PD Editorial: The good, bad and ugly about teen drinking

Mid-June was once a time of mourning in this and other areas as residents grieved the loss of teens, many of them fresh out of graduation robes, who died in alcohol-related traffic accidents.

But thanks to efforts such as Project Graduation, an all-night celebration that started in 1987 and ensures graduates have a memorable and safe grad night, those days have been limited.

Overall, in fact, teen drinking is down significantly, according to a study from researchers at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The survey found that underage drinking rates have declined by 6 percent in the last 11 years. The study found that in 2002, 28.8 percent of teens reported drinking, but by 2013, that number had dropped to 22.7 percent.

Meanwhile, the rate of underage binge drinking, which involves consuming five or more drinks at a time, also is on the decline. In 2002, 19.3 percent of teens said they took part in binge drinking while in 2013 that was down to 14.2 percent.

The study focused on the drinking rates of some 67,500 teens between the ages of 12 and 20.

Some credit belongs to parents who have gotten more involved in activities such as Project Graduation and other who have grown weary of looking the other way when teen drinking is involved. “When parents communicate clear expectations and they are supported by community efforts to prevent underage drinking, we can make a difference,” said Frances M. Harding, director of Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

But there’s still a long way to go.

Deaths related to underage drinking continue to occur as demonstrated by the Memorial Day weekend death of 19-year-old Francesca Rose Schetter, a former Miss Lake County contestant. Her boyfriend, who was seriously injured in the late-night crash, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Studies show that roughly 8.7 million people between the ages of 8 and 20 say they have had alcohol within the past month and, of those, 5.4 million partake in binge drinking. Despite the improvements, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An estimated 5,000 people under age 21 die will die this year from alcohol-related accidents, homicides or other injuries such as falls or drowning. Another 190,000 people under age 21 will visit an emergency room for alcohol-related injuries.

The message of keeping graduation alcohol-free is sinking in. But we all need to graduate to the next phase - encouraging teens to stay safe and sober year round.