May 1984 Blast from the Past
NEIRAD enilno edition
High school kids in general are seen as notorious underage drinkers at parties and with friends. But as this month’s “Blast from the Past” shows this behavior is not a new trend, and has been happening at least since the early 1980s. Reporter William R Clements delved into the underage drinking problems here at Darien High School. Here is Clements’ report filed in May of 1984.
In-School Inebriation: "Why Can't Johnny See?"
May 1984
By William r. clements
It is 7:30 am. A young man is running to catch the bus to take him to the institution that will hold him captive until 2:26 pm. Once safely on the bus and in his seat, he looks around and makes sure no one is watching. Then he pulls a flask from an inside pocket in his jacket and consumes the equivalent of seven shots of 80-proof gin.
The young man is not “a problem child.” And he certainly is not the only student using drugs before school. But no one pays any attention to him.
According to Assistant Principal Gerald Coulornbe, “The use of drugs and alcohol is not, according to popular belief, increasing, but is actually declining.”
Yet, when asked by Neirad if they thought there was an increase in the use of drugs and/or alcohol in school, 12 students out of 20 answered “yes.” One girl commented “School is boring.” She said, “For some people, it makes the day go by faster.”
Nationally, the use of drugs and alcohol is on the decline. Last year, a survey showed 4 out of every 10 students were consuming alcohol and 1 out of every 50 had gotten drunk at school in two months before the survey. But this year, that same survey showed the number of students using alcohol was down to 2 out of every 10, and less than 1 out of 100 that become drunk in school.
Part of the reason, reports show, is that nationally schools are enforcing stricter punishments on students caught drinking at school. The Darien High School policy states that on a first offence, a student can be suspended for “up to 10 days and the student’s parents, guidance counselor and the police will be notified.” On the second offense, the student may face expulsion. Yet many students continue to drink. Stress main reason.
According to local Psychologist Harry Browne, there are many reasons an adolescent drinks. “The most common reason in this area,” said Dr. Browne, “is stress.” He explained; “Students in this area are under a lot of pressure to perform. Many of them can and do perform, but some can’t and turn to alcohol drugs.”
This does not mean, however, that every student who can’t live up to his parents expectations turns to drink, he pointed out. But it does offer one explanation.
There are other explanations. A study conducted by the Darien Committee on Drugs and Alcohol linked teenage drinking to a number of other causes, including peer pressure and “inability to cope with family problems.” The moral majority claims that the increase of drug and alcohol abuse over the last decade is mostly due to “the lack of school prayer.”
Dr. Browne said that drug and alcohol problems start and are more prevalent in the under-classes. He explained that some students “have a problem handling responsibility and rebel by acting in an irresponsible manner.”
Whether the reason be stress, peer pressure or rebellion, the problem does exist at DHS. If drinking at school continues, parents need not ask “Why can’t Johnny read?” but rather “Why can’t Johnny see the book?”
