Growing the Good in Rogers County

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and Volunteers for Youth reminds adults how important it is not to provide alcohol to teens.

(L to R): Emma Girdner, Miriam Geppelt, ORU nursing students, Brittany Rogers, Ashley Rogers, and Ashley Henry, Claremore High School SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club members. 

Volunteers for Youth Project Director for Sober Truth on Underage Drinking, Amy Graham, has initiated a county-wide strategy to remind adults not to provide alcohol to teens as part of Alcohol Awareness Month for April 2015.

Nearly every vendor in the county who sells alcohol or beer, including grocery stores, convenience stores, package liquor stores and bars, has been visited in the past few months and asked to sign a pledge. The location is then given banners, stickers and window clings to place in their business. These signs will serve to remind patrons that this establishment does not sell alcohol to teens, as well as reminding employees to check for proper identification.
Claremore High School SADD club members and ORU nursing students assisted Volunteers for Youth staff to complete this project.

Alcohol use by persons under age 21 is a major public health problem. Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs, and is responsible for more than 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth. Although drinking by persons under the age of 21 is illegal, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the United States. More than 90 percent of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinks. On average, underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers. In 2010, there were approximately 189,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.
Youth who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21 years.
Underage drinking in Oklahoma leads to substantial harm due to traffic crashes, violent crime, property crime, unintentional injury, and risky sex. During 2013, an estimated 68 traffic fatalities and 1,911 nonfatal traffic injuries were attributable to driving after underage drinking. In 2009, an estimated 28 homicides; 15,300 nonfatal violent crimes such as rape, robbery and assault; and 25,400 property crimes including burglary, larceny, and car theft were attributable to underage drinking. In 2007, an estimated six alcohol involved fatal burns, drownings, and suicides were attributable to underage drinking. In 2009, an estimated 435 teen pregnancies and 13,110 teens having risky sex were attributable to underage drinking. Reducing underage drinking is critical to securing a healthy and safe future for our youth.

Take time to thank the many businesses that are supporting our efforts in Rogers County to that end: Chelsea – Highway Liquor Store, Hilltop Bar, Phillips 66 Jiffy Mart; Claremore – Buffalo Wild Wings, Heritage Golf Course, Wine Down Spirits, Kwick Stop, Blue Starr Liquor, Asiana Chinese Restaurant, Bottle Shack, Chili’s Grill and Bar, Claremore Expo Center, Claremore Sinclair #2, Conoco (Sinor’s), El Azteca, El Banquette, El Charro, El Maguey, Mazzio’s, Patriot Wine and Spirits, Pizza Hut, Reasor’s, Shell (Sam and Mo’s Corner), Sinclair Hwy. 66, Swift Mart, VFW #2976, Walmart, Warehouse Market, Will Rogers Inn (Route 66 Bar), Buy N Bye, Kong’s Corner, BJ’s Pit Stop; Oologah – Ranchland Wine and Spirits, Iron Horse, Pump’n Pete’s (Phillip 66), Apple Mart, Rogers Mini Stop; Talala – Talala Grocery; Catoosa – Cheers Wine and Spirits, La Mansion Mexican Restaurant, and Reasor’s.

For more information, contact

Volunteers for Youth

(918) 859-6797

www.volunteersforyouth.com