03/31/10 Greenwich Roundup Reader Comment: Rise in Greenwich teen arrests prompts concern

Dear Greenwich Roundup:

I and many other Greenwich parents are concerned by a recent spike in arrests involving juveniles and drugs or alcohol.

What the Town of Greenwich needs to do is talk to the people with the most influence on our youths –– parents or guardians — and remind them to take the time to talk to their children.

Greenwich parents should not be wondering what their teens are doing. Greenwich teens, like those in other communities, are drinking, experimenting with drugs and having sex.

I think a public meeting is warranted, just look at the number of teenagers who have been arrested over the past three months.

Other teens in Greenwich are being investigated for vandalism.

The job of being a parent is tougher than ever now with youths having cell phones that connect them to the Internet and televisions with hundreds of cable stations.

Many parents also think that the pressure to excel is another contributing factor to teenage substance abuse in town.

Parents should not to be afraid to be nosy, to know where their children are and what’s going on at the houses they visit.

It’s not all right to go away on vacation and leave your teens at home.

And it’s not all right to think that if there’s alcohol everything is going to be OK just because you take everyone’s keys away — it’s not going to be OK.

It is time that First Selectman Peter Tesei enlisted community participation in an effort to keep its teenagers out of trouble.

Name Witheld By Request

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