Multiple emergency vehicles will converge on Stone Memorial High School Friday morning to teach students about the dangers of drinking and driving on prom night.
The group Teenagers Against Drugs will sponsor the Mock DUI Event. Assistant Director Shane Wyatt said he hopes the students will be reminded of what can happen if they drink or use drugs.
“Lots of teens and high school students do take the opportunity on their prom night to make a poor choice when it comes to drinking and drugging,” Wyatt said. “And then of course, driving on top of that makes it especially dangerous not only for them, but for the general public.”
Wyatt said TAD partners with the local emergency services like the sheriff’s office to stage the scenes. Wyatt said they enlist the help of drama students to act as drivers and passengers in an effort to give the scenes authenticity.
“We’ve even had occurrences in the past of where helicopters even come to the crash scene, and you know, some of the students are taken away in the helicopters to make it as real as possible,” Wyatt said. “And it has a sobering effect. But again, it’s one of those things that is really impactful and hopefully it sticks in the students minds.”
Wyatt said the students will be encouraged to sign a pledge to not drink or do drugs the night of the prom. Wyatt said their pledge will be attached to banner that will be displayed at the prom.
Wyatt said the program appears to be working.
“Since we implemented the program more than 15 years ago in our local high schools we have had zero incidents of any kind of bad situation resulting.” Wyatt said.
TAD hosted the same event earlier in the month for Cumberland County High School before their prom.
