This is some good news coming from the American Journal of Public Health in the recent survey completed by over 17,000 high school seniors. According to the most recent survey, there are still more than 1 in 4 high school students driving after drinking alcohol or riding in vehicles driven by a teen who has been drinking. BUT this is down total of 4% from last year. The news was not so good for marijuana use. The number of teens who drove after smoking marijuana, or rode in a car with a driver who had been smoking actually increased 2% this year. Even with this increase, the overall number of drivers and teen passengers on the road while under the influence has dropped a measurable amount this year. Statistics from this study also confirm what had been proven in previous studies, that males are more likely to drive after drinking or using drugs, but there is no significant gender difference between those who rode in cars with drivers who had been using drugs or alcohol.
Parents and schools can help decrease these numbers further by talking to teens openly and often about the consequences of driving under the influence and available alternatives in their community. Parents can also request or require breathalyzer tests of their teens if they suspect that a teen has been drinking and driving. ASC has several varieties of home drug tests available to fit any budget and provide accurate, fast results. Let’s work together to reduce the number of teens under the influence even further!
American Screening Corporation 