April is National Alcohol Awareness Month and it provides organizations in the recovery community such as the David Lawrence Center with an opportunity to encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcoholism issues.
Taking action and intervening early before serious problems occur — legal or otherwise — is a critical concern for youth in Collier County. Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous, both to them and to society at large. It is associated with traffic fatalities, violence, unsafe sex, suicide, educational failure and other behavioral problems.
Alcohol continues to be the No. 1 drug of choice among American young people. Those who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin at age 21. Each day, 7,000 kids in the United States under the age of 16 take their first drink. Underage alcohol use costs the nation an estimated $53 billion annually.
Reducing underage drinking requires a cooperative effort among parents, schools, community organizations, business leaders, government agencies, alcohol manufacturers, retailers, the entertainment industry and young people themselves.
The issue of underage drinking is a complex problem that requires a sustained and cooperative effort among all of us. Unfortunately, it remains relatively easy for teenagers to get access to alcohol and, despite serious concerns, kids are flooded with media messages that glamorize alcohol use, increasing the likelihood that they will drink themselves. We want to encourage the entire community to recognize the reality that, for some, alcoholism and addiction develops at a young age and that intervention, treatment and recovery support is essential for them and their families.
Please join the David Lawrence Center and our collaborative community partners who share our concerns about underage drinking. Be aware of the issues and behaviors of children and take action earlier rather than later.
David Lawrence Center offers a comprehensive continuum of affordable substance-abuse and mental-health programs for children in need. Free assessments are available for youth at the Collier County Juvenile Assessment Center by calling 774-3927.
