April Is Alcohol Awareness Month

Every April, the NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month, which brings awareness to alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and the stigma often associated with addiction. 

The NCADD hosts several events which are designed to get the community involved and shed light on the issues surrounding alcohol abuse. 

This year, the theme is:  Connecting the Dots: Opportunities for Recovery.  This theme relates to the many different ways and opportunities that parents and community officials can utilize to prevent underage drinking in teens.  By creating more opportunities for alcohol awareness and education in teenagers, we can hopefully reduce underage drinking and allow ns to connect the dots to recovery.

“The need to provide meaningful education on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use here in Phoenix, AZ has never been greater.  A few facts help to highlight that need:

• Alcohol and drugs are the leading causes of crime among youth. 
• Alcohol and drugs are the leading factors in teenage suicide.
• More than 23 million people over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol and other drugs.

Young people, like adults, drink alcohol for many different reasons.  Some of the reasons may seem obvious, but understanding the feelings behind these reasons – as well as how everyday teen life comes into play – can be difficult.  Young people often drink to check out from family problems or issues with school and grades; loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety disorder and other mental health issues can contribute; they may drink to deal with the pressures of everyday social situations, to change their image or to fit in when moving to a new school or town; to gain confidence or lose inhibitions.  As kids get older and alcohol and drugs enter the picture, parents are faced with a unique set of challenges.  They can simply sit back and hope their kids will “get through it,” or they can take an active role in learning about alcohol and drugs – and helping their kids to do the same.  Parents can be a primary source of positive and reliable information.  In fact, research has shown that kids who have conversations with their parents and learn a lot about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are 50% less likely to use these substances than those who don’t have such conversations.”   — via National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

How Can I Get Involved With Alcohol Awareness Month?

There are many ways to get involved with Alcohol Awareness Month.  First, visit https://www.ncadd.org/get-involved to learn more about the NCADD and Alcohol Awareness Month.  By volunteering, donating, or simply sharing your story, you can help educate our youth about the dangers of alcohol use. 

Stonewall Institute Treatment Center supports the NCADD and Alcohol Awareness Month.  For more information about Alcohol Awareness Month, please visit https://www.ncadd.org/aam .