The first in a series of evolving anti-drug and anti-alcohol
presentations took place at San Benito High School Tuesday after
school.
Between 200 and 220 winter sport athletes
– around 95 percent – attended the informational presentation,
according to Athletic Director Randy Logue. California Highway
Patrol Capt. Bob Davies spoke about the consequences of drunk
driving and auto insurance agent Mike Blake talked about the costs
associated with drunk driving. Logue also
spoke to the students about the three vices – tobacco, alcohol
and caffeine.
The first in a series of evolving anti-drug and anti-alcohol presentations took place at San Benito High School Tuesday after school.
Between 200 and 220 winter sport athletes – around 95 percent – attended the informational presentation, according to Athletic Director Randy Logue. California Highway Patrol Capt. Bob Davies spoke about the consequences of drunk driving and auto insurance agent Mike Blake talked about the costs associated with drunk driving. Logue also spoke to the students about the three vices – tobacco, alcohol and caffeine.
“I think we have a product that will be good in the long run, but that needs to be polished a lot,” said Dave Tari, SBHS teacher and athletic trainer, about the presentation. “We need to give the legal ramifications and the economic ramifications (to drug and alcohol abuse). We need to do something because this high school is out of control.”
While a presentation similar to this one has been on the to-do list for some time, Logue said the Dec. 6 fatal accident that killed two 2003 SBHS graduates, prompted he and Tari to take action now. Both feel something has to be done to stop the tide of underage drinking in the community.
“Not only do we need to change the high school, but it needs to spill over into the community,” Tari said.
One of the hardest parts of battling drug use and underage drinking is to break down the “it won’t happen to me” mentality, Tari said. The key to the presentations is to connect the consequences to the students personally.
Talking about high car insurance rates impacted some of the boys, Tari said, because they already pay higher rates because of their gender. Also, relating to them about how marijuana use decreases their sperm count made some boys pay attention, he said.
To reach the girls, a good method is talking about date-rape drugs slipped into a drink – that a girl can be raped and become pregnant or get a sexually transmitted disease without knowing from whom.
“Kids need a have a reason not to do it. Right now, they don’t have that,” Tari said.
While teen drug use and underage drinking is a community problem, many members are committed to solving it. Several doctors have offered to give presentations and people have agreed to share their personal experiences, including SBHS teacher Bill Johnson. Johnson was involved in a drinking-and-driving accident in which his wife died. He faced criminal charges and could have lost his teaching credential.
Tari also mentioned a new law that could offer a hand in the fight against underage drinking. Assembly Bill 1301 took effect Jan. 1 and states that parents of DUI teens face misdemeanor charges if the parents knowingly provide alcohol to anyone under 21 who then drives and causes a traffic collision.
The next presentation will be in early March for spring sport athletes.
For more information on the presentations, call Logue at 637-5831, ext. 350.
