affects mood; and higher levels
of norepinephrine, which makes one
more susceptible long-term to stress.
"These permanent changes in the brain
are also linked to certain mental
illnesses, like schizophrenia," Gobbi
said, "And we showed that even if we
stopped the cannabis use at the end of
who monitor their children, set and
enforce rules but are also flexible;
show great interest in their children’s
ideas and their daily activities; make
expectations clear but support their
children’s needs, had the lowest rate of
heavy underage drinking.
“Mixed messages about drug legalization,
particularly marijuana….don’t help parents
who are trying to prevent kids from using
drugs”—Gil Kerlikowske, White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy
adolescence, the changes were still
detectable in adulthood."
Serotonin and norepinephrine systems
are still in development during
adolescence and cannabis interferes
with their development. It is well
known from past research that the
adolescent brain is more susceptible
than the adult brain to addiction of any
drug, including alcohol and nicotine
from cigarettes.
Although addiction to drugs and
alcohol can occur at any age, the risk
multiplies many times if alcohol
consumption or drug use begins in
adolescence. Talk to your children and
teenagers about the irreversible
damage that drugs and alcohol can
have on their brain and their future.
P R E V E NT I O N C O N N E C T I O N
 Underage Drinking Survey Results 2009
The Burlington Drug & Alcohol Task Force examined underage drinking in our community. A survey about perceptions
and attitudes was offered to parents of middle school and high school students at the November 2009 parent-teacher
conferences. Students in grades 7 through 12 were surveyed in their health classes in October 2009.
Results of the survey and strategies were discussed at a parent and youth forum in February 2010. “Not In Our House:
Strategies to Reduce Underage Drinking Parties” released the survey results to the general public.
There were 774 total respondents to the survey: 208 8 th graders, 198 high school seniors and 368 parents (80 High
School; 288 Middle School).
The first question asked how easy it may be to access alcohol from a variety of people or places. Parents and high
school seniors were in agreement that is easiest to get alcohol from friends and older siblings. The next common ways to find
alcohol was adult strangers, parents, restaurants and liquor stores in descending order.
This data tells us that the liquor compliance tests that the Burlington Police Department run periodically with our liquor
merchants is reducing youth alcohol access. It also demonstrated the need to reach young adults and older siblings with our
message of not purchasing alcohol for younger siblings and friends.

 “How easy or difficult do you think it
would be for underage youth to get
alcohol from home without their parents
knowing it?”
BHS Seniors: Very Easy/Easy=74%
8th Graders: Very Easy/Easy=66%
Parents: Very Easy/Easy=56%
*This data implies that parents
underestimate the ease of access to
alcohol in anyone’s home.
 “How often do you think parents in
your community provide alcohol at
parties their children host?”
BHS Seniors: Often/Very Often=22%
Parents: Very Often/Often=9%
*Parents have a different perception from
students about other parents providing
alcohol for youth.
 “How serious a problem is alcohol
consumption by underage youth (14-20
years old) at unsupervised gatherings in
your community?”
BHS Seniors: Very Serious/Serious=57%
th
8 Graders: Very Serious/Serious=53%
Parents: Very Serious/Serious=60%
*Slightly more than half of each
population feel underage drinking is a
serious issue in town.
 “Who should Burlington penalize for
underage drinking?”
(Y= Youth only, A=Adult providing alcohol
only, B=both underage drinker and the
adult)
BHS Seniors: Y=15%, A=8%, B=63%
8th Graders: Y=16%, A=12%, B=63%
Parents: Y=7%, A=9%, B=66%
*Everyone agrees that responsibility
should be shared.
 “Is it acceptable to get DRUNK at
Graduation Parties?”
BHS Seniors: No=49%, Yes=48%
th
8 Graders: No=57%, Yes=42%
Parents: No=89%, Yes=5%
*Students split on this question but
parents strongly disapprove of getting
drunk at graduation parties.
 “Is it acceptable to get DRUNK at
Sporting Events?”
BHS Seniors: No=42%, Yes=54%
8th Graders: No=26%, Yes=73%
Parents: No=90%, Yes=4%
*Parents again do not approve of getting
drunk at public sporting events but our 8th
graders feel this is socially acceptable.
Perhaps parents can look at the role
alcohol plays when watching sports.
