FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Many teens dream of their high school years being full of traditional events such as prom, spring break and graduation.
With these big events weeks away law enforcement and local groups in Florence are hoping to lower the percentage of underage drinking with a campaign emphasizing the concern.
Circle Park Behavioral Health Services, the Florence County Coalition for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention and the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Alcohol Enforcement Team held a press conference at the Florence County Club on Tuesday to discuss a campaign against underage drinking.
The groups will use a new strategy this year and follow prom limousines to make sure teenagers get to and from prom safely.
Police will also investigate how teens get alcohol during prom activities too.
Experts say alcohol remains the number one drug of choice for teens statewide.
Clyde Nance, Circle Park’s Director of Community Services says kids are twice as likely to drink if they don’t think they’ll be caught by police, and they are five times as likely to drink if they don’t think they will be caught by parents.
“We feel like when youth are not able to have access to alcohol and they know what the consequences are and that parents are supporting our efforts because they are also a key player in what we’re doing. They have to set boundaries and expectations for their children, because certainly on prom night or spring break they want to send their kids off feeling safe and comfortable,” Nance said.
Nance says statewide, 68 percent of high school students’ drink or have drunk alcohol.
According to Nance, Florence County has one of the lowest rates of alcohol and drug consumption in the state.