2..........................Editor’s Note 3………………………..Topic Gallery 4……………………..The Statistics of Underage Drinking & Driving 5…....................... Under Pressure 6……………………… Question and Answer

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Teen Life is delivering you a special topic in

this issue that has desperately come to our attention in the past few months. We wanted to take the time to discuss the ongoing problems of underage drinking and driving. I hope you take the time to read this special edition of Teen Life. In doing so, I hope that I might help prevent at least one teenager to participate in such an illegal activity. I understand that teenagers are facing difficult choices everyday. Please, if anything, remember this. All decisions have consequences. These consequences can either be good or bad. In regards with the topic of underage drinking and driving, all it takes is ONE bad decision that can completely differentiate or end your life. Life is precious. Rejoice it and don’t waste it away.

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DISCLAIMER: All teen names and stories are completely fictional. Anything that seems similar to an actual event is completely coincidental. Photos are either cited, clip art from Microsoft, or personal photos.

LIFE CUT SHORT

In Hickory, NC, many drivers will pass by this roadside memorial. This beautiful memorial is in honor of Diane York. Diane was leaving a party with her boyfriend, Jason Williams. Jason survived the fatal crash. According to police , alcohol was involved and Jason was charged for driving under the influence. An autopsy shows that no alcohol was in Diane’s system. From an outside source, her friends claim that she wanted to go home after her 17 year old boyfriend illegally guzzled multiple cans of beer. She knew that her boyfriend was intoxicated but gave him the keys after Jason forcefully demanded her to let him drive. Diane York was only seventeen years old. She was the star athlete on her high school’s tennis team. She had plans of attending a local university where she was offered a full ride scholarship for her sport and academic abilities. Unfortunately, she cannot fulfill her plans because of the devastating decision she chose.

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http://blog.timesunion.com/kristi/files/2011/12/RSM.jpg

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71 % of

underage drinkers drink at parties with

no parent supervision

About 3 people

under the age of 21 die each day of

alcohol-impaired driving crashes.

11,000 teens will have their 1st taste of

alcohol today.

Drunk Driving is

the leading cause of

death age 15 to 20

More than 25,000 lives have been saved in the

US thanks to the 21 minimum legal drinking

age

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My Worst Mistake BEAU HENKE, 18, TELLS TEEN LIFE THE DANGERS HE’S EXPERIENCED WITH UNDERAGE DRINKING AND DRIVING

I was your typical popular guy in

high school. I played in our outstanding football team and was the team captain. At the beginning of my senior year, I couldn’t wait for all the exciting events that were coming in the next few months. From prom to graduation, I was pumped up for my final year in high school. I was ready for a fun filled year with all my friends. Reflecting back, I notice how my definition of fun was not enjoying the company of my classmates but pursuing in a dangerous activity that I still deeply regret participating in to this day. I had my first alcoholic beverage at my friend’s older brother’s birthday party. The party was celebrating his brother’s 21st birthday. My friend’s parents were their supervising the party but their was definitely a lot of drinking going on. My friend’s parents tried to make sure that those under 21 were abstaining from alcohol but my friend was able to sneak some into his room where we tried alcohol for the first time. When I tried my first drink, the taste of the beer in my mouth was very displeasing. I didn’t drink another beer at the party. Even after one drink, I can remember feeling anxious. At first, I thought it was just an adrenaline rush. I also remember how awesome it was to feel like I was above the law and participating in such a grown up activity. What I didn’t know was that I was all ready

experiencing some of the side effects of alcohol after one can of beer. Thankfully, my parents picked me up from the party. They didn’t realize I had encountered my first alcoholic drink when I entered the vehicle. They just thought I was just tired from my earlier football practice. Back at school, I thought I was the coolest teen in the world. I had all ready got my first taste of alcohol even though the taste of it didn’t meet my expectations. I was able to brag about my so called accomplishment to all the cheerleaders and teammates. I was able to tell them that I did not only do something illegal but I even got away with it too. Eventually alcohol was on my mind 24/7. I started noticing more how alcoholic beverages were just always presented to me in everything I was doing. While watching the NFL network rooting for my favorite team, I watched beer companies advertise their products. While I was surfing the internet, I saw advertisements recommending me to try this type of wine or this type of tequila. Even on the radio, I listened to song lyrics influencing listeners to party hard, drink hard, and have fun all at the same time. My mind couldn’t stop thinking about alcohol with all the outside media influences. It was until I was invited to a party at a cheerleader’s house where I could finally secretly consume alcohol once again.

To be continued on p. 7

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We ask the questions. They give us the answers. This week we asked questions

to different organizations against underage drinking & driving.