 Is it acceptable for underage youth
to drink at Graduation Parties?
BHS Seniors: No=62%, Yes=35%
8th Graders: No=84%, Yes=14%
Parents: No=90%, Yes=3%
* Students feel a graduation party is
good reason for youth to drink but
parents strongly disapprove of
underage drinking at graduation
parties.
 Is it acceptable for underage youth
to drink at Sporting Events?
BHS Seniors: No=74%, Yes=23%
8th Graders: No=86%, Yes=12%
Parents: No=91%, Yes=1%
*Parents again do not approve of
getting underage drinking at public
sporting events but almost one-quarter
of seniors feel this is socially
acceptable.
PARENTS ONLY:
 “If you knew of an underage
drinking party in your community,
would you…..
Confront Homeowner: 20%
Contact Police: 31%
Do Nothing: 7%
Don’t Know: 27%
*Most parents would take action.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 Page 3

B U R L I N G T O N D R U G & AL C O H O L
T AS K F O R C E
Charlie Franich 781-270-1964
Marilyn Belmonte 781-229-2638
Co-Chairperson
Meetings are held in the Burlington
High School Conference Room next
to the Main Office at 12 noon
(unless otherwise noted)
Lunch is served.
Next Meeting:
Tuesday February 8, 2011
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Look us up on Facebook and at
www.BDATF2009.blogspot.com
APPLAUDD for Parents (continued)
Alcohol and drug research has shown
that positive parental involvement is an
important protective factor that
decreases drug abuse and underage
drinking. Yet most parents do not feel
that they have any power to influence
their adolescents because teens build
barriers to keep their parents at a
distance. This normal developmental
stage during adolescence serves to
discourage parents from being involved
in their children’s lives.
But parents can be empowered to be
their children’s primary drug and
alcohol abuse prevention educator.
APPLAUDD empowers parents to
communicate with their children and
make positive changes at home.
Alcohol and Energy Drinks Don’t Mix
It is important for young people to know that their bodies and minds are not yet fully
developed, and that ingesting any type of alcohol or drug can impair full brain
development. Exposure to alcohol at an early age increases the chance that a young
person will have alcohol-related problems by the time they are 21 years old and these
problems continue into adulthood.
Parents who can postpone the initiation of alcohol drinking for as long as possible will
decrease the risk that their children will have life-long problems with alcohol.
Recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned alcohol-energy drinks from
being marketed after it was proven that they increase alcohol-related accidents and
injuries. The drinks' brand names include Four Loko, Joose, Moonshot and Core High
Gravity. Four Loko, one of the most popular of these drinks, comes in fruit flavors and
brightly colored cans. It is 12 percent alcohol, meaning that one 23.5-ounce can is
comparable to drinking four or five beers, plus a high dose of added caffeine, taurine and
guarana for a stimulating effect.
Research suggests that when caffeine is mixed with alcohol it overcomes the sedating
effects of alcohol and people perceive that they are less intoxicated than they really are.
This leads people to drink more or make bad decisions about whether they are safe to
drive.
According to recent studies, people who consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks are:
 4 times more likely to leave a bar drunk
 4 times more likely to drive drunk than those drinking alcohol alone
 2 times more likely to have injuries that lead them to the emergency room
 2 times more likely to be involved in a sexual assault
Talk to your teens about underage drinking and never mixing alcohol with energy drinks at
any age.
APPLAUDD will be WEBSITES for more information:
presented on Tuesdays
www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com
March 8, 15, 22 & 29
www.DrugFree.org
from 7 to 9 pm in the
www.UnderageDrinking.samhsa.gov
Marshall Simonds
www.TheAntiDrug.com
Middle School Auditorium.
www.FreeVibe.com
www.AskListenLearnParents.com
APPLAUDD is open to the
www.JustThinkTwice.com
entire community. Parents
www.PainfullyObvious.com
of children grades 5 through
www.InhalantAbuseTraining.org
12 are encouraged to
www.MADD.org
attend!
www.StopImpairedDriving.org
For more information, please contact www.StopAlcoholAbuse.gov
Marilyn Belmonte at www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher
Marilyn@DrugAbuseRecognition.com or
781-229-2638. www.marijuana-info.org