December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness month, and the Kent County Health Department released statistics to consider.
20% of Kent County residents report binge or excessive drinking—higher than the state average of 19% and the national average of 18%.
“Tells us that we need to put some additional focus on the prevention messages that we get out there because these are preventable things.”
Sharon Schmidt is a public health educator with KCHD. She says additionally, a higher percentage of fatal car accidents in Kent County involve alcohol, 33% compared to 30% in Michigan and 26% nationwide.
“That is concerning because seeing numbers like that, we know it’s impacting the health of the people who are drinking as well as their own safety and the safety of our community when you factor in those traffic crashes.”
Schmidt encourages a responsible approach to drinking which includes planning ahead for a safe ride home, tracking how much is consumed, discussing risks of alcohol with teens, and offering non-alcoholic options if hosting this holiday.
“We don’t tell people they have to stop drinking. We just want people to do it in a safe and responsible way.”
You can find more information online at AboutLastNightKent.com
