What You Need to Know

Many North Dakotans see underage drinking as a rite of passage. Others see it as a sign of trouble in a state ranking among the highest in the nation for binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks of alcohol in a row in a couple of hours. In the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly 35 percent of kids, grades 9 through 12, reported binge drinking during the 30 days prior to the survey.

Almost 20 percent of the students reporting responded they had their first drink of alcohol, other than a few sips, before age 13.

Nearly 15 percent of the students stated they usually got their alcoholic beverages from a friend or family member.

If we think they are not taking risks, we are wrong. Nearly 40 percent of the kids responded they had ridden with a driver that had been drinking and almost 25 percent admitted to drinking and driving themselves.

Parents, talk to your kids about alcohol. You need to LEAD - Listen, Educate And Discuss the dangers and consequences of underage drinking. If you aren't talking to your kids, then who is?

Parents LEAD Program Office, PO Box 527, Dickinson, ND 58602-0527

Telephone: 701-225-4677 Fax: 701-225-8162 Web Site: www.ParentsLEAD.org

This Web site is disseminated under the sponsorship of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Office of Traffic Safety in the interest of information exchange. The state of North Dakota assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof.

Information Sources: 2005 North Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey; Dr. Paul Griffin Jones; Health Alliance on Alcohol; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation; Phoenix House; Sociology Department of State University of New York, Professor David J. Hanson, Ph.D.; Students Against Destructive Decisions; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; US Department of Health & Human Services; Washington State Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse; collegedrinkingprevention.gov; connectingwithkids.com and ourdrink.com.