This Summer… Don’t Risk It

Summer is a time to have fun and to build lasting memories. It’s also a time when you might be inclined to take more chances and to get involved in risky behaviors like drinking, drug use, and impaired or distracted driving. Engaging in risky behavior can not only put you in danger, but also your friends and others around you…

Even the most chill summer activities can become dangerous when alcohol is involved. Drinking impairs both your physical and mental abilities, and it also decreases inhibitions—which can lead to tragic consequences on the water, on the road, and in the great outdoors. In fact, research shows that up to 70 percent of all water recreation deaths of teens and adults involve the use of alcohol.

Car crashes are the #1 killer of teens, taking about 3,000 young lives every year. The most dangerous time on the road for teens is the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year, known as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.” As a teen, you are 3X more likely to be in a fatal crash than a more experienced driver. Any impairment behind the wheel (by alcohol, drugs, texting, or other distractions) greatly increases that risk.

Remember that your actions can have devastating consequences that can change your life and the lives of others in an instant. Create your summer memories and live to enjoy them!

Sources: NSC, NHTSA, CDC, & NIH