Nancy Shute
Like all parents, I have a long list of prayers for my daughter's safety. One of the biggies is that she'll make it through high school without killing herself or someone else because she's driving drunk. Science now says I should worry not just about car wrecks but whether drinking at a time when her brain is forming its adult connections will make her sick, sad, and lonely for the rest of her life.
Drinking is part of teenage life—a part that can range from having one beer at a party every now and then to becoming wasted enough to pass out every Saturday night. Decades of prevention efforts and parental harangues haven't changed that picture much, despite increased recognition that teen drinking is a major cause of traffic deaths.
. . . . . .
_________________________________________________________________