Underage drinking leads to overdose

A 16-year-old boy nearly drowned after drinking too much alcohol.

Oxnard police and Harbor Patrol officers said he was among a group of teens caught jumping off Fisherman’s Wharf into the Channel Islands Harbor.

It happened last Wednesday during spring break.

Police said the teen was taken to Ventura County Medical Center where a blood test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .40, five times the legal limit for a driver.

Oxnard Union High School administrators said the story serves as a reminder to parents to take underage drinking seriously. They said overdoses can be fatal.

College adviser and parent Susan Carrosco said she is trying to get the message out before prom and graduation. Carrosco said this is a crucial time for students who work hard in school. She said they can have fun without drinking.

Oxnard High Principal Eric Reigert said the school with the yellow jacket mascot and the Parent Teacher Association are giving out wristbands as a reminder. They bands say “Stay Sober at the Hive, Don’t Drink and Drive.