Community members aim to end teen drunk driving

By Staff Writer

Five residents of a California community have come together to try to address the problem of teen drinking and driving. They are asking the community to get involved in reducing teen speeding and DUIs with the goal of not losing any more children to death or maiming from such accidents, Mercury News reports.

Earlier this year, a recent high school graduate was killed in an automobile accident that involved alcohol.

The group, which calls itself Almaden Cares, held a meeting this week in hopes of involving parents and students in raising consciousness that speed, alcohol, drugs, texting and racing can lead to death or serious long-term injuries. The first meeting was designed to make the community aware and to brainstorm solutions for the problems.

Kathy Sutherland, chief of staff for District 10 Council member Nancy Pyle, said Pyle has asked the city's Rules and Open Government Committee to look into drafting a social host ordinance that will hold adults responsible for providing alcohol and allowing underage drinking parties in their homes.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that mental health problems, including depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal and other psychosocial dysfunctions, are frequently linked to substance abuse among adolescents.