DELRAY BEACH, Fla.-- The dangers of binge drinking is a warning now being directed at middle school age students.
“I think it’s critical at this age,” says teacher Kari Klemm.
Prevention coordinators at the Hanley Foundation spent a day recently talking with students at Trinity School in Delray Beach.
“We absolutely know that the longer we can delay the average first age of us, the better,” says Hanley Prevention Coordinator, Martha Putnam.
The students get a 90-minute program that is designed for tech-savvy teens and makes them aware of how social media and advertising can influence decisions on drinking alcohol even before they reach high school.
“You don’t want to start it when they are already maybe participating in it," Klemm says.
Hanley trainers say they have taught alcohol awareness for 15 years and in Palm Beach County 14 percent fewer teens drink after going through their classes.