BATH

Parents joined law enforcement officials, teachers and social workers Friday at a forum on underage drinking.

Tracy, a 1990 Morse High School graduate, spoke of her own experience about the difficulty of keeping youths away from alcohol.

“My group was not into making good choices,” she said. “We didn’t listen. I don’t know what could have been said to me.”

The forum — sponsored Friday night by Communities Against Substance Abuse at Bath Middle School — was prompted by two recent incidents in which police were called to parties where youths were illegally consuming alcohol.

In one incident earlier this month, a 14-year-old Bath youth was hospitalized after falling through a plate glass window at a party where police issued summonses alleging minors were consuming alcohol.

In response, officials at Mid Coast Hospital and other community leaders decided to organize the forum, to underline the dangers inherent when teenagers consume alcohol and strategize how to curb the practice.

Parents who spoke identified themselves only by first name.

Heidi Tucker of Mid Coast Hospital, who helped coordinate the foruum, diligently set up tables in the cafeteria, each one holding a sign with helpful advice. Geno Ring, longtime drug and alcohol counselor at Brunswick High, served as moderator.

One woman’s response to Tracy’s statement: clarity.

“Our kids aren’t always sure what’s right and what’s wrong,” the woman said. “We need to be really clear.”

That becomes all the more difficult, audience members said, when parents have their own substance-abuse issues.

Schools and community services are stretched thin. But, as Ring said, the message doesn’t always get through.

“We can offer the services,” Ring said, “but they might not accept the services. That doesn’t mean they’re going to be home that night, or that mom and dad are going to be sober.”

Alluding to the incident two weeks ago, he said, “alcohol is very, very seductive to our kids. They don’t think they’re going to go through a plate glass window. Getting high does make you feel good, so they tune the warnings out.”

A parent named Tom said there aren’t enough consequences.

“These kids still get to play sports, they get their field trips, whatever it is they value,” Tom said. “It’s up to the community to make sure these kids are accountable.”

Communities Against Substance Abuse emphasizes parental involvement. Tucker’s five signs encourage parents to network, limit access, be “up and ready” when their children get home at night, check in often, and enforce rules.

The group provides a little help for parents to stay up at night, passing out free coffee at games and other school events.

To help parents, Mid Coast Hospital conducts “Table Talks,” through its “Parents Connect” program. Parents Connect has done six small, informal meetings with parents, in their homes or in community spaces.

For further information, parents can contact Tucker at 373-6958 or htucker@midcoasthealth.com.

Also, parents in Sagadahoc County can use the anonymous “eTip” hotline, which kids can use without identifying themselves. Anonymity is guaranteed. Anyone who suspects an underage drinking party can text eTip, followed by the tip, to 274637 or submit a tip online to ww.midcoastcasa.org.

lgrard@timesrecord.com