The Consequences of Underage Drinking and Driving It

The Consequences of Underage Drinking and Driving

It Is Personal � Imagine your senior class, your fellow peers, your friends, your family. About three in every ten people will be in an alcohol-related accident. This could be you or someone you love � Most schools operate on a 90 minute block system. Every 45 minutes a person is killed in an event involving alcohol. During one class period two people are killed because of a drunk driver. That means that during one school day, on average, eight people are killed because of ignorance and stupidity.

Underage Drinking Annually, about 5, 000 people under age 21 die from alcohol-related injuries involving underage drinking. Approximately: � 1, 900 (38 percent) of the 5, 000 deaths involve motor vehicle crashes, � 1, 600 (32 percent) result from homicides, and 5000 people is approximately the population � 300 (6 percent) result from suicides of Cherryville

Underage Drinking The 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days: � 45% drank some amount of alcohol. � 26% binge drank. � 11% drove after drinking alcohol. � 29% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

Underage Drinking Medical Consequences of Excessive Alcohol Use § § § § Death Brain Damage Alcohol Poisoning Gastrointestinal Tract Cardiovascular Damage Strokes Cancer Skeletal Muscle Damage

Underage Drinking A single episode of binge drinking has been shown to cause significant impairment of memory during hangover in healthy subjects. § Physical performance of healthy subjects and athletes is significantly reduced during hangover. § Hangover related absenteeism and poor job performance was estimated to cost the US economy $148 billion in 1998. § In the USA teenage binge drinking has been linked to impaired mental and social development, reduced school performance and attainment and increased likelihood of school drop-out. §

Legal Consequences of Underage Drinking �A 19 or 20 -year-old caught possessing beer or wine can be charged with a Class 3 misdemeanor and if found guilty could be fined up to $200 and lose his or her driver's license. � For the first offense, a person convicted of selling or providing alcohol to someone under the age of 21 must pay a $250 fine plus $100 in court costs and do 25 hours of community service.

Legal Consequences of Underage Drinking � In addition to fines and court costs, those convicted of breaking the state alcohol laws may have to pay attorney's fees and an increased insurance premium of 400% or more. � A person under the age of 21 caught purchasing, attempting to purchase or possessing alcohol will be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor. Sentencing is left to the judge's discretion. The Division of Motor Vehicles revokes that person's driver's license.

Alarming Facts �Nearly ¼ of North Carolina high school students had their first drink before the age of 13. �Alcohol kills 6. 5 times more young people under the age of 21 than all other illicit drugs combined. �Seventy-five percent (75%) of all high school students drink alcohol; 24% of them are binge drinkers.

Alarming Facts � In North Carolina, the underage consumption of alcohol costs taxpayers $1. 1 billion annually. � 95% of all violent crimes committed on college campuses are alcohol related. � Any reading above 0. 00 on an alcohol-screening test is sufficient to convict a youth. � Refusing to take an intoxilyzer test along with the odor of alcohol on the breath is sufficient evidence to convict an underage user.

Underage Drinking

The Final Act – Lisa Teller Screeching tires, shattering glass, twisting metal, fiberglass. The scene is set it all goes black, The curtain raised the final act. Sirens raging in the night, sounds of horror, gasps of fright. Intense pain, the smell of blood tearing eyes begin to flood.

The Final Act – Lisa Teller They pull out our bodies one by one, What is going on, we were only having fun! One of my friends is missing, what did I do? Her scattered belongings everywhere, in the road there lies her shoe. A man is leaning over me and looking in my eyes, "What were you thinking, son"? "Did you really think that you could drive? "

The Final Act – Lisa Teller He pulled up the sheet still looking in my eyes, "If you'd only called your Mom or Dad, you'd still be alive!“ I started to scream, I started to yell; But no one could hear me, no one could tell. They put me in an ambulance; they took me away. The doctor at the hospital exclaimed, "DOA!" My father's in shock, my mother in tears, she collapses in grief, overcome by the fear. They take me to this house and place me in this box. I keep asking what is happening, But I cant make it stop.

The Final Act – Lisa Teller Everyone is crying, my family is so sad. I wish someone would answer me, I'm starting to get mad. My mother leans over me and kisses me goodbye, My father pulling her away, she is screaming, "WHY"? They lower my body into a dirt grave, It feels so very cold, I yell to be saved. Then I see an angel; I begin to cry. Can you tell me what is happening? she replies "YOU DIED. "

The Final Act – Lisa Teller I can't be dead; I'm still so young! I want to do so many things - like sing, and dance, and run. What about college or graduation day? what about a wedding? Please - I want to stay. The angel looked upon me, and with a saddened voice, "It didn't have to end like this; you knew you had a choice. " "I'm sorry it's too late now; time I can't turn back. " "Your life is finished; that, my son, is a fact!“ Why did this happen? I didn't want to die!

The Final Act – Lisa Teller The angel, she embraced me and with her words she sighed, "Son, this is the consequence you paid to drink and drive. I wish you made a better choice, If you did you would be alive. It doesn't matter if you beg me, or plead on bended knee, There is nothing I can do, you have to come with me. " Looking down at my family, I said my last goodbye. "I'm sorry I disappointed you, Dad. Mommy, please don't cry, I didn't mean to hurt you, or cause you any pain.

The Final Act – Lisa Teller I'm sorry all you're left with is a grave that bears my name. I'm sorry all your dreams for me have all been ripped away; the plans for my future all gathered in a grave. It was such a stupid thing I did, I wish I could take it back; But the curtain is being lowered. SO ENDS THE FINAL ACT. . .

The Choice Underage Drinking and Driving is a choice. Regardless of the peer pressure or addiction one may possess to “live rebelliously, ” underage drinking and driving is a choice. I have chosen to live above the influence. The dangers of drinking could be death. I am young and eager to live; that is precisely why I choose to avoid the risks and consequences of participating in underage drinking and driving. If you don't think it could happen to you, find the person who had it happen to them.

Sources � http: //www. ias. org. uk/resources/factsheets/binge_dr inkingmed. pdf � http: //www. camy. org/factsheets/index. php? Factshee t. ID=29 � http: //www. nccrimecontrol. org/Index 2. cfm? a=0000 03, 000005, 000272, 000274 � http: //www. madd. org/Drunk-Driving/Drunk. Driving/Statistics. aspx � http: //www. cdc. gov/Alcohol/quickstats/underage_dr inking. htm