Teens and Danger!

On Sept 8th a young man aged 21 was out with his friends enjoying a late summer evening boat ride on one of Boston's weekend booze cruises!! Oh to be young again, wind in your hair, cocktail in your hand, music in your ears....PERFECTION!! Except when it isn't.  This young man thought it would be awesome to climb up onto the back of the boat.  I'm sure he was feeding off friend frenzy to be bold and daring, boosted with the confidence that a few drinks in can give you. Paying no head to signed warnings not to climb on rails, this young man jumped up and and then with the bounce of a wave fell off. There is no happy ending to this story. This guy died.
Kids do stupid and dangerous things, and take life threatening risks all in the name of 'awesomeness." Their teenage brain still living impulsively in the emotional center of the brain, the amygdala, fends off the rationality of the thinking brain, the frontal cortex. Most times, despite themselves, kids come home safe and sound. And sometimes they don't. Please read this article with you kids. Plant the seed of alcohol and drug fueled risk taking that can turn deadly. Always always ask them what their plan for safety is every time they leave your house for an evening out with friends. Remind them over and over and over and over again that alcohol and drugs wreak havoc with a teenage brain build for speed. Encourage them to rotate a designated person who can see when they can't, that they are in danger! It could save someone's life!
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/09/08/coast-guard-responds-report-man-overboard-boston-harbor/ZI4pRFIOhavEkhTLcUD3hO/story.html