Author visit - "From Binge To Blackout" March 29, 2007

Youth and families will want to attend a free presentation at the Williamsburg Library to hear first hand about the impact of alcohol choices and the consequences of heavy drinking among teens. Chris and Toren Volkmann, authors of From Binge To Blackout: A Mother and Son Struggle with Teen Drinking, will discuss how their family missed the signs of Torens addiction and describe the agony of the ensuing discovery. The presentation is free of charge and will be held in the Williamsburg Library Theatre on Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m. It is co-sponsored by the Historic Triangle Substance Abuse Coalition, SpiritWorks Foundation and the Williamsburg Regional Library. For more information on the program contact the library at (757) 259-4050.

At the age of 14, Toren Volkmann began the cycle of binge drinking that lasted through college and his service in the Peace Corps. His mother, Chris, convinced herself that it was just a phase common among teens. When Toren came to the realization that he needed help, he started a written dialog between mother and son, which was eventually published as From Binge to Blackout. Copies will be available for purchase.

Their visit to the library is timely as the U.S. Surgeon General recently released the first Call to Action against underage drinking, in which he appealed to Americans to do more to stop America's 11 million underage drinkers from using alcohol, and to keep other young people from starting. "Too many Americans consider underage drinking a rite of passage to adulthood," said Acting Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu, "Research shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life."

The authors of From Binge To Blackout will share with parents and youth how they learned to deal with this issue. Problem drinking is no longer a hidden problem, says Chris Volkmann, Parents must learn how to engage kids in discussion and agree about acceptable behavior, and recognize warning signs of alcohol abuse.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of programs.