Safety comes first when planning holiday party

Holidays are a great time for friends and families to get together to visit and celebrate. But holiday parties also tend to provide people with more opportunities to use drugs and alcohol.

According to a five-year study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 40 percent of all traffic fatalities during the last two weeks of December involved alcohol-impaired drivers. Planning and preparing ahead can make a huge difference in keeping your friends and families safe.

When choosing to serve alcohol, consider these suggestions from the federal Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration.

 • Make a game out of identifying the designated driver.

 • Entertain guests with other activities such as music and games. Don’t let alcohol be the focus of the party.

 • One out of three adults prefers a nonalcoholic beverage. Make sure you have water or nonalcoholic alternatives available.

 • Control access to alcohol. Have someone serve alcohol, rather than self-serve. Ask servers to refuse service to minors or anyone who appears to be intoxicated.

 • Stop serving drinks at least one hour before the end of an event. Serve nonalcoholic beverages and desserts at that time instead.

 • Provide drinkers with safe alternatives to driving. Offer your place to spend the night, call a taxi or ask someone who was not drinking to drive an intoxicated guest home.

It takes about one hour for the average healthy person to absorb a standard drink equal to one 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 ounce of liquor.

It is also important to consider that prescription drug abuse is on the rise. According to the state’s Healthy Youth Survey 2008, one out of 10 Thurston County 10th-graders admitted to using prescription drugs to get high.

When you are hosting a party, secure all medications in locked cabinets or in areas not accessible to guests. When cleaning up before the party, go through your medications and dispose of unwanted prescription medications properly. Here are some helpful guidelines for disposal in your trash.

 • Keep medication in its original container.

 • Modify the medications to discourage consumption. Mix medicines with an undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds. You can also add a small amount of water to pills or capsules to dissolve them.

 • Tape the container lid shut. Discard the container in the garbage away from kids or pets. Do not place in the recycling bin.

 • Do not flush down the toilet.

Following these tips can help ensure your friends and loved ones enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

For safe disposal of non-narcotic medicines, the Group Health facility at 700 Lilly Road has a secure medicine return box outside of the pharmacy area. For details on acceptable items, hours, etc., go to www.medicinereturn.com. For information about the proper disposal of medications, contact Thurston County household hazardous materials education at 360-867-2579. For information about drug and alcohol abuse, go to www.CountyCD.org or call 360-867-2508.

Dr. Diana Yu is the health officer for the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department, 412 Lilly Road N.E., Olympia. For information from the Health Department, call 360-867-2500.