Destructive decisions --- Youths caught 'in the act' on Internet

WAYLAND -- Photographs of Wayland youths apparently binge drinking, smoking marijuana and partying in private homes are posted on the Internet and common knowledge to a number of local teenagers -- and police.

Many of the teenagers who appear in the photographs, according to one Wayland High School student, run in the same crowd as William Senne, 18, who last weekend crashed into a state trooper while allegedly driving drunk.

State Police Trooper Ellen E. Engelhardt remained in critical condition at Boston Medical Center yesterday, according to a hospital spokesman.

The pictures, uploaded by students to private Web sites and distributed by electronic instant messaging, show youngsters in suburban homes chugging beer, playing drinking games and posing in sexually suggestive positions. Some photos show young people with what are described as marijuana cigarettes.

"I've seen it. They (kids) took it right off when they found out we knew," said Police Officer Frank MacKenzie-Lamb. "There are pictures of kids drinking. I was surprised. One of the citizens who brought it to our attention had a kid in it (one of the pictures)."

Senne's crash has focused a spotlight on a town where underage drinking and drugs apparently run rampant. Many blame parents for failing to prevent parties in their homes while they are away. Police Chief Robert Irving said he "wouldn't be surprised" to learn some parents were providing alcohol to teens.

"Wayland is very concerned about underage drinking," said Irving. "It is a big, big problem."

WHS student John Gately Jr., who enters his senior year in September, said he is fed up with drug and alcohol abuse in his school.

Although he claims he did not leak the Web sites to police, many graduated seniors, associated with Senne, accused Gately of doing so and "interrogated" him, he said, last May 16 during the prom when one Web site was made known to police. MacKenzie-Lamb said police learned of the Web site from a parent.

Although many sites no longer exist, at least one was still up and running last week and depicts more than 50 pictures of various youths partying.

"I am just concerned for their safety; I am not out to get anyone," said Gately. "I hope things get better. I hope my classmates take precautions now (after Senne's accident). I hope it dies down."

One picture depicts a teen with what looks like five marijuana cigarettes hanging from his mouth. Another shows a teenager chugging beer out of a funnel while others cheer. Some depict popular college drinking games like "Beirut" and "Beer Pong" being played in family dining rooms.

One picture shows two teenage girls kissing, while another titled "sandwich," shows a young woman sitting between two teens licking her forehead with beers in hand.

"I've seen pictures of kids funneling beers and doing weird stuff after they are stoned or drunk," said Gately. "I saw one picture of a boy on top of a girl in a sexual position. They had their clothes on, and he was grabbing her on the chest. The girl seemed OK with it.

"But it's just really weird stuff. I found one with vibrating toys they play with. They get the underclassmen girls all drunk and high."

Gately adamantly said he only spoke out because he was concerned with the safety of his peers, although he said he was a "troublemaker" in middle school and is regularly picked on in high school.

A year ago, Gately said several Wayland youths smashed his mailbox and tossed eggs at his home.

Police and school officials say solving the problem in Wayland begins with educating parents.

Wayland school superintendent Gary A. Burton said he has sent several letters to parents warning them about the dangers of teenage alcohol and drug abuse.

"We recognize this as a community problem," said Burton. "We repeatedly tell parents not to do that (allow drinking in private homes). Graduation is not an excuse to allow kids to drink."

Irving said police will continue to patrol many favorite partying spots in Wayland, including the Town Beach on Lake Cochituate, the Loker Conservation area, Wayland Middle School and Dudley Pond.

According to Irving, on April 17, police found Senne and friends with a 30-pack of beer in the trunk of Senne's car parked in the Town Beach parking lot. As police approached, someone shut the trunk of the car. Police asked the teens to open the trunk and found the beer, Irving said.

Senne was not arrested, but was ordered by a court magistrate to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, meet with a counselor once a week and commit no further offenses, according to Irving.

Irving said Senne's 90-mph crash into Engelhardt's cruiser on Rte. 25 in Wareham just after 6 last Saturday morning, constituted another offense.

On Aug. 5, Senne is scheduled to be charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol in Framingham District Court, Irving said.

Bill Phillips, a drug and alcohol counselor in Framingham, said Senne could face jail time.

"Framingham is on top of the game," said Phillips. "Some kids will go to a treatment center, get jail time or extended probation. Framingham is good. They do not forget the past."

Phillips said the days when teenagers from affluent suburbs like Wayland received special treatment were over.

"It used to be (those with) money got away with everything," said Phillips. "Open your eyes and look out the window. It's (drugs) all over (the country)."

Irving said stricter drug and alcohol laws would probably not deter underage use. He said parents need to become more aware of their children's actions.

"We can't follow them (teens) around, we can't do illegal searches," said Irving. "Most parties occur inside people's houses. Police can't get inside unless a complaint is being made. Responsibilities are on the parents. Sometimes, it is beyond our ability. If our youth officer (Jim Forti) hears about a party, we try and intervene."

In addition to obtaining alcohol from parents, Irving said Wayland youths were probably getting alcohol from older siblings or stores in neighboring towns.

A few months ago, police sent an underage person into every establishment in Wayland to purchase alcohol. According to Irving, not one restaurant or liquor store sold to the teenaged girl.

Irving warned the consequences of selling alcohol to underage drinkers are severe.

