On behalf of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, I hope you enjoyed a safe and fun Fourth of July. With summer finally here, it’s exciting to think about all the upcoming opportunities for fun moments and memories.

However, for many people, summer also includes an increase in the number of social events that involve alcohol. It is vital that adults take the proper steps to ensure that drinking doesn’t lead to tragedy. These precautions include designating a driver or simply choosing not to drink.

In 2016, the most recent year with complete data, drunk driving caused 10,497 fatalities on roads in the United States, an increase of 1.7 percent from the previous year.

Water activities that are popular during the summer become much more dangerous when alcohol is involved. Research shows that up to 70 percent of all water recreation deaths of teens and adults involve the use of alcohol.

In 2016, alcohol use was the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. In instances where the primary cause of an accident was known, alcohol was listed as the leading factor in 15 percent of deaths.

These deaths were entirely preventable, yet they devastated the lives of countless friends and family members across the country. Don’t let tragedy be a part of your summer. Have fun, be responsible and stay safe.