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Stop DWI

Westchester Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth

The Westchester County Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth represents anti-drug coalitions throughout Westchester. These coalitions work to reduce underage drinking and other drug use and to promote positive youth development.

Power to the Parent.org
Power to the Parent.org is a program of the Westchester Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Free Youth. The organization was created to provide parents with information and support on how to keep teens safe from alcohol and other drugs. While parents can contact the organization directly by phone at (914) 332-1300 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., they can also access information and get inspiration on the organization's Web site, Power to the Parent.org.

Power to the Parent.org buttonPower to the Parent.org's goal is to empower parents, to give them the hardcore facts about drinking and drugs, to provide strategies and information and to help parents communicate with their teens.

The Web site contains such information as:

  • A Parent Toolkit that provides tips to keep teens safe
  • Facts about alcohol and other drugs
  • The laws that affect Westchester families
  • The warning signs of drinking and drug use
  • Other resources to empower parents

Family Day
Of national importance is Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children. It's an effort to promote parental engagement as a single, effective way to reduce substance abuse among children and teens and to raise healthier children. This initiative, started by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, encourages families to share a meal together and encourages communities to participate by helping families find the time and resources to make a shared meal a reality. 

Since it began, Family Day has been celebrated on the fourth Monday of September.

While it would be wonderful for parents to eat dinner with their children every day, this day, in particular, is a special reminder that dinner does make a difference.

 

Tips for Parents

Parents should take the lead in discussing alcohol and its effects with their teens.  The tips below and on our Tips for Parents, should be read and shared with them.  (En español)

  • Alcohol is a drug, in fact the most abused drug in America, and five times more teenagers die from alcohol-related causes than all illegal drugs combined.
  • Binge drinking is especially dangerous to teenagers. Alcohol poisoning can be fatal.
  • If your teenager is intoxicated, don't let him or her “sleep it off.” Brain damage and even death can be the result. Seek medical help immediately. Share the information on our Alcohol Overdose. It's A Medical Emergency with your teen. (En español)
  • Alcohol is involved in two thirds of sexual assaults and date rapes among teens.
  • Tell your teens that you disapprove of underage drinking and why. Share your concerns and listen to theirs.
  • Know the laws. Serving or purchasing  alcohol and/or allowing anyone under 21 to drink is illegal and dangerous. Please don't do it.
  • Do not serve alcohol at teen parties in your home. Make sure no one brings alcohol to the party.  You are legally liable for any damage caused by teens who drink at your home.
  • Circulate regularly during parties, checking all rooms of the house and the yard.
  • If your teen is attending a party in another home, call the parents to make sure alcohol is not allowed and that they will be home during the entire event.

For additional information contact:

Patricia McCarthy Tomassi
Westchester County
Office of Drug Prevention and STOP-DWI
112 East Post Road, White Plains , NY 10601
Tel.: (914) 995-4115

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Related Publications

Frequently Asked Questions about DWI
  Nine frequently asked questions about DWI and the kinds of penalties and fines that result when found DWI. [En español: Las Preguntas Más Frecuentes de DWI]
Standard for Drunk Driving Facts About New York’s .08 BAC
  This brochures explains Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and how it affects your driving. [En español: El Límite del Conductor Embriagado]
Relicensing DWI Offenders Q and A
  Frequently asked questions about revoked drivers licenses and getting a license back. [En español: Restaurando las Licencias de Ofensores DWI]
Teens and Alcohol - What Parents Need to Know
  Guidelines and responsibilities when giving a party for teens and when your teen is going to a party. [En español: ¡Lo que los Padres Necesitan Saber!]
Zero Tolerance Q and A
  Frequently asked questions about the zero tolerance law in New York State. [En español: Cero Tolerancia Preguntas y Respuestas]
Prom Safety 
  What parents should know about prom safety and helpful tips for hiring a limousine service on prom night.
Teen Drinking
  Fundamental tips for parents about teen drinking. [En español: LosJóvenes y El Alcohol]
Alcohol Overdose. It's A Medical Emergency.
  Don't let anyone who has passed off from drinking alcohol sleep it off. Get help immediately.  [En español: La Sobredosis de Alcohol ¡Es Una Emergencia Médica!]
NY State DMV: You and the State Drinking Driving Laws
  A summary of New York state's drinking and driving laws.



 



  

 

 

 

Teen Driving

Here you'll find the resources to make good driving decisions. Safety facts have been put together with you in mind and links to other Web sites with important information on why you should drive safely have been suggested. Listen to your parents, teachers, family, and friends and read the information featured here. Think about whether or not you are ready to drive. While ultimately it's your decision, having all the information will help you make the right choice.

Parents and teachers, should check out the county traffic safety programs, particularly the "Save Your Face, Click It or Ticket" program designed to educate teens to use seat belts. In fact, police are cracking down on texting while driving. Besides being a dangerous activity to perform while driving, it's against the law. New studies show that drivers overestimate their ability to multitask behind the wheel.

Try your hand at the "Gauging Your Distraction" game as featured in a series of articles, Driven to Distraction, in the Technology Section of the New York Times Web site. This game measures how your reaction time is affected by external distractions. Regardless of your results, the bottom line is that you should not text when driving.

We welcome your feedback. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dept. of Public Works/Traffic Safety
148 Martine Ave, Suite 400B
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-2555