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Each year alcohol contributes to the death of approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21. The causes of these alcohol related deaths include car crashes, alcohol poisoning, homicides, suicides, drowning, and other accidents.

5,000 young people!

That's:

• 77% more than the number of people killed in the 911 attacks
  
  
• The entire population of a medium sized college
  
  
• Number of seats in the Colorado Convention Center Well's Fargo Theater
  
  

The Trouble with Reaching Young People

Most young people have a sense that they are invincible. They see their friends drinking and laughing. They know people who have safely driven drunk and been passengers in cars with drunk drivers. Consuming massive amounts of alcohol and acting ridiculous only makes for great stories in the months and years ahead. They feel like their parents overact to everything. What's the big deal with having some fun?

Keep Talking; Your Kids Are Listening

Even though you think your kids might not be listening - they are. Though they may argue, pretend like their not paying attention, or flat out disagree, it is your voice of reason that plays in their mind at the moment of truth.

Information and Resources

Trying to find ways to reach your kids about the dangers of alcohol? The Mark Houston Recovery Center has compiled a useful list of teen and young adult-friendly tools to help you connect with your kids.

The Family Contract

It may not seem like much, but when your kids sign and agreement with you not to drink and drive or not to be a passenger in a car with a drunk driver, they'll remember it each time they are faced with the decision. Print this lovingly worded contract out on special paper and make the signing an event.

Download in PDF Format
Download in Word Format to customize your own text

The Taxi-Cab Pass

Would you pay for the cost of a cab if it meant your kids would arrive home safely? You bet! This printable wallet-sized card allow you to fill in the phone numbers of 2 local cab companies and even provides a place to attach two quarters for the phone call.

Download the Taxi-Cab Pass

Reality Videos

How do your kids communicate with their friends - by sending emails, texts, and links to YouTube videos? Try communicating with them in their own format. This hauntingly realistic video reenactment of an accident involving a car full of teenagers shows what it's really like at the scene of an accident.

Send the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj6a2Wy0WGg

Watch Now:

Blood Alcohol Chart

Not all alcohol related deaths involve car accidents. Alcohol poisoning is a very real thing - just ask Bradley's family, the creators of the website Brad21.com. Bradley died of alcohol poisoning on the eve of his 21st birthday after a “drink your age” game. This blood alcohol chart shows the percentage of alcohol in the blood after various numbers of drinks based on a person's gender and body weight.

View and print the blood alcohol chart

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