Spring is here in Georgia and prom time is fast approaching. In recognition of the importance of student safety related to this special event, PeachStar has put together a block of programs to help you discuss prom preparedness with your students. The following programs will air on PeachStar?s Channel 420 during the month of April:
Drinking and Driving
Primary Influence
Ultimate Choice
Multiple Choice
Marijuana
Behind the Smoke Screen: Facts About Tobacco Use
Inhalants
These programs address important issues that become prominent concerns around prom time. According to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, alcohol abuse is the number one youth drug problem, killing six times more people under 21 than all other illicit drugs combined. Alcohol is a depressant that impairs judgment and alters perception, often leading to out of character sexual behavior, violence, and recklessness. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 35% of all traffic related deaths in Georgia for 2001 involved alcohol. Those statistics grow even more alarming around prom time, when more than 55% of all traffic fatalities nationwide are alcohol related.
Prom can be a safe and wonderful experience for your students if they choose to celebrate it responsibly. Take time to discuss these issues with your students before prom time and make sure they know all of the potential consequences of their behavior; use the programs above to reinforce your positive message about prom safety. For additional information on how you can help your students to enjoy prom responsibly, visit the Mothers Against Drunk Driving website or Teens Health.