Q: Would lowering the legal drinking age make alcohol less attractive to teens? A: History says no. When states had lower legal drinking ages in the U.S., the underage drinking problem was worse. For example, before the 21 minimum legal drinking age was implemented by all states, underage drunk drivers were involved in over twice as many fatal traffic crashes as today. (from madd.org)

Q: What is the effect of alcohol on the teenage brain? A: The human brain continues to grow into a person's early 20s. Drinking alcohol during that time can damage short and long-term brain growth and that damage can be permanent. And it's not just heavy drinking that can impact teens -- teens who drink half as much alcohol as adults can still suffer the same negative effects. Teens are more likely to suffer blackouts, memory loss, and alcohol poisoning from drinking, as well as to cause damage to their ability to remember things in the future. All parts of the growing brain are impacted negatively by alcohol, but the memory function is especially hard hit. (from madd.org)

Q: If you live in North Carolina when is a driver considered legally drunk? A: Non-commercial drivers age 21+ are considered legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .08 or more. Drivers of commercial vehicles are legally drunk when their blood alcohol concentration is .04 percent or greater. In North Carolina, school bus drivers are commercial drivers. Drivers under 21 are legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is .01 or more. (from edgarsnydar.com)

Q: How are designated drivers helpful? A: Designated drivers are helpful in a way that can avoid embarrassment. Also, assigning a designated driver can help keep your driver’s license, avoid fines, and avoid jail. (from special.thetimesnews.com)

Q: What are some tips for designated drivers? A: One, plan ahead whenever you are going to socialize with alcoholic beverages. Two, decide ahead of time who will NOT drink any alcohol before or during the party/event. Three, larger groups should have more than one designated driver. (from special.thetimesnews.com)

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Everyone was there at the cheerleader’s party. My parents were not home, so I was free to do anything I want. I went with a couple of my teammates on my football team. All of us were planning to consume alcohol in some fashionable manner. I wondered if one of us should abstain from drinking but I decided it wouldn’t be a problem since all of us lived in the same neighborhood only fifteen minutes away. We did not realize that every single person in this vehicle was eventually becoming a statistic. One thing I did not foresee was that this car ride to this party was consciously the last time I would see the faces of all the individuals in this automobile. My last conscious moments were from the beginning of the party. Upon arrival, the cheerleader from my school allowed us into her house. She mentioned that her parents weren’t home. The party was all ready in full swing. The house consisted of mostly high school teenagers from my school and also some college students who graduated from my high school last year. I remember chilling out in the living room watching teens all ready drunk doing some pretty ridiculous behaviors like dancing with extremely bad coordination, talking in a slurred speech, etc. All of those behaviors should have been a warning sign for me to refrain from drinking but, no, I wanted to drink because everyone else was. I remember hanging out with a couple of girls from my English class. We talked about how much we hated the recent project that was coming up. Somehow though the conversation went from English class to alcoholic beverages. Before you know it, I had a beer in my hand. I allowed the girls to peer pressure me into drinking. These girls were as popular as

me and I wanted to show them that I wasn’t a complete loser. After about two or three cans of beer, I black out. I woke up realizing that I’m in a hospital emergency room. On my left I see my parents and on my right I see a police officer. According to other people who could still remember the party, my teammates and I decided to head home after drinking many cans of alcohol. Apparently everyone one thought I was sober, so they gave me the keys to the car. While I was driving, I kept driving straight instead of turning right on a sharp curve. Instantly, I hit a tree. The passenger next to me who ended up not drinking alcohol at all died immediately upon impaction. Three other people including myself were airlifted to a nearby hospital. Everyone else except me died as a result of their injuries. Now I’m living with the consequences of my decision. I was aware of the consequences of my decision but I didn’t think it could happen to me. This dangerous activity that I at first found adventurous and exciting became my worst nightmare. Since I am the only one who lived in that car, I am constantly full of guilt and shame. I was responsible for the death of my teammates. My respect as an individual was lost by not only my parents but my community as well. I was charged for driving under the influence. I am currently struggling to find a job or to continue my education as a result of my decision. If I had a time machine I would go back and prevent myself from ever having that first sip of alcohol but I can’t. Alcohol was something I thought that was cool. I didn’t think. I chose the wrong decision and now I must live with that decision for the rest of my life.

under pressure – continued from p. 5

Underage Drinking and Driving IT’S NOT WORTH IT.

Special thanks to the following websites who helped in the making of this month’s special edition:

http://www.jrussellshealth.org/alceffc http://www.madd.org/local-offices/nc/

http://www.firsteagle.com/tdd.htm http://www.centurycouncil.org/drunk-driving/statistics