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YP UPDATE<br />
Choices Today–<br />
Changes Tomorrow<br />
By Britni Schwartz<br />
Close your eyes and name nine of your closest friends<br />
and family members. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Now, imagine<br />
three of those nine, and yourself, being involved in<br />
an alcohol-related crash. It may seem unlikely, but<br />
according to alcohol alert statistics, it’s not.<br />
Nationally, in 2007, 37 percent of driving fatalities were<br />
related to alcohol. Statewide, 57 percent of driving fatalities were<br />
related to alcohol during the same year.<br />
“We’ve lost 1,581 people due to alcohol related crashes on<br />
N.D. roadways from 1978 through 2008,” said Highway Patrol<br />
Lieutenant, Jody Skogen. “Over 47 percent of our total traffic<br />
fatalities during that 20 year period are alcohol-related.”<br />
From time to time, we all think we are invincible from bad<br />
things happening to us, but we aren’t–just ask Amanda Weslund.<br />
At age 16, she turned to a life of drinking and partying.<br />
“Alcohol and drugs took away my freedom,” said Weslund.<br />
“It took away my family, my trust, and in the end, it took away<br />
my son.” Weslund admits that she always drank and drove, and if<br />
someone tried to take her keys, she would fight them.<br />
“Driving drunk is a choice, and the tragedy it causes is no<br />
accident,” said Skogen. “Many of these victims were innocent<br />
motorists or pedestrians who had not consumed a drop.”<br />
Thankfully, after experiencing various treatment programs,<br />
which always lead to relapse, Amanda finally was set free. At the<br />
age of 24, she graduated from N.D. Teen Challenge, a faith-based<br />
drug and alcohol treatment program located in Mandan, N.D.<br />
Weslund encourages people to think of the long-term effects their<br />
decisions have.<br />
“My dad always said, ‘Amanda the decisions you make today<br />
will affect the next 10 years of your life,’” said Weslund.<br />
How true those words are for us all. With winter holidays<br />
approaching, the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals<br />
Network would like to encourage everyone to make smart<br />
choices. It only takes a second for life to change forever.<br />
If you do find yourself unable to drive one evening, our<br />
community has plenty of services that are ready and willing to<br />
help such as: Taxi 9000 (701-223-9000), Nightlife (701-222-0202)<br />
or 2MANCAB (701-425-6699.)<br />
For more information, contact the YP Network at 701.223.5660 or<br />
info@ypnetwork.org.<br />
November 2009 25
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