Friday, March 20, 2009

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

From CADCA Coalitions Online:

While communities are faced with a number of substance abuse issues, underage drinking continues to be among the most pervasive ones, with nearly 11 million underage drinkers today. That´s why April is designated as Alcohol Awareness Month, an annual public awareness campaign that encourages local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 10.7 million persons aged 12 to 20 (27.9 percent of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the past month. Approximately 7.2 million or 18.6 percent were considered binge drinkers, and 2.3 million or 6 percent were heavy drinkers.

According to the Healthy Youth Survey, in northeast Seattle:

-- more than 50% of seniors (at Nathan Hale and Roosevelt High Schools) report drinking alcohol on a regular basis,

-- and more than 30% of them report binge drinking.

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