The Cost Is TOO High To Ignore.

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Whenever I want to talk about underage drinking prevention and I am in a large group I can see eyes starting to roll “Oh no not again”.  Yet today, as I sat typing this article, we had a call here at the State Office from a mother who has strong concerns about her daughter’s underage drinking, sincere concern for her actions and questions for me on how to “reach her”.  Kudo’s to the Mom for picking up the phone and trying to find out how to help her daughter. www.maddnebraska.org

Here at MADD we want to prevent underage drinking and support families so we don’t have to come in after the crash.  No one wants to be the tertiary agent! 

I applaud First Lady Sally Ganem for hitting the trail and going out west to speak to small rural schools about underage drinking prevention.  We are fortunate to have a wonderful spokesperson, such as the First Lady, willing to work with schools, willing to share her knowledge and passion to ensure that lives are saved.  MADD Nebraska is grateful for Ms. Ganem’s work. 

The cost of underage drinking  to us here in our state is something we should all be concerned about!http://www.reportunderagedrinking.com/

Alcohol consumed by minors is a critical problem across the country, Nebraska included. Consider the following:

• Alcohol is a contributing factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes, nation-wide, involving drivers 15 to 20 years of age.
• Each year, more than 4,300 young people in this age group are killed in car crashes while under the influence of alcohol.
• Underage drinking costs Nebraskans $447-million dollars each year. That total includes costs associated with hospitalization, law enforcement, and funerals.
• 90-percent of sexual assaults on college campuses involve underage drinking by either the victim, the perpetrator, or both.
• 40-percent (70-percent) of alcohol consumed by underage drinkers is provided by adults (including parents).
• 22-percent of all alcohol consumed in Nebraska is by people under 21 years of age.
• One out of five automobile accidents in Nebraska is tied to drinking involving drivers under 21 years old.
• In Nebraska, high school girls are just as likely to drink as high school boys.
• Approximately one of five crimes, where alcohol is a factor, involve young people 18 years old or younger.
• The largest numbers of drunk drivers arrested in Nebraska are between 16 and 24 years old.
• Approximately 3 out of 4 high school students in Nebraska reported they have consumed alcohol.
• In Nebraska, 40-percent of high school seniors report binge drinking (4 or more drinks at a setting).