(WHITE TWP., March 25, 2009) – The Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders is taking on two of society’s greater ills, declaring April to be both Alcohol Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“According to the 2006 Middle School Survey, 15.8 percent of Warren County middle school students reported past alcohol use, which is higher than the state median rate of 13 percent,” Freeholder Director Richard D. Gardner said, adding later, “I never would have suspected that high a number.”

Reading from a proclamation just before it was approved by the Freeholder Board, Gardner noted that young people who begin drinking before age 15 “are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who being drinking at age 21.”

Freeholder Everett A. Chamberlain said it is important to raise public awareness about the problem, noting, “All that we can do to prevent alcohol abuse, with its effect on families and its effect on our productivity in the workplace… all that we can do to protect the individuals that are driving on our roads, and the families that live here in the county, is well worth it.”

Chamberlain added, “I thank all those people that are very involved in this program for all the work they do.”

Chelsea Scurato of the county’s Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse accepted the proclamation and thanked the freeholders “for their continued support on this issue.”

Scurato noted the theme for this year’s Alcohol Awareness Month is “Our Children, Our Future: Underage Drinking is a Community Responsibility,” which speaks to the importance of raising awareness about the issue.

“We must increase our young people’s awareness of the early effects of alcoholism, in order to stop this continuing cycle of addiction in our community,” Scurato said, adding, “I really believe this is something we can change in our community.”

Meanwhile, Chamberlain said that child abuse “is probably one of the most horrific tragedies we have in society today.” He noted that in Warren County, 1,181 reports of child abuse or neglect were made in 2008 to the Warren County Local Office of the Division of Youth and Family Services, adding that “many of these children will be damaged for life, either physically, mentally or emotionally.”

“Society has an obligation to children,” Gardner said, adding, “It’s profoundly sad when it comes to the numbers of children abused annually. The abuse can end, but the ramifications of abuse linger on for that person’s life.”

The freeholders presented the Child Abuse Prevention Month proclamation to Deborrah Coulter, who manages the Warren County office of the New Jersey Division of Youth Family Services. She thanked the freeholders for making the community aware of the issue, and noted, “We are dedicated to making a difference in every child’s life.”

“Anything that we can do, we should do,” Gardner added.

WHEREAS, adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of alcohol on learning and memory; and

WHEREAS, alcohol is a major contributing factor in the death of persons ages 10-24 in: motor vehicle crashes, unintentional injuries, homicide and suicide; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2006 Middle School Survey, 15.8% of Warren County middle school students reported past alcohol use which is higher than the state median rate of 13%; and

WHEREAS, young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21; and

WHEREAS, there are an estimated 11,000 people in need of alcohol and substance abuse treatment in Warren County; and

WHEREAS, Warren County ranks second highest in the state (365 per 100,000) in residential admission rates for alcohol abuse and dependence and ranks third highest in the state for juvenile Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) rates; and

WHEREAS, health and social problems arising from alcohol and substance abuse can be prevented through education and adoption of healthy attitudes and lifestyles; and

WHEREAS, responsibility rests with both public and private sectors for assuring reductions of alcohol and substance abuse related problems and for providing access to treatment for all individuals and family members affected by alcohol and substance abuse;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Warren does hereby proclaim the month of April as ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH and calls upon all citizens, parents, governmental agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, hospitals and schools in Warren County to support efforts to end underage drinking, increase awareness of alcohol use disorders and the success of prevention and treatment.

Richard D. Gardner, Director
Everett A. Chamberlain, Deputy Director

WHEREAS, over 3 million children in the United States were abused and neglected; and

WHEREAS, in New Jersey alone, more than 61,076 reports of child abuse or neglect were made in 2008 to the N.J. Department of Children and Families, Division of Youth and Family Services; and

WHEREAS, in Warren County, 1,181 reports of child abuse or neglect were made in 2008 to the Warren County Local Office of the Division of Youth and Family Services; and

WHEREAS, many of these children will be damaged for life, either physically, mentally or emotionally at an immeasurable loss to society; and

WHEREAS, a Governor’s Task Force on Child Abuse has been established to address the issue of the prevention of child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, the prevention of child abuse and neglect must include all sectors of the community: schools, hospitals, medical professionals, law enforcement officials, courts, private and public agencies and every citizen;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Warren does hereby proclaim the month of April, 2009 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Warren County and urges community residents to become involved in efforts aimed at preventing children from being abused and neglected.

Richard D. Gardner, Director
Everett A. Chamberlain, Deputy Director