GRANTS - A recent report published by the US Department of Health and Human Services stated that more than two million students between the ages of 18 and 24 drove under the influence of alcohol. Almost the same number of youth from 12 to 20 drank five or more drinks on an occasion, five or more times per month, and about 1,500,000 young people between 12 and 17 suffer from alcohol abuse and dependence.

Parents might want to take some time to talk to grads about alcohol before they go out to grad night parties. It just might save a life.

A teen's brain is still developing and is sensitive to alcohol that affects judgment and decision-making.

After a drink a teen might feel happy and elated, but they shouldn't be fooled, those feelings are temporary.

Effects of alcohol can be:

•    A loss of inhibitions and memory. You might do or say things you will regret, and might not remember have done them.

•    When your decision-making skills are affected you can become restless and aggressive.

•    A drink can result in a DWI, getting into a fight, trashing a house or making an unwise decision about sex.

•    You could experience loss of balance, slurred speech and blurred vision.

•    Normal activities, like crossing a street, can be dangerous.

Talk with teens and share these sobering facts about alcohol with them.

• Alcohol poisoning is a risk.

• Irreversible brain damage can be one result.

• Rapid binge drinking, on a bet or a dare, can deliver a fatal dose.

• If they drink enough they can become sleepy and pass out.

• Gagging and breathing reflexes can be suppressed, meaning if they vomit they could choke to death or just stop breathing.

When an individual is unconscious, the blood alcohol concentration can continue to rise, even after they have stopped drinking, due to the alcohol passing through their stomach and intestines into the bloodstream and then circulating through the body.

Just because a person appears to be sleeping it off, it doesn't mean they are out of danger.

Know the danger signals and don't wait for the critical signs to appear, call 911 immediately if you suspect an alcohol overdose.

• Mental confusion

• Stupor

• Coma or the person cannot be roused

• Vomiting

• Seizures

• Slow breathing - fewer than eight breaths per minute

• or irregular breathing - ten seconds or more between breaths

• Hypothermia - low body temperature

• Bluish skin color and paleness.

Help grads to find safer, kinder ways to celebrate with their friends.

For more information call the Cibola County DWI Program Office at 287-5644.