April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is a pivotal month regarding alcohol education and prevention, use, abuse, treatment, and recovery. That is because this is Alcohol Awareness Month, a yearly observance led by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). The advocacy organization focuses on alcohol and substance use disorder and the consequences that accompany such conditions.

Given that most people who develop alcohol-related disorders begin using the substance in adolescence, it is vital that young people have all the facts. Alcohol use disorder may take its victims at a slower pace than opioids, but the overall cost of life stemming from alcohol use is far more significant than prescription painkillers and heroin.

One of the most substantial obstacles deterring people from fully grasping the risks of alcohol is the substance’s pervasive nature in our culture. It is no secret that most Americans view alcohol use as a rite of passage when they turn 21; most adult drinkers, although, began a relationship with alcohol at an earlier age. If experts, parents, and teachers can reach young persons before drinking initiates, they can help spare millions of people from years of heartache and physical malady.

 

Alcohol Facts

The theme of this year’s Alcohol Awareness Month is, “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage.’” One of NCADD’s goals is to educate parents about the unique role they can have in guiding their children’s use of alcohol. Throughout the course of April, experts are speaking at events across the country educating individuals about the treatment and prevention of alcohol use disorder, especially among our youth. Did you know that 623,000 adolescents (12–17) met the criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2015?

“Alcohol and drug use is a very risky business for young people,” says Andrew Pucher, President and CEO of NCADD, “and parents can make a difference. The longer children delay drinking and drug use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it. That’s why it is so important to help your child make smart decisions about alcohol and drugs.” 

While the damage of alcohol use often occurs slowly over the course of years, that is far from always being the case. In fact, NCADD reports:

• The typical American will see 100,000 beer commercials before he or she turns 18.
• Excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year.
• Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.
• Teens who have conversations with their parents and learn a lot about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are 50 percent less likely to use alcohol and drugs than those who don’t have such conversations.

We understand that talking to teenagers about alcohol and substance use is not always painless. However, there are resources available to help guide you, to ensure the conversations you have with your kids bear fruit.

 

Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

 

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, The Haven at Pismo can help. We provide a continuum of care, including medical detox, gender-specific residential programs, and outpatient programs. Please contact us today to learn more about our program. 805-202-3440.