This April marks the 34th Annual Alcohol Awareness Month,
sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
since 1987. Alcohol-Free Weekend has
traditionally been observed the first weekend in April, which is April
3-5. This is a time when parents and
other adults are asked to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages for 72
hours to show our youth that alcohol isn’t necessary to have a good time. If participants discover they can’t go without
a drink during this period, they are urged to call the Allegany Council’s
outpatient clinic at 585-593-6738 for signs and symptoms of a possible alcohol
related disorder.
No other substance is more widely used and abused by
America’s youth than alcohol, making alcoholism and alcohol-related problems
the number one public health problem in the United States.
Many youth drink because of social pressure to “fit in” with
their peers, while others may drink alone because they are bored or
depressed. This puts them at greater
risk for developing alcohol-related problems.
Drinking is also associated with the leading causes of death among young
people, including car crashes, murder, and suicide. Even though teenagers know that people should
not drink and drive, almost a third of teens will accept rides from someone who
has been drinking.
According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration), those who regularly engage in underage drinking are
at a higher risk of using other drugs, engaging in risky behavior, doing poorly
in school, and having serious health issues, such as depression and anxiety.
Research has shown that one of the biggest protective
factors in reducing the likelihood that a child will develop a substance abuse
problem is strong parental disapproval of alcohol and other drug use. Fostering healthy and responsible attitudes,
talking openly and honestly, encouraging supportive relationships, and showing
children that their opinions and decisions matter, are all ways to help prevent
the use of alcohol and other drugs.
According to a New York State survey, over half the students
in grades 7-12 reported that their parents had never talked to them about the
dangers of underage drinking. According
to the 2019 Risk and Protective Factor Survey, administered to 6th, 8th, 10th,
and 12th graders in Allegany County, 85% of students do NOT use alcohol! Let’s continue to help keep kids safe from
alcohol and other drugs by starting the conversation. For tips on how to do this, visit the
Talk2Prevent Parent Toolkit. For
additional information and resources, visit PPAC Central. Let this be your call to action, and
remember, PREVENTION WORKS!
