"Black Wednesday"

By Maggie Fischler

Thanksgiving is a time of family, friends and food. But the day before Thanksgiving is becoming for too many a day full of drinking, drugging and driving. “Black Wednesday,” as it is called because people black out after indulging in alcohol and drugs, is a day normally spent with friends rather than family.

Fairfax County schools let out early on Wednesday, so it is understandable that students would want to spend time with their friends. Many college students are back home for the holiday and want to catch up with old friends. But there are so many other things to do besides drinking.

The holiday season opens a variety of events to participate in, and the cold weather that comes with Thanksgiving offers new and exciting indoor and outdoor activities. The day could be spent doing the last of fall activities for the season or starting early on winter activities – all without drugs or alcohol.

Increasingly teens across America are electing to spend time with their friends drinking, and separating themselves from the rest of their family. And that can be dangerous for teens’ health (mental and physical) and also reason for everyone to be careful when out of the roads. Law enforcement will be out in force looking for drunk drivers!

Thanksgiving is a time for recognizing all there is to be grateful for, and how blessed one truly is. Instead of drinking, this holiday season teens should take time to do activities with their families—be it spending a day together filled with holiday-themed events, community service, or just simply eating dinner together.

The winter season brings families together. Sledding, snow ball fights, making s’mores, and decorating for the holiday season. Visiting extended relatives and taking the time to buy the perfect gift for someone. Sentimentality and love is what should be held in one’s heart during the holiday season. Don’t let drinking and drugs get in the way of this winter’s festivities, when there are so many other healthier, fun things to do.

At the Youth Council of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County, we’re getting an early start by spending the Tuesday before Thanksgiving having a potluck together with our parents and encouraging each other to be healthy role models for our peers.

We’ll also be making plans to highlight #GivingTuesday, the national day of giving to support nonprofits that takes place Tuesday, Dec. 2. We hope others in our community will keep the right focus on Thanksgiving and join us in supporting our #GivingTuesday efforts to keep Fairfax County safe and drug-free for youth and young adults.

Maggie Fischler is a junior at Langley High School and a member of the Youth Council of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County. Earlier this month (in above photo) she and Youth Council members and friends helped clean up Lake Fairfax Park as part of a community service project.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a nonprofit organization with more than 60 community partners working together to keep youth and young adults safe and drug-free. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org and www.facebook.com/unifiedpreventioncoalition. Follow the group on Twitter at www.twitter.com/keepyouthsafe.