From Harford County government:
On Wednesday, November 16, Harford County parents and caregivers are invited to “feed awareness” by having dinner with their families and talking to their children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The first annual Harford County Night of Conversation for families with children in pre-school through high school is being sponsored by Harford County government in partnership with Harford County’s public schools, libraries, sheriff’s office, health department and participating restaurants and grocery stores.
To aid the family discussions, “conversation cards” created by the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy will offer tips for parents including age-appropriate conversation starters. Parents are also encouraged to help their kids practice refusal skills and plan how to escape peer-pressure situations. Participants in the Night of Conversation can take a short survey about their experiences and enter to win a $250 Visa gift card.
“Research shows that children who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are up to 50% less likely to abuse drugs and drink alcohol,” said County Executive Barry Glassman. “Our first annual Night of Conversation creates a safe time for kids to come forward and ask questions. Most importantly, we want parents to help their children plan and practice what to do and say when they are offered drugs.”
Harford County Public Schools will be distributing a magnetized version of the conversation cards, ideal for posting on the family refrigerator. School officials are also encouraging parents and caregivers to provide their feedback through the survey.
“We begin speaking with students in pre-kindergarten about making good and safe decisions,” said Barbara Canavan, superintendent of Harford County Public Schools. “As students enter middle and high school, the decisions become more difficult. It is crucial that these dialogues take place not only in the schools, but at home, too. These discussions are key to ensuring that from a very young age, our students know that the adults around them care and will listen.”
Klein’s ShopRite and Giant grocery stores and participating restaurants including Enotria, Pat’s Pizzeria (Bel Air, Edgewood, and Havre de Grace locations), Fox & Fern, Stone’s Cove KitBar, Mountain Branch Grille & Pub, Sunny Day Café, Primavera Italian Restaurant, Riverside Pub & Grille, IHOP Bel Air, and Pizza Hut have begun distributing over 70,000 conversation cards and promoting the Night of Conversation to patrons, with balloons, signage, and other fanfare. The restaurants participating will offer free food and pizza delivery during the entire night of conversation.
“Medical studies have found that regular family meals at home promote ‘brain power,’ positive attitudes and safe behaviors in our kids,” said Howard Klein of Klein’s Family Markets/ShopRite of Maryland. “We’re all about food and family, so offering our stores as a vehicle for promoting November 16 as a ‘Night of Conversation’ is a natural for both the ShopRite brand and Klein’s Family Markets. More than 60,000 tip cards will be distributed between now and the end of November promoting dinner table conversations with our kids on November 16 about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.”
For expert advice and information, Harford County’s Office on Drug Control Policy staff will be on hand November 16 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Families may call 410-638-3333 anonymously or privately message the experts via Facebook on the Harford County Office of Drug Control Facebook page.
The Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy will also hold a presentation and large group discussion from 5 – 7 p.m. on November 16 for members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford County, Edgewood Unit.
To request conversation cards, find links to take the survey, or learn more about the Night of Conversation please visit www.harfordcountymd.gov/nightofconversation or contact the Harford County Office of Drug Control at 410-638-3333.
I find it ironic that 6 of the 10 restaurants participating in this supposed “event” serve alcohol. Let’s all go out to dinner and talk to the kids about drugs and alcohol while having a cocktail containing alcohol…..
I don’t see the irony.
Alcohol is legal and a (legal/21 or over) choice whether one drinks it in moderation or not on private property.
There are also laws pertaining to open alcohol containers in public and a minimum .08BAC while operating a motor vehicle on public roads.
What am I trying to say? underage drinking is a criminal offense one can be cited for, hence the “discussion” as it so pertains and perhaps if the psychology and social aspect of a drunkard.
So you would take to your pre-schooler thru high schooler about moderation, Huh? Interesting in deed…..
Sorry I meant Talk not Take…
Moderation of alcohol? They cant consume alcohol legally. I believe the discussion is a legal one, right?
I would not talk to anyone about my personal alcohol consumption, which is irrelevant in the particular discussion.
No, I believe the discussion was about the dangers of alcohol and drugs. Talking to someone about moderation is kinda pointless unless you can give them an example they understand. I guess you could equate it to eating a couple of pieces of candy and feeling good, but eating too much makes you sick. I don’t know, to each his own….
The only discussion of moderation was for people of legal drinking age.
Soul Crusher want to twist it even more how about a discussion with the kids of doing drug in moderation, a subject you may be able to have.
Don’t be a dick your whole life.
Really, we we’re talking about discussions with kids about the dangers of alcohol and drugs in a setting where people are readily consuming alcohol all around them. Maybe we got our signals crossed, but that is what I was talking about. As for your last sentence, likewise……
Bud, I’m not playing semantics with you. How many people give advice about not doing drugs who have at least experimented once with marijuana in their life? Pretty rare these days to find someone who hasn’t.
I can honestly say I have not, but a large quantity of our population has at least smoked marijuana once.
So talking to your kids about the dangers of alcohol and drugs while a pitcher of beer is being slammed in the next booth over is an appropriate setting? Wrong. That would be like talking to a teenager about abstinence while watching a porno….
Actually, it would be like talking to your kids about abstinence while HAVING sex, which would be awkward, I imagine, for all involved.
Or, if you were talking to your kids about abstinence while watching porn, that would be like talking to your kids about the dangers of alcohol and drugs while watching a movie of someone drinking beer.
Same difference. It’s not an appropriate setting. Which is the point I was making with my original comment from the beginning. Thanks for helping me clear that up.
Although, it actually might not be a bad idea to discuss the dangers of alcohol at a drinking establishment, because it would be like a field trip where people could see first hand some of the most immediate results of overconsumption. The guys with the beer bellies and the beer goggles, hitting on the nasty ladies at the end of the bar. The massively overpriced drinks.The people who get a few in ’em and think they can dance…or worse, sing karaoke. The bathroom at closing time. Eewww.
Eeeyep. Some of that ought to deter anyone from drinking.
Good point, but I still think it would depend on the age of the kid you were talking to. I wouldn’t take my 5 year old in there to see that. However, 16 and older might have some positive influence. Doubt it. But maybe….
I hear the judges are planning on selecting David Ryden as the next states attorney. Bad choice not sure who the others are but Dave is not the best choice. He will make a horrible states attorney in my opinion
Time to get liquored up and smoke a blunt.