Mich. college student dies in Florida

PANAMA CITY, Florida (AP) - Police say a 20-year-old college student from Michigan has died in an alcohol-related incident while on spring break in the Florida Panhandle.

Panama City Beach police report that officials found the student unresponsive when they were called to a Panama City Beach campground around 9 p.m. Wednesday.  He died around 1 a.m. Thursday.

Authorities say Kyle Lamb was from Potterville, Michigan.

Police Capt. Wayne Maddox says it's concerning anytime something like this happens.

"But anytime you mix college kids and drinking, there can be problems," Maddoz said.

Authorities said foul play is not suspected and that that an autopsy is pending.

Information from: The (Panama City, Fla.) News Herald

Friends and family described Lamb as a natural leader.

"It was just his presence. Just him being part of whatever we were doing gave everybody else so much confidence," said Potterville Track and Cross Country Coach Dan Brunk.

Denise Herbert of Network 180 says young people often don't recognize the risk of drinking until it's too late.

"You know it's a cliche that parents are the anti-drug, but they really are. It starts with the conversation," said Herbert.

Herbert said parents need to get the subject out there in the open, especially after a case like this one. She urges talking about the dangers of alcohol and drugs, setting expectations in the household and reinforcing them, and giving kids options on how to get out of bad situations.

"Live above that influence. You don't always have to follow the crowd. You can be the leader in that crowd. You can live above that influence and make the right decisions," she said.

Network 180 and the Kent County Prevention Center are collaborating to hold a free Youth Summit that aims to teach middle and high school students to resist and speak out against underage substance abuse.

That summit is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 3 at The Kirkhof Center at Grand Valley State University's Allendale campus.

A lock-in will follow at the 3 Mile Project from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. May 4.

Click here to register

24 Hour News 8's Sue Shaw contributed to this report.

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Online:

The Kent County Prevention Center