Local students asked to make a promise to not to drink during
prom
Going to the prom requires a lot of decision-making, such as who
to go with, where to eat, selecting the perfect dress.
But choosing to stay sober on prom night could very well be the
most important decision of all.
Local students asked to make a promise to not to drink during prom
Going to the prom requires a lot of decision-making, such as who to go with, where to eat, selecting the perfect dress.
But choosing to stay sober on prom night could very well be the most important decision of all.
San Benito High School students attending this year’s prom have been asked to participate in “Casey’s Pledge,” a statewide prevention program in which teens promise to stay sober or not drink and drive before, during or after prom.
“A lot of people think of alcohol as an acceptable drug, and it’s easy to get a hold of,” said Renee Hankla, local “Casey’s Pledge” coordinator with the San Benito County Behavioral Health Services’ substance abuse prevention program. “Some teens don’t even realize alcohol is a drug.”
“Casey’s Pledge” was created in memory of Casey Goodwin, who was killed at the age of 20 in March 2003 when an underage drunk driver crashed into her car head-on while she was on her way home from college in San Luis Obispo. The Exeter resident had been very involved in her local Friday Night Live chapter and was an advocate for healthy lifestyles free of alcohol and other drugs, Hankla said.
“This was a young person, around their age, who had a lot going on for them and had it all taken away suddenly,” Hankla said. “I think this program does work, especially once the kids hear her story.”
The county’s substance abuse prevention program and Friday Night Live had representatives at the high school last week, talking about “Casey’s Pledge,” which encourages youth to commit to staying alcohol free or never drinking and driving, and never getting into a car with a drinking driver. Casey’s story was told to the students, who were then asked to sign a pledge card in the shape of a star promising they will not drink during prom. Students taking the pledge were given a pale yellow silicone bracelet, similar to the Lance Armstrong “Livestrong” bracelets, to be worn during prom, and signed starts will be on display at the school, Hankla said.
“We want to educate students on the facts of drunk driving, but we try to do it in a fun way, because if they are enjoying themselves and learning about the dangers in an entertaining way, they are more likely to remember,” she said. “I don’t know if they’ll listen, but they’ll remember, and that is a good first step.”
“Casey’s Pledge” is just one way SBHS has tried to educate its students on the dangers of drinking and driving, Hankla said. Earlier this year, the high school joined with the substance abuse prevention program, the Hollister Police Department, the county Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol and the county’s probation department to present the Beer Goggle Olympics, during which students wore Fatal Vision goggles. These goggles give the wearer a simulated impaired driving condition, and students were asked to perform tasks such as walking a straight line, picking up objects and driving a remote controlled car through an obstacle course.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 50 motor vehicle fatalities in San Benito County from 2002 to 2006. Thirty-six percent of the fatalities were alcohol related.
“Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States,” Hankla said.
Although programs such as “Casey’s Pledge” can make a difference, parents can make a difference as well by educating their children at home on the dangers of underage drinking. Parents can remind children about the affects drinking can have on them, such as diminished judgment, nausea, vomiting, hangovers, irritability and loss of inhibitions.
There are several suggestions on what parents should talk to their children about drinking and prom, according to the Family Education Web site. Some ideas include:
– Ask about specific plans for prom night. Find out what your child will doing that night and who they will be with.
– Share specific concerns about what might happen. Drinking too much too fast can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to unconsciousness and death. Don’t be afraid to share the extremes.
– Stress the importance of not getting into a car with a driver who has been drinking, even if it is their girlfriend or boyfriend. Tell your child they can call home any time day or night to be picked up with no questions asked, and then make sure you keep your end of the bargain.
– Encourage your child not to give in to peer pressure. Suggest they stick to soft drinks, such as juice, soda or water.
– Remind your child that drinking might make them more susceptible to suggestions or may make them exhibit behavior they don’t normally display. Talk frankly about other dangers, such as spiked drinks or other dangerous situations.
– Tell your child that in most cases, they will be held accountable for their actions if they choose to drink and drive. For the crash that killed Casey Goodwin, Fernando Ochoa, who was 18 at the time of the accident, was sentenced in 2003 to 10 years in state prison for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated.
– Remember any adult – including parents – who serves alcohol to underage children and their friends are legally responsible for any damages caused by the kids’ drinking.
