ALCOHOL, DRUGS DON'T MIX WITH TRAVEL

Every year college students travel to Spring Break destinations around the
globe to get away from hectic school schedules.

Sometimes, 'getting away' involves drugs and alcohol, which can be
dangerous, especially for people visiting other countries.

Each year over 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad, on charges
mostly relating to drugs, alcohol and the behaviors that are related to
them. According to a U.S. Department of State press release, most young
people are arrested abroad because they are unaware of the laws in the
country they are visiting.

The fact that they are American citizen doesn't mean that they are immune
from facing punishment for crimes in other countries. Even a small amount of
an illegal substance can result in several years of jail time in a foreign
prison without the possibility of parole.

Many Americans are under the impression that once they are arrested overseas
the U.S. government will be able to get them out of trouble, but this is a
misconception.

"The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs is responsible for the
protection and welfare of U.S. citizens overseas. Although U.S. consular
officers can visit American citizens being held in foreign jails, they
cannot get them released," said Secretary of State Colin Powell in a letter
to the editors of the nation's college newspapers.

Aside from actually possessing illegal substances in a foreign country,
young people are often arrested due to their conduct, weather they were
under the influence or not, people should be aware of the customs of the
people in the country they are visiting.

Disorderly conduct is not something that some foreign governments take
lightly. There have been times when American citizens have been severely
punished for everything from chewing gum in public to destruction of
property.

While in a foreign country students should be aware that they will be held
accountable under the laws of the country they are visiting. They may no
longer have the same rights they have in the U.S.

Several countries that have enacted tougher drug laws include spring break
hot spots such as the Bahamas, Mexico, and Jamaica. These countries all
impose mandatory jail sentences for possession of even small amounts of
marijuana and cocaine.