Each April, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month in an effort to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma and encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues.
This year’s theme, “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage,’" is aimed at educating adolescents about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism, as well as parents on the important role they can play in teaching kids to have a healthy attitude regarding alcohol.
As part of the month-long campaign, NCADD put together some must-know facts and figures to help spread the message. Here are a few:
- Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States.
- Excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year.
- More than 1.6 million young people report driving under the influence of alcohol in the past 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.
- Drinking by persons under the age of 21 is linked to 189,000 emergency room visits.
- The typical American will see 100,000 beer commercials before he or she turns 18.
- Kids who drink are more likely to be victims of violent crime, to be involved in alcohol-related traffic crashes, and to have serious school-related problems.
- A supportive family environment is associated with lowered rates of alcohol use for adolescents.
- Kids 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.
Getting Help for Alcohol Abuse
If you or someone you love has a drinking problem, Hope Academy can help you get the help you need today. To learn more about our young adult alcohol rehab, call toll-free today: 866-930-4673.
