Do Something! Have you ever thought you were too young to make a difference?

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2 Do Something! Have you ever thought you were too young to make a difference? We re here to tell you that young people make a difference EVERY DAY. Don t believe us? Here is a story about Andrew Pelham, a 12-year-old inventor, who created a tool that helps save children s lives! What s more impressive, is that he did it using a few rubber bands and his imagination! So what s stopping the rest of us from following in Andrew s footsteps and taking action? After all, we have our work cut out for us. According to DoSomething.org, an organization which challenges young people to take action and influence social changes, we don t have to look far to see where change is most needed. See for yourself: Remember, change doesn t have to be huge; it just has to matter to you! A simple change in your attitude will determine the actions you choose down the road. An idea is one of the most powerful things in the world and you might be surprised at how contagious your ideas and your attitude can be. For ideas on ways to exercise your power visit and join 2.5 million young people who choose to take a stance!

3 The New Teenage Perspective Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug by youth in the US. New Mexico currently ranks first in the Nation in the number of children who consume their first alcoholic drink prior to the age of 13, and alcohol-related costs in New Mexico total more than $243 million per year. Currently, 86% of youth say they drink in their own or someone else s home, while 51% of youth say that they obtain alcohol from their friends. So we asked the winner of the Myinstead video contest, Ryan Williamson, some questions about his views on underage drinking. Q: Do you know, or have you heard of anyone whose life has been changed by alcohol? If so, how did it change? A: My neighbor, who was an alcoholic, changed from being a rational and normal person, to a violent nightmare. After years of self-abuse, the man died of liver failure. Q: If you had a chance to talk to this person, what advice would you give him? A: While I can t give advice to my neighbor, I do have friends suffering from drug addiction. These otherwise good people are hurting themselves and the people who care about them. Addiction is very difficult to overcome. The best advice I would give to these people would be to ask for help. You can t always beat drug addiction by yourself. Your friends and family can be your greatest defense. Q: Why do you think teenagers feel the need to drink or use drugs? A: Teenagers want to be thought highly of by their peers, and make choices that, while not very smart, will impress their friends. Peer pressure results in plenty of drug addiction. One way to combat this is to teach the importance of individuality. Teenagers shouldn t have to prove their worth to their friends, especially if that means doing drugs or consuming alcohol. Q: What do you wish there was more of in the world? A: I wish that there was less apathy in the world. If there were more socially conscious people stepping up and doing their part, we could solve a majority of the world s problems, including alcoholism and drug addiction. Instead, many people prefer to stay ignorant and happy, rather than assess the many problems plaguing us and finding ways to fix them. Q: Do you think that other teens would share that attitude with you? A: I think many teens share the same opinions as me. The trick, however, is for them to be more vocal about it. With so much social media and communication, young people have more influence on the planet than ever before. Our opinions carry a lot of weight, and it s up to us to take action against apathy and educate future generations about the dangers of drug addiction and alcoholism. Ryan is one of two winners of the Myinstead video campaign. He is a graduating Senior from the Public Academy For Performing Arts, where over 50 students submitted their videos for consideration.

4 To Be, Or Not To Be Cool, That Is The meaning of cool is impossible to define because it is ever-changing. What was cool yesterday may be uncool now; in fact, most things that were considered cool by past generations have now been rejected. That is because being cool involves not only accepting one group s vision, but also rejecting another. Let s take jeans as an example: But jeans and fashion are basically harmless, right? What is the big deal? Well, let s substitute that question with... Even though we cannot define what it means to be cool or uncool, we still seek acceptance from our peers based on this merit. And regardless of what brand of cool you choose, you are still agreeing to conform to the norms of a certain group, letting it define who you should be, what you should look like, how you should spend your time, and what kind of choices you should make in a life that is singularly yours. Does that sound like a truly cool thing to do? So, is it always cool to try to act cool? Or is it sometimes cooler to think for yourself and follow your own moral compass? When it comes right down to it, being cool requires a sacrifice of your independence. And chasing what is cool is still as much of a dead end as ever. So how do we judge what is truly positive and what is merely posing as cool? Here s a tip: remain an individual at all costs, and guard your right to be one in any circumstance. Question the decisions of those around you; never assume a person is right or wrong based on their level of coolness. Because only one thing can be said about coolness with certainty: sooner or later, it is bound to change.

