MADD's Joint Initiative with Pennsylvania State University and Nationwide Delivers Proven Results and Strategies for Parents Educating Youth

IRVING, Texas, Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving^® (MADD) and Robert Turrisi, Ph.D., Professor of Biobehavioral Health and Prevention Research at Pennsylvania State University, launched the newly updated Power of Parents^® Handbooks, a proven resource providing parents and caring adults with strategies to help safeguard their children against underage substance use and impaired driving. In addition, thanks to funding provided by General Motors, MADD has updated its Power of Parents pocket and topical guides and is proud to introduce a new audiobook format, designed to give parents and caring adults quicker, easier access to this lifesaving information anytime, anywhere.

When parents read the MADD handbook and discussed its content with their teens, their teens were less likely to accept rides with impaired drivers, according to a clinical trial of 1,100 families, representative of the United States population, conducted by Dr. Turrisi and a team of scientists with support from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

"Talking with your teen about alcohol and other drugs may not feel easy – but it's one of the most powerful ways to influence their choices," said Stacey D. Stewart, CEO of MADD. "MADD is immensely grateful for our long-standing partnerships with Dr. Turrisi and Nationwide for their commitment to providing the best information available for parents today."

"It is a great honor to continue collaborating with MADD on our Power of Parents initiative, together furthering our shared mission of making our roads safer and our children's futures brighter," said Dr. Robert Turrisi. "Yet, there is still more work to be done to educate teens on the dangers and serious impacts underage drinking and other drug use, and parents play an invaluable role. When parents communicate openly, use the tools in this handbook and stay actively involved, they're not just changing behavior, they're changing their child's future."

The need to discuss these dangers is urgent. According to the research, one in three teens combines alcohol with other drugs like cannabis, and when they do, they experience two to three times more harmful consequences, including blackouts, injury and dangerous decision-making. Underage drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths each year and can lead to early addiction as well as many other dangerous outcomes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and kids who start drinking young are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash.

Research shows that when parents communicate clear expectations and stay involved, teens are far less likely to engage in risky behaviors. This handbook is a lifeline to help guide those conversations.

"MADD is grateful to our sponsors Nationwide and General Motors for their support of Power of Parents, enabling us to continue reaching new audiences with updated guidance that is growing in importance today," said Stewart.

"Nationwide is proud of our partnership on the Power of Parents program, and we're united together in MADD's mission to prevent impaired driving," said MADD National Board Member Natalie Furniss and Senior Vice President, Nationwide. "As a company committed to protecting people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care, there is no more important work that aligns with our values than keeping our roadways and communities safe."

The Power of Parents program is available year-round and free of charge. It equips families with age-appropriate language, real-world scenarios and evidence-based strategies that help parents guide their middle school and high school students toward safer choices. To download and learn more about the Power of Parents handbook, visit madd.org/power-of-parents.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving^® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving for good. Since 1980, MADD has helped reduce drunk driving deaths in America by more than 40%, saved nearly 500,000 lives, and served nearly one million victims and survivors. The organization is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Drunk Driving Law that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit https://madd.org/ and follow MADD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)