Thanks to the vision and mission of Sherron Hatcher, Prevention Coordinator for West Alabama Mental Health Center, students at Linden High School, as well as hundreds of high school students in Marengo County and the surrounding area, received a pre-prom night safety message that made them think about the potential consequences of any destructive decisions they may have been weighing in their minds as they planned for their big night.

Hatcher’s primary purpose in coordinating the school assembly was to discourage underage drinking, thereby encouraging students to act responsibly and react thoughtfully if their peers pushed them to try alcohol or drugs at any after prom parties.

“Our goal in taking our message to high school students is to reduce the occurrence of underage drinking by changing students’ perspectives, making alcohol less readily available to them, making them examine the very possible tragic outcomes of underage drinking, and making alcohol use less appealing to them,” Hatcher said.

Hatcher called on a number of experts on the effects of underage drinking to help her drive home the message. Guest presenters at the LHS assembly included State Trooper Charles Dysart, ABC Board Sergeant Ernest Taylor, District Judge Wade Drinkard, MADD Coordinator Pamela Morton, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Darren Glass and Probate Judge Laurie Hall.

“Each speaker presented a different perspective on the topic of underage drinking, and every perspective was necessary in creating the overall message,” LHS Principal Dr. Timothy Thurman said. “I think the most effective part of every speaker’s message was the fact that each one of the speakers cared about the students’ decisions because each one cared about the students and their futures. That fact came across to our students, and that made a real difference. It was a very effective program and one that I would welcome each year.”