June 1, 2000
You may have heard those ads on the radio featuring real stories from real Utah teens who've had real problems with drinking.
The Department of Public Safety is running those ads again this year to encourage kids to stay away from drinking during graduation week.
But, as News Specialist Keith McCord explains, the life of one of those kids we're listening to has changed dramatically.
Last year, Lauren Rodriguez was one of four teens picked to talk about their experiences with drinking for a public safety campaign encouraging kids to stay away from alcohol.
"EVERYBODY HAS A FUNNY DRINKING STORY. THIS ONE WILL HAVE YOU IN STITCHES."
The statistics are staggering:
-
42 percent of Utah school students says they've tried alcohol.
- 24 percent say they drank at least once in the last 30 days.
- 63 percent of those students say they've had more than five drinks at once.
But Lauren is no longer a statistic.
She graduates from high school this week
and is headed to college.
But those ads have Lauren stuck in time.
Her new friends have heard the ads.
Lauren Rodriguez: "THEY SAY, 'I HEARD YOUR AD, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS YOU. IT SHOCKED ME AT FIRST.'"
But she's proud that she is now a different person.
Lauren Rodriguez: "I'M GLAD THAT I HAVEN'T GONE BACK TO DRINKING. IT WOULD HAVE MADE HEARING THE ADS A LOT DIFFERENT."
And, she is glad the ads are running - hoping teens like her will stay sober this weekend.
Lauren Rodriguez: "SOMETIMES I THINK IT WON'T AFFECT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO PARTY. BUT SOMETIMES I THINK IT WILL MAKE THEM THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES OR MAYBE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH."
She plans to spend the weekend with family and friends.
