EC3 reports on alcohol problems for area youth
How early does someone have their first taste of alcohol?
According to Engaging for Change Community Coalition (EC3), the answer is 14 for the local area.
That was the answer provided in 2021 studies reported by the Prevention Resource Center Region 3, which includes the counties of Erath, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell Tarrant and Wise. These reports are provided to EC3 to help them in their efforts.
The EC3 Coalition is the local STAR Council chapter which aims to make Erath county a safer place for all residents, especially the youth.
“Our main goal is to reduce/eliminate substance use among our youth,” EC3 Coalition states on its Facebook page. “We are able to do that through community education efforts, positive policy changes, & changing the community norms.”
Among the challenges facing the local region is underage drinking.
When 12th graders in the region were asked how difficult it would be to get alcohol, nearly half said it would be “very easy.”
High school seniors in the region also answered that approximately 67% of their friends have had at least one drink in their lifetime.
When 12th graders were asked how dangerous consumption of alcohol was for kids their age, approximately 20 percent selected “somewhat dangerous.”
Beer and liquor were reported the most common misused type of alcohol in Region 3. High school students do not report drinking wine.
By senior year of college approximately 91% of students in the region have reported consuming alcohol at least once in their life. Approximately 86% reported drinking in the same year as the survey.
According to PRC records, Region 3 had the highest total arrests due to drunkenness across Texas’ 11 regions for the 2021 report. The region had been the highest for three consecutive years.
Our region also had the highest total liquor violation arrests in the most recent report.
The local area also had the second highest total of DUI arrests and the most alcohol sales to minor violations in the state.
Region 3 was also in the top 2 regions for highest rates of driving while intoxicated and has had the most alcohol related car accidents in the state for the past three years. Region 3 also had the highest total DUI related crashes.
Erath county had the 2nd highest rate of DUI crashes per 100,000 in our region at 133.1
Region 3 also had the highest total DUI fatalities in the state and the 2nd highest amount of DUI driver fatalities.
For more information about this and other substance abuse issues and ways to combat them, find EC3 Coalition on Facebook or call (254) 965-5515.