High Risk High

Find personal stories, plans for prevention and recovery, discussion questions and more on the High Risk High: Youth Drinking in North Dakota web site.

In a recent study, North Dakota ranked first nationally in underage, high-risk drinking. The series of radio reports listed below from Prairie Public is investigating solutions.

Strategies for Preventing Underage Drinking listen or download North Dakota ranks first in the nation in the number of people 12 years and older who drink to get drunk. Prevention experts would like to see North Dakota fall from the top of that list. They talk about three key ingredients to prevent youth drinking: family, mentors, and a big tent—meaning a community that cares.

Preventing Teen Drinking on the Fort Berthold Reservation listen or download Federal studies indicate that over 40-percent of North Dakota high school students drink alcohol. That percentage is believed to be even higher among Native American students. People concerned about the issue gathered in New Town to discuss what they’re doing to help these kids and what more needs to be done to make a greater impact.

St. Cloud State listen or download St. Cloud State has shed its “party school” reputation. How they did it is the subject of today’s High Risk High story.

Reducing Teen Drinking & Driving Fatalities listen or download Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens. Statistics show that alcohol was involved in a third of those accidents. Over the years, various approaches to curbing teen drinking have had mixed results. Experts NOW say that the best way to reduce underage drinking is to pass laws to make it harder for teens to buy alcohol.

Impact on Families listen or download Alcohol addiction doesn’t just hurt the addict. It hurts all members of the addict’s family. Producer Meg Luther Lindholm recently moderated a panel talk about the impact of alcohol addiction on families at Mandan High School for High Risk High: Youth Drinking in North Dakota. Two parents, their teen children, and an addictions counselor all speak from their experience about the issue.

No Silver Bullet listen or download North Dakota ranks first in the nation for the percentage of young people who binge drink. So the people who treat and try to prevent high risk drinking have a daunting job. There’s no silver bullet. But there are people in North Dakota working hard to address the problem from both sides – prevention and treatment.

Juvenile Drug Court listen or download Drug courts are designed to keep addicts out of prison. Instead of spending time behind bars, drug and alcohol users go through a rigorous program designed to end their substance abuse and their crimes. Drug court costs a lot less than incarceration. But is it money well spent? Reporter Candace Thornberg explores the juvenile drug court system in this report for High Risk High: Youth Drinking in North Dakota.

P olice Officer on the Front Lines listen or download North Dakota currently ranks first in the nation for the percentage of young people, including high school students, who binge drink. Police officer Chris Potter works on the front lines of the problem at Fargo South High School. He talks to reporter Candace Thornberg about his approach to helping teens in this report for High Risk High: Youth Drinking in North Dakota.

UND Nightlife Program listen or download Some college students want to have fun at night without feeling pressure to drink. A program called Night Life at the University of North Dakota now offers these students plenty of options. High Risk High reporter Sarah McCurdy recently visited UND to see the program in action.

Getting Wasted: Why College Students Drink Too Much and Party So Hard listen or download In this interview, author Thomas Vander Ven talks about why students drink despite all the problems they encounter including nasty hangovers, fights, poor grades and sexual assault. He talks about the drawbacks of college alcohol prevention programs and how students might be trained to help each other in positive ways.

Live Your No listen or download Kids are taught at a young age that alcohol can be bad for their health. But sometimes what keeps teens from drinking is doing something they love. Teenagers Ania Lind, Justin Gustofson and Iveta Harner talk about why their passions give them a reason to say no to alcohol.

ND Mentors Who Help At Risk Teens listen or download Many people credit their success in life to someone who took an active interest in them. High Risk High producer Meg Luther Lindholm recently spent an afternoon speaking to mentors and finding out how they make a difference in young people’s lives.

Reality Check listen or download North Dakota health officials say students are starting to drink at a younger age than they did in the past. That’s a problem for a state that is already fighting underage drinking. The Students Against Destructive Decisions organization came up with a program to reach out to kids before they ever start.

ND Legislators on approaches to reduce underage drinking listen or download This report begins a five-part series that investigates legislative options for reducing youth drinking.

Bartenders learn how to recognize underage drinkers listen or download People who are not yet 21 still find ways to buy alcohol in restaurants, bars and liquor stores. To cut down on this problem, some states have passed server training laws. These laws require people who serve or sell alcohol to take classes that teach how to identify underage customers.

Social host laws: what they are and how they work listen or download Underage drinking often takes place at parties in people’s homes. Many states have passed social host laws that penalize the owners of the places where young people gather to drink.

Pros and cons of regulating drink specials listen or download Some view drink specials — where bar owners offer deals like 2 or 3 drinks for the price of one — as encouragement to binge drink. High Risk High producer Meg Luther Lindholm explores ways of regulating drink specials starting with some opinions on the issue from young people.

Use/lose laws listen or download Minors who are caught drinking currently have to pay fines or take a court-ordered class with parents. Many in law enforcement say these penalties aren’t strong enough.

Teens talk about their passions and why drinking doesn’t fit listen or download When it comes to teens and alcohol, sometimes just “saying” no isn’t enough. The North Dakota Department of Human Services has a program pushing kids to find a passion that makes them live their ‘no.’ In this week’s segment of High Risk High: Youth Drinking in North Dakota, reporter Candace Thornberg introduces you to three teenagers doing just that.

Special funding for this project from the Otto Bremer Foundation, the North Dakota Department of Human Services, and the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, as well as the members and funders of Prairie Public.