The Crossland Family
By MADD | January 12, 2012 | Filed in: Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

Drew Crossland was your typical all-American student. He was involved in sports and did well in school. But all of that changed around the time Drew was a junior in high school. 

One night when Drew was only 17, his parents, Jean and George Crossland, got a phone call from the local hospital informing them that their son had been admitted. Jean and George arrived to find out that Drew had been rushed to the hospital by ambulance, with signs of alcohol poisoning. Drew was at a party with some friends, drank too much alcohol and passed out. Fortunately, his friends called an ambulance, and Drew survived the frightening experience.

George said that Jean “came down pretty hard on Drew” and thought the experience was a good wake up call. After that night, Drew seemed to get his act together and finished up the school year without any other problems.

But unfortunately, that night would not be the last time that George and Jean would get that call.

Drew continued to abuse drugs and alcohol over the next several years, and when he was 23, he spent the day with friends watching sports and drinking. But later that night, one of his friends found him passed out in another room; he was blue. This time when his parents were called to the hospital, Drew was already being placed on life support, and would not survive. Drew’s death certificate read: “over indulged in alcohol”.

Since Drew’s death, his family has become advocates in the fight against underage drinking. They speak at various panels at high schools to tell their son’s story in hopes of preventing another teen from going down Drew’s path and losing their life too young from alcohol and drugs. In fact, George Crossland went back to school and received his psychology degree, and has applied for an alcohol and drug license.

As George said, “hindsight is beautiful,” and through their tragic experience he has advice for other parents about talking with their teens about alcohol and drugs. “You need to be honest and up front in the discussion, and let your children know you are there for them. Make sure your children know they have somewhere to go with their problems,” George said.

If you are a parent whose teen has already starting to experiment with drugs and alcohol, George’s advice is to “get on top of the situation right away, drinking is not a rite of passage. Monitor the situation closely and don't assume just because you drank at an early age that your child will also come out alright.” 

It’s because of stories like the Crossland’s that MADD developed the Power of Parents™ program to educate parents about the dangers of underage drinking and give them the tools they need to start talking with their kids about alcohol. Early drinking increases the odds that a child will get hooked on alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs. In fact, kids who drink before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcoholics. 

It’s never too early to talk with your child about the dangers of underage drinking. Download our free parent handbook to help you start the conversation today. 

MADD Props
By MADD | November 2, 2011 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Underage Drinking

Did you know that teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year,
more than all illegal drugs combined?  

  
That’s why MADD and the NFL have partnered for football season to encourage teens to not drink before age 21 and to never ride in a car with someone who’s been drinking. Teens can take a stand by signing pledges through the MADD’s Power of You(th) Facebook page where they can also enter to win NFL prizes by drafting friends to do the same. 

Help us spread the word about MADD Props to all the teens you want to keep safe from underage drinking and drunk driving.  Have them visit facebook.com/MADDsPowerofYouth to take the pledge and enter to win cool NFL gear (must between the ages of 13 and 20 to win prizes).

If you have a Facebook account, you can also visit facebook.com/maddspowerofyouth and click the “share” link on the bottom left to share the page on your wall, or take the pledge yourself and get the MADD Props badge on your wall.

Teens:  when you choose to steer clear of drinking and getting into a car with a drunk driver, MADD and the NFL want to give you MADD Props. Take the pledge now!

Red Ribbon Week
By MADD | October 24, 2011 | Filed in: Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

This week, communities around the country are encouraging youth to pledge to stay drug and alcohol free during what is called Red Ribbon Week. 

Did you know?

• Teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined.
• One in three eighth graders has tried alcohol.
• One in five teens binge drinks, but only one in 100 parents believes their child binge drinks. 
• Seventy-four percent of kids (ages 8-17) said their parents are the leading influence on their decisions about drinking. 
• Having regular family conversations about alcohol can reduce underage drinking and drunkenness by 30-60 percent. 
• When parents and kids are better connected, kids are less likely to drink or use other drugs.

MADD knows that in order to prevent youth from drinking alcohol we must not only provide awareness to them, but we must also equip parents to tackle this tough issue. Because research shows that parents are the number one influence on their child’s decisions about alcohol, MADD created its Power of Parent’s, It’s Your Influence™ program.  Through free 30-minute community workshops and a free downloadable parent handbook, parents can learn how to have ongoing conversations with their kids about the dangers of underage drinking. 

Parents, remember that your influence is the most important factor in helping keep teens safe.  Visit the interactive parent section of our website to get tips and expert resources for talking with your kids about alcohol.

National Teen Driver Safety Week
By MADD | October 18, 2011 | Filed in: Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

Parents often worry about their kids’ safety, but they have good reason to be concerned when their teen gets behind the wheel. Young, inexperienced drivers are the most crash-prone drivers on the road.  In fact, traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for American teenagers.

Know the risks
Risks that contribute to traffic crashes involving teens are:

• Impaired driving
• Too many passengers
• Driving at night
• Speeding
• Loud music
• Eating
• Cell phones
• Bad weather

Help your teen beat the odds
Driver education classes are just the beginning. Coach your teen about roadway hazards and safe driving principles. Don’t just talk about them at the kitchen table; get in the car together and see what your teen is doing.

Enforce limits
Chances of a fatal crash increase with each additional passenger, and the risks are greatest at night and on the weekends. Limit the number of passengers your teen has in the car and limit nighttime and weekend driving.

Follow the law
Most states offer graduated driver licensing (GDL), an approach that phases in privileges for new drivers. Starting with driving in less hazardous situations, beginning drivers are not allowed to drive at night or with teen passengers in their vehicle. Only when they have gained experience are they allowed to “graduate” to drive in these more risky situations. Parents need to be aware of the laws in their state and make sure that their teens obey them. GDL programs prevent about one in five crashes for 16-year-old drivers.

Gearing up for Red Ribbon Week with Anaheim Union High School District
By MADD | October 14, 2011 | Filed in: Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

As we approach Red Ribbon Week (October 24-28), we’re reminded that alcohol is the most commonly used drug by youth, more than all illegal drugs combined, and teen alcohol use kills about 6,000 people each year.  Underage drinking is also associated with many health and social problems, including poor school performance, impaired driving, interpersonal violence  and risky sexual behavior. 

However, research shows that parents are the primary influence on their kids’ decisions about whether or not to drink alcohol. So that’s why MADD and Anaheim Union High School District are joining forces to bring MADD’s Power of Parents, It’s Your Influence™ program to Anaheim families during Red Ribbon Week to help parents and caregivers of teenagers learn how to talk about the dangers of underage drinking.

AUHSD high schools will be hosting 30-minute workshops during and after Red Ribbon Week, facilitated by certified MADD staff and volunteers, to give parents and caregivers the parent handbook and provide tips to help them talk with their teens about alcohol. These workshops are open to the public, free of charge and will be offered in both English and Spanish.

When parents and kids are better connected, kids are less likely to drink or use other drugs. MADD congratulates the Anaheim Union High School District on taking the lead to bring this potentially life- saving program to its community and empowering parents and caregivers to talk effectively with teens about alcohol.

Learn more about partnering with MADD for Red Ribbon Week.