As we begin to celebrate graduations, summer is on the horizon for the youth in our community.

For many people, a day at the beach, on the boat or at a backyard barbecue will include drinking alcoholic beverages.

But excessive drinking and summer activities don’t mix.

Alcohol impairs judgment and increases risk-taking — a dangerous combination for swimmers.

According to research funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol may be involved in 60 percent of boating fatalities, including falling overboard.

And a boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) more than 0.1 percent is 16 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than an operator with zero BAC.

One out of 2 water recreation deaths of teens and adults involves the use of alcohol.

Also, the summer holidays are some of the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road.

Adding alcohol to the mix puts the lives of the driver and everyone in the car, as well as other people on the road, at risk. The Substance Free Coalition of Adams County (SFCAC), Southwest Mississippi Mental Health Complex, and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health are working together to help reduce these numbers of underage drinkers and alcohol and drug related fatalities while motivating people to be a part of the solution.

Please be part of our community-wide effort to save young lives.

For more information on SFCAC and how to get involved, please call 601-446-6634 extension 18 by email at agoldblatt@swmmhc.org.

The next coalition meeting is from 4 to 5 p.m. June 19 in the cypress room at Natchez Regional Medical Center.

 

Abby Goldblatt

Prevention coordinator