PANORAMA CITY >> Police said 704 people younger than 21 in Los Angeles were arrested on suspicion of DUI in 2017.
And if you think that was bad. The year before saw 910 arrests, and the year before that saw 988.
“We’re going in the right direction, however, 704 are 704 too many,” said L.A. Police Department Valley Traffic Division Detective William Bustos after a Tuesday news conference for National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week.
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week began Monday and continues through Sunday, authorities said at the news conference held outside the LAPD Valley Traffic Division building in Panorama City.
Some speakers at #LAPD National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week. On average, 867 young adults are arrested annually in #LA for impaired driving pic.twitter.com/3ulvPULTn5
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) January 23, 2018
Bustos said his department is trying to educate the public.
“We’re obviously concerned,” Bustos noted. “And that’s why we’re doing this press conference to inform family members, parents, to inform their children about the dangers of not only alcohol, marijuana but a myriad of other illicit drugs and also medication.”
#LAPD Valley Traffic Division Det. Bill Bustos talks dangers of smoking marijuana & drinking alcohol while driving at facts week event pic.twitter.com/5GCEzdo69L
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) January 23, 2018
On average, Bustos said, there were 867 young adults arrested annually for impaired driving.
Jasmine Walker, 16, of Pasadena went through the residential treatment program at Phoenix House in Lake View Terrace and discussed the issues youths face.
“I couldn’t even recognize myself that I had a problem,” said Walker, who said she began with marijuana at age 13 before eventually graduating to meth.
“When you get behind the wheel, you’re just confused and you’re engaged in the drug and what you want the outcome to be,” said Walker when asked about the effects of drug usage.
She said she’s been clean for 130 days and is out of the facility and going to school in Pasadena.
Her father, Nathan Walker, 40, said young people don’t need drugs or alcohol to find happiness.
“We’re always going to have the struggle and challenges but face and deal with them in a loving way and hopefully we’ll be successful,” Walker said.
Jasmine Walker, 16, talks going thru residential treatment program Phoenix House in #LakeViewTerrace at National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week pic.twitter.com/3HyDnQpBfG
— Wes Woods II (@JournoWes) January 23, 2018
[contf] [contfnew] 
daily news
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
