This year, shouldn’t we all consider a dry Halloween?

Last year while trick-or-treating, I was generously offered local beer and cider by a few friends. I consciously and politely chose to abstain because of the nature of the event.

I don’t mean to be a buzzkill, but there are several real reasons for my recommendation: brain development, role modeling, friends in recovery and safety. My children’s brains will continue to develop until they are 25.

Early exposure leading to early use of drugs or alcohol affects their long-term mental health, cognitive potential and leads to higher rates of alcohol use as adults. According to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 29 percent of Lamoille County high schoolers drink alcohol regularly — 45 percent of 12th graders — which is over the state averages.

And the percentage of students who think their parents feel it is wrong for teens to drink is lower here than our state average. It’s time to put some guardrails up on when and where alcohol belongs.

We tell children not to get into a car with someone who has been drinking, and we hope they listen for those higher risk moments of high school like prom or graduation, yet we tolerate the more subtle nights when a parent had two tall 8 percent brews and drives their kids home. It’s not safe, especially on Halloween with kids running all over the place in costumes.

I thank you in advance for volunteering to be the family designated driver, but my real hope is that we can opt out for these family-focused evenings.

This topic is also important to me because I know and care for many parents in our communities who are trying to cut back or quit drinking for their own important reasons. Associating child-focused events with alcohol can be unsafe for friends in recovery to attend.

Professionally I speak with many patients and parents who are worried about their alcohol consumption, but not ready to be “out” as a person trying to cut back.

I was impressed by Stowe Youth Lacrosse’s move to make their end of the year party alcohol free.

These child-focused events are an opportunity for adults to send an important message to children and teens by demonstrating that an event does not need alcohol to be fun.

The Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey has more information on local rates of teen substance use. For more information about substance prevention visit Healthy Lamoille Valley (healthylamoillevalley.org). If you need help cutting back on alcohol, the North Central Vermont Recovery Center (ncvrc.com) or your primary care provider are safe, supportive and judgement-free places to start.

So have a happy — and dry — Halloween in 2023.

Dr. Katie Marvin is the medical director for family medicine at Lamoille Health Partners and medical director for the Lamoille County Medication Assisted treatment team that treats adults with substance use disorder. She’s also a local coach and mom of three. Read the Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey at bit.ly/46hGepf.