August has come to an end and so has another beautiful Maine summer. Long summer days, trips to the beach, barbecuing in the back yard, and trips to your local ice cream stand are all winding down.

School has or will begin for all our local students and with it comes the beginning of a busy time of year for students and their families. Many of our kids participate in sports and look forward to the rivalries that exist between them and nearby towns.

These are often rivalries that started when mom or dad played sports or even when grandparents were the players. These battles between neighboring communities are great fun and to the winners go bragging rights — at least until winter sports bring another round of competition. These rituals have been a staple of life here in Maine for a long time.

Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) is a coalition of people from these same communities that compete so fiercely against each other in sports who come together with the common purpose of keeping our children and neighbors educated about drugs and alcohol in order for them to make informed choices. Our hearts ache collectively when a person suffers pain brought about by substance abuse. There is a need for all of our towns to be allies when it comes to making sure our students are safe from the ravages of substance abuse.

There have been a number of stories in the news the past few months of people hosting parties where teenagers have been allowed to use alcohol and perhaps other substances. Inevitably after these stories break there are water cooler conversations where some might express the view, “Well, if kids are going to do it anyways, they might as well do it under my watch so they’re safe.”

I agree about keeping them safe. But not by allowing them to use dangerous substances that could bring about long-term harmful consequences. The teenage brain is not fully matured. It is not prepared for alcohol or other mood altering substances.

There are always anecdotes about how we all did it as teens and we turned out OK. We don’t hear about our peers that did not turn out OK. What about the number of teen pregnancies in which alcohol was and is a factor? What about the teens of yesteryear that developed serious substance problems? What about the teens who never made it to adulthood? Do we as parents want to have our children take risks in which they can lose so much? And for what? Because it feels good?

Research is available to show the negative impact that drugs and alcohol can have on a developing brain. We have seen and documented how substances impact a person’s ability to sustain healthy interpersonal relationships. Research also shows that we parents have the most impact on our teenage children. Teachers and coaches, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and caring concerned adults are also all important and necessary in helping our teens mature from boys and girls to young gentlemen and young ladies.

A parent can never lose sight of the impact their influence has on their children. For better or for worse. We need it to be for the better. Our children need to know what we stand for, what is safe and what is not safe. They need to hear the word no, and they need to know you mean it.

Parents of your teen’s friends also need to know what your family believes about underage use and what your expectations are while your teen is at their house. Many parents don’t know that it is never legal for adults to provide a place for teenagers to drink alcohol, and they can be subject to substantial fines for doing so.

We can and should enjoy our students returning to school and extra curricular activities but teens still need and deserve our supervision. They are not yet fully matured adults and we still have a lot of parenting left to do. Our teens telling us that they “know” does not mean that they have all the facts. Ask them what they know about drinking alcohol, using marijuana or experimenting with pills — and where they learned it. What are their opinions and concerns?

For many adults this is not an easy conversation to have. For help, visit CASA’s parent page — www.midcoastparentsconnect.org or www.facebook.com/midcoastparentsconnect.

We are not rivals. Not really. We are neighbors who all want our kids to be safe. But it would still be fun to beat you in the football game. I don’t deny that.

GENO RING is a substance abuse counselor who works with Brunswick High School.