Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott and Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell announced participation with the Florida Sheriffs Association Task Force in "Operation Dry Spring."
The project runs through April 7 in conjunction with the spring-break schedules of most public and private schools in Florida. The FSA Task Force launched this operation to protect the safety of Florida's youth.
Florida and thousands of out-of-state students annually take a timeout from studies for the first semester break.
Article Photos
Spring break is also the time when some of these students, most under legal drinking age of 21, choose to drink alcohol and experiment with illegal drugs, said Prummell.
"CCSO units will be beefing up patrols on our main beach areas from Englewood to Boca Grande and in the Charlotte Harbor area," he said. "Additional patrols will also be checking places where youth hang out in Charlotte County. Underage drinking, smoking, including marijuana and synthetic marijuana, will be targeted."
Prummel said use of drugs and alcohol leads to poor decision-making and emergency medical situations such as overdoses and alcohol-related injuries.
Fact Box
"CCSO units will be beefing up patrols on our main beach areas from Englewood to Boca Grande and in the Charlotte Harbor area. Additional patrols will also be checking places where youth hang out in Charlotte County. Underage drinking, smoking, including marijuana and synthetic marijuana, will be targeted."
- Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell
In 2010, nearly 190,000 individuals under age 21 visited an emergency room for injuries connected to alcohol abuse.
Use of synthetic drugs such as bath salts and spice is on the rise with more than 7,000 reported incidents in 2011 compared to roughly 3,000 in 2010.
"Underage use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs has always been a point of concern for families as well as Florida's Sheriffs," said Polk County Sheriff and Task Force Chair Grady Judd. "If Florida's youth cannot make the right decisions, they will be spending spring break at their sheriff's office."
