Drug abuse is a serious problem for many American teenagers, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and its partners — the Shelby County District Attorney and Shelby County Manager — are fighting back with a unique program called Compact in which SCSO officers work with teens and families to battle substance use and promote healthy lifestyles.
Compact also actively promotes summer safety for children and teens over the long school break, when kids left at home unattended are more prone to injury.
Det. Tommy Stewart has advice for parents. “If possible, don't leave kids alone, but if you do, educate them on the dangers out there, like riding 4-wheelers or golf carts,” he said, “These kids are having a good time and not thinking about safety.”
A Shelby County teen was killed recently after driving an ATV into a tree, he said.
“Talking about safety throughout the summer is super important,” Stewart said.
Accidents are the leading cause of teen deaths, in part because many youth engage in risky behavior, especially when intoxicated. “They’ll do foolish, ridiculous things, like diving off cliffs, that they wouldn’t do when sober,” said Investigator Adam Schniper.
Many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol but are not used to the effects.
“They start drinking and don’t know when to stop,” Investigator Ali Miller said. “They don't realize how intoxicated they've gotten, their behavior is exaggerated and they aren't thinking clearly. They might drive a vehicle or ride with someone else who’s equally drunk.”
In addition, more teens are driving in the summer, leading to more accidents. Some are caused by distracted driving, which is “absolutely horrible and equally as deadly as DUI,” Miller said. “They take pictures or selfies while driving, or you’ve got kids bringing up videos, saying, ‘Hey, look at this.’ Before you know it, they’ve run off the road and hit a tree.”
Water safety is also important. “Don’t go swimming alone,” Stewart said. “Always be there with someone and make sure somebody knows where you're at.”
Kids and teens should also be careful when exploring wooded areas in the summer, when there’s a greater risk of snake bites and animal attacks, he said. “You could be in a bad situation before you realize it,” Stewart said.
Prolonged daily use of social media and video games in the summer can have negative effects on mental wellness.
“There’s positive sides to social media — communicating with like-minded people, sharing ideas, gaming, having fun — but there’s downsides,” Schniper said. “If kids neglect face-to-face socialization, they can face mental health issues, including depression, anger, anxiety, even suicidal ideation.
“Parents should take note of behavior changes in their kids if they’re not socializing and doing real-life activities,” he said. “Is it inspiring kids in a positive way or inspiring them in a negative way?”
The appropriate amount of gaming or social media use varies from person to person, of course. “Every kid’s an individual,” Schniper said. “The children and parents have to find what works for them.
For more about Compact, call 205-605-1824 or go to compact2020.com.
Compact’s Summer Safety Tips
- Avoid leaving children home alone if possible; educate them on safety if they are unattended.
- Talk to kids about the dangers of ATVs and golf carts.
- Warn teens about the risks of drug and alcohol use, especially their effects on judgment and behavior.
- Discourage distracted driving; taking selfies or watching videos while driving can be as dangerous as DUI.
- Never swim alone; always have a buddy and let someone know your location.
- Be cautious when exploring wooded areas due to the risk of snake bites and animal encounters.
- Monitor teens’ mental health and encourage face-to-face socialization and real-life activities to support mental wellness.
- Watch for behavior changes that could signal depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.
