Drug use, driving and teen safety

Local teens and parents on Wednesday were given a sobering look at issues involving teenage driving, cyberbullying and drug abuse.

Dozens of families attended the free evening at Corona del Mar High School, which featured a series of guest speakers and information booths from local organizations.

Attendees heard from parents of two young people who died prematurely; one from an accidental drug overdose, and the other from a car collision caused by a distracted teen driver.

The district has held several of the evenings, dreamed up by board member Judy Franco and Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, over the past two years.

Podiatrist David Sabet spoke movingly of his daughter Gillian, a JSerra High School student who, along with her boyfriend, died on her way to a high school dance in Newport Beach in 2005. Her best friend was driving and lost control of the SUV while distracted.

Since then, his family has formed JourneySafe; he educates teens and families throughout the region on distracted driving. Sabet said 6,000 teens are killed each year on the road.

“The No. 1 killer of teens is their friends,” Sabet said. “The vast majority of teen fatalities are passengers. It’s not drugs and alcohol; it’s inexperience and distraction.”

But drugs and alcohol are still a local concern.

Health educator Monica Venable said a third of Newport-Mesa Unified high school freshman admitted in an anonymous survey to drinking at least one alcoholic beverage in the past 30 days; by 11th grade, that number had climbed to 52%. Nationwide, those figures are reduced to 29% and 43%.

Irene Umipig of Community Service Programs said over-the-counter and prescription drugs have become the gateway drug of choice for adolescents ages 12 to 13; they include certain cough medicines and drugs like Adderall, used to treat ADHD.

County representative Arthur Cummins spoke on cyberbullying, urging parents to talk with their children about their Internet habits and to learn more about their online world.

“It’s a changing world,” he said, where today’s youth are “digital natives” and adults, whom he characterized as “digital immigrants,” are “scrambling” to understand and keep up.

Safe Driving Tips For Teens

 Always wear a seat belt

 Limit the number of passengers

 Reduce distractions

 Turn off the cell phone

 Speak up for your own safety

— courtesy of David Sabet