Local teens are drinking in shocking numbers, and drug use is on
the rise. That’s according to a state survey. And, Hollister got a
painful lesson this weekend about the dangers of excessive alcohol
consumption.
Local teens are drinking in shocking numbers, and drug use is on the rise. That’s according to a state survey. And, Hollister got a painful lesson this weekend about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
David Gaitan, 21, died Sunday after a night of binge drinking at a friend’s house, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
While the toxicology results are not in, officials suspect he died from acute alcohol intoxication. It is a tragic turn that left the 2002 San Benito High School graduate and National Guard recruiter dead in the prime of his life. And, it is a bitter reminder that alcohol is a dangerous substance that must be carefully regulated.
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Department is particularly concerned about Gaitan’s death with high school prom just a few months away.
“We’re not preaching,” Sheriff’s Detective Bryan Penney said. “We just don’t want this to happen again.”
We hope the South Valley community will take a multi-pronged approach toward combating this problem.
Universities have begun to successfully battle alcohol abuse at fraternities and sororities. One of their most successful tools is the revocation of charters of Greek organizations that don’t play by the rules. Let’s all take a page from their handbook.
First, as always, is parental supervision. It comes first because nothing replaces involved, observant and proactive parenting in helping kids avoid drug and alcohol use.
Make sure your kids know the that drug and alcohol use is forbidden. If the rules are violated, provide swift and severe consequences.
Make sure your kids know never to get into a vehicle with someone who has taken drugs or alcohol.
We suggest that parents who catch their kids drinking or using drugs revoke their kids driver’s licenses for a year. If your child doesn’t have a license, delay getting it for a year. Perhaps our state legislators can codify this punishment for kids who are caught and convicted of drinking or using drugs.
We suggest that city officials take this approach when it comes to battling the sale of alcohol to minors. State Alcohol and Beverage Control agents can have business’s liquor license revoked if it is caught selling to minors. That’s not enough. We call on city officials to enact an ordinance that revokes for 30 days the business license for any business – retail or restaurant – that is cited more than once for selling alcohol to minors.
It’s one thing to not be able to sell beer or wine for a month; it’s another matter entirely to not be able to sell anything for a month. Perhaps with stiffer consequences, businesses will get serious about checking IDs before selling alcohol.
Finally, we must provide better substance abuse prevention and recovery programs for youth here in San Benito County.
We must provide ways to convince our youth not to starting drinking or using drugs, and to help those who do to kick the habits.
We won’t solve this problem with one fix. We’ve got to tackle it from every angle, and everyone in the community must help.
Our future is at stake.
