Groups Focus on Underage Drinking During Alcohol Awareness Month

Groups Focus on Underage Drinking During Alcohol Awareness Month

Canadian, OK (PRWEB) April 19, 2006

The latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that nearly 4.5 million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 are current alcohol users. In an effort to combat this statistic the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) held approximately 1,200 town hall meetings across the country as part of a campaign to prevent underage drinking.

The spring time is when there is the most attention on underage alcohol consumption and binge drinking, especially since alcohol abuse by minors increases for spring break, prom and graduation as well as the fact that April is Alcohol Awareness Month.

Research has found that adults who first used alcohol before age 15 are five times more likely to report dependence on or abuse of alcohol than adults who first used at age 21 or older, according to SAMHSA. In addition to its negative impact on health, alcohol use among youth is strongly correlated with violence, risky sexual behavior, poor academic performance, alcohol-related driving incidents, and other harmful behaviors. In fact, alcohol is responsible for six times the number of youth deaths than can be attributed to all other drugs combined.

“Underage drinking is not inevitable, as some parents may think,” said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie in a release from the Administration. “For too long, underage drinking has been accepted as a rite of passage in this country, and far too many young people, their friends and families, have paid the price. It’s time to change attitudes toward teen drinking from acceptance to abstinence. It’s time to get real, get focused, and push back. It’s time for parents and teachers, clergy and coaches to talk with children early and often about alcohol, especially before they’ve started drinking.”

Joining the effort to cut the use of any toxic substance among youth is Narconon Arrowhead, whose education and prevention program reaches tens of thousands of young people annually with anti-drug messages. Delivering truth about what drugs and alcohol do to a person’s mind and body, whether legal or not, Narconon Arrowhead is one of the nation’s largest and most successful education and rehabilitation programs, based on the drug-free social education model developed by L. Ron Hubbard.

Research shows that parents of teens generally underestimate the extent of alcohol used by youth as well as the harm drinking can do. Parents also underestimate the extent to which their opinion matters to their children.

To get free information on how you can help educate your children about the dangers of alcohol and drug use, contact Narconon Arrowhead today by calling 1-800-468-6933 or visit http://www.stopaddiction.com. Information on the national campaign to “Start Talking Before They Start Drinking” is available at http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov.

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