Help Area Teens “Live to Celebrate Another Day”
Unison Behavioral Health Group is urging NW Ohio and SE Michigan mobile phone users to text the important prevention message, “Live to celebrate another day. Stay sober. Pass it on!” to family and friends. Unison, in partnership with the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County, is working to increase teen awareness of the risks and danger associated with alcohol and other drug use (AOD) during the upcoming prom and graduation season. The “Live to Celebrate Another Day. Stay Sober. Pass It On!” texting initiative is part of Unison’s Spring Prom and Graduation prevention campaign, funded by the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County. The texting campaign is modeled after Unison’s successful “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” campaign during the 2010 holiday season.
According to results from a national survey released last year by Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), 90% of teens believe their counterparts are more likely to drink and drive on prom night and 79% believe the same is true for graduation night. Yet, that belief does not translate to concern, as only 29% and 25% percent of teens say that driving on prom night and graduation night, respectively, comes with a high degree of danger. “The prom and graduation season, filled with reasons to celebrate, puts teens at risk,” said Dr. Larry Hamme, Chief Clinical Officer for Unison. “Unison’s goal is to raise awareness of the very real dangers of alcohol and drug use among Lucas County teens and their parents during prom and graduation and encourage them to make safe choices,” he said.
Save a Life – Send a Text: “Live to Celebrate Another Day. Stay Sober. Pass It On!”
Enlisting the support of local communities to text the Spring prom and graduation message is a deliberate strategy used successfully in the “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving” texting campaign conducted by Unison during the 2010 holiday season. Texting has become the preferred method of communication among teens and young adults--two of the groups most at risk for AOD use and impaired driving. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, cell phones are the most popular mobile technology among young adults. Eighty-one percent own their own cell phone and 43% of young adult cell phone owners, own a smartphone with Internet accessibility.
Seventy-two percent of all teens are text messagers and two-thirds of teen texters say they are more likely to use their cell phones to text their friends than talk to them by cell phone.
Increased Risk During the Months of Prom and Graduation
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Fatality Analysis Reporting System), alcohol-related fatalities involving teens increase between the middle of April and the middle of June each year. By raising awareness of the increased risks during this timeframe and encouraging teens to make safe choices, Unison and the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County hope to help save lives. How can you help? Text the prevention message, “Live to celebrate another day. Stay sober. Pass it on!” to your family and friends--today!
About Unison Behavioral Health Group
With over 35 years of experience, Unison Behavioral Health Group is the community’s recognized and preferred leader in caring for the behavioral health and substance abuse issues of adults, adolescents and children. Unison accepts Ohio Medicaid and most private insurances. Through their contract with the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County, Unison is able to offer subsidized services to Lucas County residents who are unable to afford the total cost of treatment. Unison is certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. For more information, visit www.unisonbhg.org.
Press Release Contact Name: Kitty Slight
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419.693.0631
Organization Name: Unison Behavioral Health Group
Website or Link: www.unisonbhg.org
Organization Address: 1425 Starr Avenue, Toledo, OH, 43605