Chaz Lightner, 17, Alcohol Poisoning

On February 10, 2008, a number of people under twenty-one gathered at the home owned by  Archie and Sabrina Stevey, in Moundsville, Marshall County, West Virginia.  Mr. and Mrs. Stevey were not at home at the beginning of the party.

Sometime during the event, Mr. Lightener consumed a considerable amount of hard liquor 'through a “beer bong” funnel'.

The senior Steveys returned home while the teen  party was still underway, and were evidently aware that the teens were consuming alcohol.  However, they took no action to inform the teens' parents, or restrict the teens' access to alcohol, but instead  "then went to bed, while knowing the children in the home, including Lightner, were drinking."

It appears that Lightener died during the night.  It is alleged that Mr. Stevey, upon "discovering Lightner’s body early the next morning, ordered the children involved to clean up all evidence of alcohol in the home, which they did before he called the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department."

My condolences to Mr. Lightner's  family and friends.

Sources:
WTOV TV (West Virginia): March ,2007
Wheeling, West Virginia, Intelligencer: March 12, 2008

Wheeling, West Virginia, Intelligencer: March 14 2008

Wheeling, West Virginia, Intelligencer: March 20,2008

In 2007, at least thirty-one young people  died of alcohol toxicity (alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose).

"There's no place  that's actually keeping data on alcohol deaths"--Thomas Kunstman MD.

In an article called Magnitude of alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages 18–24: changes from 1998 to 2001, by Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter M, Wechsler H. in Annual Review of Public Health. 2005, 26:259-279, the authors used statistical methods:

Estimated number of nontraffic injury deaths of all youth that are alcohol related:
1998         2001 
  991         1151

Estimated number of nontraffic injury deaths of college students that are alcohol related:
1998         2001 
  327           368

Alcohol Overdose Deaths on Campus or Those Under Age
[decedent's name with link], [age], [DoD], [university] [BAC]

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2007

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system. The victim may experience the following:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
• No response to pinching the skin
• Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
• Seizures
• Slowed breathing  (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:

• Drinking black coffee
• Taking a cold bath or shower
• Walking it off

The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.

These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:

Taylor Webster's memorial foundation.  Taylor died of alcohol  poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working  to get the message out, telling their stories and providing  information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms  of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.

Bradley McCue's memorial foundation.  On November 5, 1998  Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated  his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his  age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died  that night of alcohol poisoning.

Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy."  The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.

Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation.   The mission of the Gordie Foundation is to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing.

Comments

[cheryl vT]

Thanks so much for this posting and all the links. Our school is dealing with a rash of parent-sponsored "Pay Parties," where students pay to attend alcohol-fueled bashes based on a sliding scale (9th graders pay the most, 12th graders the least).

Chaz's story is a sad reminder of why parents need to reclaim their rightful role as the responsible decision-makers in their families. Too many are trying so hard to be their children's friends. I'm passing this post along to every parent I know....

[lisa]

About 13 years ago, my daughter lost her sister. They were coming back from watching a movie. The hit the concret dividers in the middle of the highways, everyone was thrown from the car. Jackie had hit the reflectors, and was brain dead. The had to make the decision to pull the plug. It was later found out, they were at a drinking party with all underage kids. The parents did not do anything about it. My daughter is graduating Highschool next month and i've made sure she made it this far. The reality of her sister dying because of what happened has shakin her up. Maybe the other kids will too. Alcohol is dangerous. Be responsible, Parents do your job right, your children was brought into this world by you, its your job to guide them "safely".