5 Why 21? Ever wonder what makes 21 the magical age for alcohol consumption? After all, we are accepted as adults at the age of 18, and, save for maybe renting a car, an 18-year-old is deemed responsible enough for just about any decision, including serving in the army. So what is it about alcohol that makes it remain illegal for an additional three years? Some people question the legal age, arguing that it should be lowered to 18, while others argue firmly against it. So when did this standard come about, and why? Alcohol has been around for centuries. And for almost as long, adults have tried to limit teenage alcohol consumption. It wasn t until 1984, that the Minimum Drinking Age Act made it illegal for minors under the age of 21 to consume, purchase, or possess alcohol. As it turns out, that number is less random than we think. Recently, scientists have discovered that the brain doesn t finish developing until the age of 25! Which makes it especially vulnerable to injury from alcohol during that time. Drinking at an early age can actually take away your brain s ability to protect itself from alcoholism. What does that mean, exactly? It means that a person who starts drinking alcohol after the age of 21 runs a 14% risk of becoming dependent on it, while, those who start drinking before the age of 14, have a 47% chance of becoming addicted. That is close to a 50/50 chance of becoming an alcoholic! And this doesn t even cover the damage alcohol can do to a developing brain. The most alarming thing is the damage alcohol can cause to your forebrain and the hippocampus. The forebrain is the part of your brain that is responsible for things like imagination, planning, and reasoning, while the hippocampus controls memory, emotions, and orientation. Scientists and doctors were unaware of how severely alcohol can damage an adolescent brain until very recently. There is no doubt about it now; there are long-term cognitive consequences to excessive drinking of alcohol in adolescence, said Aaron White, an assistant research professor in the psychiatry department at Duke University. We definitely didn t know 5 or 10 years ago that alcohol affected the teen brain differently, said Dr. White. photo courtesy of the Washington Post So the next time you have a choice to drink, or wait until the legal age, consider the scientific evidence. Numbers don t lie, and it is up to each and every one of us to decide what we do with that knowledge. The legal age limit on drinking is actually there to protect your brain when it is most vulnerable to permanent damage.

6 How to Recognize and Treat Alcohol Poisoning Hopefully you ll never have to witness alcohol poisoning. For those who aren t familiar, this is a condition when alcohol (a depressant) slows down bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure to dangerous levels and, if not properly treated, can cause them to stop entirely, Alcohol poisoning is a very real danger for anyone who chooses to drink, particularly binge-drink. Even the most experienced drinkers can push their blood-alcohol level over the edge and suffer the lifethreatening consequences, in fact, those who binge-drink frequently are more likely to find themselves in danger. So how do you know someone has alcohol poisoning? 1. The first and most obvious sign is that a person is unconscious or semiconscious. Alcohol generally tends to make people tired and sleepy; however, if the person is sleeping suddenly and has consumed a large amount of alcohol, it is imperative to check for possible alcohol poisoning. 2. The person is breathing very slowly - this is defined as eight or fewer breaths per minute, or more than eight seconds between each breath. 3. The person s skin may feel cold, clammy, or have a bluish hue. 4. You can usually smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from the person s skin and mouth. If you notice any of these signs, DO NOT IGNORE the possibility of danger or leave the individual sleeping unattended. Call 911 immediately to report the emergency. Next, to help prevent the individual from choking on his or her vomit, carefully turn the person on their side (fetal position) and place a pillow at the small of the back to support this posture. Do not leave the individual unattended until professional help has arrived.

7 Phone Apps That Could Save Your Life Cell phones have gotten a pretty bad rep lately, especially with the new law against texting while driving, which has been in place since July 1st. But we ve got surprising news for you: some cell phone apps are now working to protect you while you drive! You heard right, there are phone apps out there that help save lives on the roads. So join the movement, and check out ways to use your smart phone for good, rather than evil, such as downloading Kim Kardashian s Hollywood game (you know who you are).

8 Everyone drinks. Driving with someone who drank can be safe, because they drive extra carefully. I can sober up quickly if I need to. Beer before liquor, never been sicker - liquor before beer, you re in the clear. Talk to me about drugs - that s a bigger issue than alcohol. I actually drive more carefully when I m buzzed. Only young and inexperienced drivers are affected by alcohol. I ve only had a few glasses of wine. It s not like I was doing shots.

9 Send us your questions, comments, or ideas below, for a chance to be featured in our next issue! The Traffic Safety News Publication is a federally-funded project from the NMDOT Traffic Safety Division. Contents may be republished with attribution.