Alcohol Awareness Month 2015
This April marks the 29th Alcohol Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). The NCADD has sponsored this month long event since 1987, hoping to increase awareness and understanding of alcoholism and other alcohol-related issues. The 2015 theme is “For the Health of It: Early Education on Alcoholism and Addiction.”
NCADD affiliates and many other communities will be holding events and activities across the country for families and individuals. The NCADD hopes to particularly target the younger population because alcohol is the number one abused drug among youth and is responsible for over 4,300 deaths and 189,000 emergency room visits per year.
People under 21 years of age consume 11 percent of all alcohol purchased in the United States. This alcohol is primarily consumed through binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as men drinking 5 or more drinks in a two hour time frame or women drinking 4 or more drinks in a two hour time frame.
Underage drinking comes with a price. Youth who drink may experience stunted growth, memory problem, physical and sexual assault and many social problems. Prevention of underage drinking is very important because those who begin drinking before they reach 15 years of age are five times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder at some point in life.
Alcohol Awareness Month is the perfect time to have an open and honest conversation with the youth in your life to educate them on alcohol abuse. Look for local NCADD events in your area for more educational opportunities.