"Parents are naive to think they could have a party with alcohol at their house and if kids consume it they couldn't be held responsible," said Irving. "If you sell to someone, a person gets drunk, there are certain liabilities."

Sorry to keep you all waiting but earning a living has to take priority to Freeping sometimes. A word to all: I’m not yelling with my capitalization for emphasis. I’m at work and without the time to use FR’s html for italic emphasis. I AM yelling about the responsibility of the liquor industry pertaining to the problems surrounding alcohol though. Because of the illegal/legal issues I won’t address drugs on this thread and I am limiting this response to booze.

Pest—manufacturers ARE being held responsible for their products. I’ll admit here and now I’m no fan of the tobacco industry or the liquor industry. I suppose it’s true that there’s nothing worse than a quitter and I am a quitter of both. I also work in a profession that allows me to see and hear first hand, over and over the devastation caused by alcohol. I believe that State Trooper Ellen Engelhardt and her family would likely, at this minute feel they fit that category. So would Strom Thurmonds family (daughter killed by drunk driver), George McGovern’s family and thousands upon thousands of others. Which is what actually triggered my anti-booze industry response in the first place. A stance I am comfortable with. But lets move on.

You mention personal responsibility and I couldn’t agree more that it is a requirement in just about every decision we make and a HUGE factor when it comes to substances, guns, caloric intake etc. And I am gratified to see it when those that choose poorly and cause death and suffering are held responsible. I just question why it stops there?? Why is it OK to sue a bartender or bar owner for selling too many drinks or not stopping in time when an accident subsequently occurs and yet not hold big booze industry to account? That doesn’t add up. Except it DOES when the over $100 billion annual industry gross and lobbying efforts of The Beer Institute, The Wine Institute, the Distilled Spirits Council are considered. I have a source with some FASCINATING statistics of $$ amounts next to politicians names of those receiving Political Action Committee and Individual contributions in the 1997-1998 election cycle, both Republicans and Democrats. A bit dated, yes, and it would be interesting to see more current statistics. If people are interested they can let me know and I will TRY to post them or even research more current stats but for now, and before I need to return to work I need to address other issues with other Freepers. BTW I’m no friend of the Trial Lawyers Assoc. or ridiculous civil suits either. Call it a personal predicament of mine.

The Other One: I guess I’d call you more fortunate than many others I know and have worked with to be able to follow the “directions” (and I use that term so loosely it can barely grab onto the page) on booze labels and suffer no ill effects. Millions of individuals in society can’t. And it isn’t because of poor will-power or weak moral character either. I invite you to read any current research on alcoholism if you need to find out current biochemical/neurophysiolocal theories about the occurrence of the medical condition of alcoholism. AND LET ME BE CLEAR: in no way am I trying to cut a break to alcoholics so they can continue to drink. To date the only way to treat alcoholism is to put it into remission, through complete and total abstinence. An addicted person cannot drink. End of story. And choosing to do so is for that person, a very poor choice. But it’s important also to realize that when the substance of alcohol is active in the brain of an addicted OR IMPAIRED person, “choice” just isn’t a very present phenomena. Certainly it was (and frequently is) the case in teenage drinking as illustrated here. As to a “fair accounting”, I’d like to see MUCH more $$ spent by the booze industry into teen drinking prevention, genuine and effective awareness of the addictive qualities of their product and into treatment research. MUCH more $$. That would be a good start.

Jake Wyld: I agree with you that bad parenting was very likely a factor in the teenage aspects of this article. Possibly a big factor. In my original post stated I was responding in compassion to the victims of the alcohol. I include the parents of the teens as possible unwitting victims too, mindless though they may seem. And I have a teenager so have so experience in the role of parent. Dealing with them gives me some experience on which to draw.

Let me address the rest of your post which BTW, comes across as sputtering. Frankly Jake, “BS” is acknowledging the heartache and problems that go hand in hand with alcohol but being too chicken to actively name and acknowledge ALL the participants in the problem. Or perhaps a better bird to describe is an ostrich. Wake up. While it’s largely on the shoulders of the drinker, it doesn’t stop there, as much as you’d evidently like it to.

Alcohol is not the only industry I hold accountable for causing negative and criminal or fatal effects partly because of their mega-bucks advertising. I blame the cosmetic and fashion industries for glamorizing anorexia for instance. Advertising, like most other areas of media has RESPONSIBILITES that go along with all it’s rights. That the media clings fast to it’s rights but plays down or ignores it’s responsibilities should surprise no one on this forum.

And lastly, speaking about this forum, I am a conservative Freeper who despises the heartache, disease and suffering brought about by the products of the tobacco and liquor industries. Period. I stand firm on that stance. I’ve outlined several starting points I’d like to see the booze and even tobacco industry tackle and there are probably other’s I could think of and post about. I’ve also acknowledged own my own personal “dilemma”if you will; that I’m no fan of massive civil suits and trial lawyers either. Actually I rather like it about myself that I have areas that aren’t black and white, that I have to think and re-think issues. And I like and respect it in others too, as long as they respect my point of view. Which you obviously had trouble doing in your post. So Jake, You are either going to have to exercise your right of CHOICE and choose to not read my responses if you find them so offensive or you can get over it. Because I don’t plan on going anywhere thank you very much. Funny, I can’t seem to think of an alternate website to suggest to you.

Prairie

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