Subscribe Home
THINK.Prom, part of the THINK. year-round, alcohol-use prevention program launched by MADD and Nationwide in 2006 empowers students to pledge to be alcohol and drug free all year in schools across the country.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/MADD/31903/
“Underage drinking is a prelude to drunk driving,” said Glynn Birch MADD national president. “Research shows that the earlier youth drink, the more likely they are to be alcohol dependent and drive drunk. Students who sign the THINK.Prom pledge show their commitment to staying healthy and alcohol free.”
Alcohol is the No. 1 drug problem among youth, killing more young people than all other illicit drugs combined. In 2005, 2,035 15-20 year olds were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes. Of those, 1,387 youth aged 15-20 died in crashes involving a 15-20 year old alcohol-impaired driver.
When students sign the pledge they are pledging to “live, laugh, have an unimaginable great life, not use alcohol until 21, and never drink and drive.” Tips for students on this special night include: being true to yourself by celebrating prom safely without alcohol; choosing your chauffer carefully; rehearsing your reply for someone who offers you alcohol; remembering that the most important accessory on prom night is your seat belt; and being organized by making all plans with friends in advance.
“One of the most important steps in keeping youth safe is helping adults talk with their teens about the dangers of alcohol consumption and driving while under the influence,” said Bill Windsor, Nationwide associate vice president of Safety.
Tips for parents include: setting clear rules and consequences for underage drinking every day and making sure to monitor your child’s activities; if renting a limo, parents and passengers should sign a contract allowing the driver to phone parents if alcohol is detected; insisting that only registered passengers be allowed transportation; acknowledging that the choice to be alcohol and drug free isn’t always easy; and never providing anyone alcohol if they are under the legal drinking age of 21. Adults can be liable for providing alcohol to minors in many states. To learn more about social host laws, visit http://www.madd.org/socialhost.
High school students can also show their support to staying sober by entering the second annual THINK.Prom Video Scrapbook Contest. Students have until April 18, 2008 to submit a video focusing on having an alcohol and drug free prom experience. The winning student will receive a $500 award and the student’s school will receive a $1,000 award from Nationwide. For video contest or materials, visit think.madd.org.
To download the broadcast quality B-roll, please go to http://www.madd.org or call (800) GET-MADD.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is a diversified insurance and financial services organization, with more than $158 billion in assets. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services. (http://www.nationwide.com)
Nationwide, the Nationwide framemark, and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
Sponsored Links
Did You Subscribe Yet?
Subscribe by email or by RSS feed
with friends by email
on facebook, stumpleupon, myspace and digg
Bookmark The Diva Network on IE or Firefox
Make The Diva Network your default homepage
Thanks for dropping by!
MADD and Nationwide Commence 2008 Prom Season with THINK.Prom…
With the 2008 prom season just around the corner, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (Nationwide), ask students to pledge to be alcohol and drug free during prom and year round….
What a great idea. I hope to see lots of kids “taking the pledge”.
I am not sure exactly if this helps but it cannot hurt and brings attention to an issue that teens need to be aware of. I know that MADD every prom season puts out a car that was involved in a drunk driving accident and it catches my attention and makes me stop and think.
I am not sure how I feel about this campaign.
There are laws, pushed through by MASS, that have lowered the drinking age so that drinking on prom night shouldn’t be an issue. If you are drinking and under 21, you are arrested.
Aren’t we to the point where parents can take over this subject matter with their sons and daughters?
Yes, it is good to warn kids about the dangers, but at what point do we let the laws that are in plce, do the work?
Driving is not the only problem caused by drinking on prom night, so I think this is a pretty good idea!
oops!
I meant “MADD” up there! LOL
When rights of passage are changed, there is always a lag between the effect of new laws, and the complete fulfillment of the goals of the new laws.
Sometimes, the goals are short circuited if resentment develops regarding new restrictions. Sometimes it is best to back off, and let the new laws do their jobs.
Parents understand that, unless their son or daughter is over 18, or 21, or emancipated, they can be held responsible for the laws they break. That message should suffice.
At some point the approach has to be,” proceed as you see fit, and everyone else will do the same”.
Tater03, that can be really a sobering reminder of what happens when you drink and drive.
There are so much teen pressure nowadays. Here in Canada, our age drinking limit is 19, so we get a lot of American teens coming over for the weekends.
Ruthanna, I hope so too!
SageMother, having spent my teen years in the United States, I know that laws or no laws, kids will continue to defy it. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the U.S or Canada.
Does the drinking age limit different state by state?
Trick-r-treat, Prom night is the night of all nights…. I’m sure everyone knows about it and it has been idealized by many high school students since the beginning of time.
Drinking and driving is not going to be the only problem…..
SageMother, isn’t that always the case….
New laws though should be for the better, but unfortunately some do have the opposite effect.
Leave a Reply