Series of underage drinking incidents plaguing Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – A Swampscott teen who is less than 16 years old was rushed to the hospital for alcohol poisoning this weekend – the fourth in a rash of teen alcohol-related incidents that have police concerned.Detective Sgt. Tim Cassidy said each week for the last four weeks at least one juvenile in town has been transported to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.”Alcohol poisoning can be fatal,” he said. “We need parents to help us combat it before some young kid ends up dead. No one is immune from it. It could be my child or your child tomorrow. “This weekend’s incident involved a young girl who was at a small party on Phillips Beach Avenue.”A girl had a couple of friends over,” Cassidy said. “We were told one of the girls snuck booze in. The girl was in and out of consciousness when help arrived.”Cassidy said on Friday, April 4, police encountered three Swampscott teens drinking in the Norfolk Avenue area and all three were issued court summons for being minors in possession of alcohol.There was also an incident this past weekend involving four juvenile males in the Hamden Street area.”Officers spoke to four minors who appeared to be intoxicated,” Cassidy said. “All four failed sobriety tests. Their parents had to come pick them up. It is still under investigation.”Cassidy said police also responded to a house party on Beverly Road that was attended by 30 or 40 teens.”It is unknown if alcohol was served,” he said. “But the parents weren’t home and a laptop computer and other electronics were stolen. We’re still investigating that incident.”Calls to Superintendent Matthew Malone were not immediately returned on Monday but incidents involving students drinking have been an ongoing problem, according to police reports.Police have broken up several underage drinking parties in town and numerous Swampscott High School athletes have been disciplined since the beginning of the academic year for underage drinking.