DHSS targets underage drinking in Del.

A statewide launch by the Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) to prevent underage drinking kicked off Thursday by visiting schools in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.

DHSS cabinet secretary Rita Landgraf explained the new expanded anti-drinking campaign in three words.

“Drinking hurts thinking, and that is the theme for this campaign.” Says Landgraf.

In 2014, Delaware saw over 1,000 alcohol-related car crashes according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Landgraf says it’s not just crashes that today’s teens have to worry about. She warned Sussex Central High School students about possible brain damage explains the frontal part of any human brain is still in its developmental stages until age 25.

“So, the danger of alcohol becomes pretty significant even at any amount of alcohol, so we want to be able to really educate in relative to that.” Explains Landgraf.

They educated through simulations on Thursday at Sussex Central. Odyssey Frisby is a ninth grader and was chosen to wear special goggles Thursday to simulate the feeling of having a few drinks too many.

“It’s kind of hard because you can’t see nothing. You feel like you’re about to fall over.” Says Frisby. “It felt like…I was like nervous , like I was about to fall and tip over.”

The simulation will hopefully leaving a lasting impression on young minds, when it comes time to make the hard choices.

“It’s not worth like, drinking, like taking your life for or anything like that.” Says Frisby.

Another part of the campaign targets college students and parents. Landgraf says often, parents believe it’s fine to serve a drink to a teen as long as a parent is home.