NIAAA Study finds that 12- to 17-year olds are “intoxicated” with fewer drinks than adults
Drink for drink, the average blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) attained by children and adolescents are much higher than those seen among college students or adults, according to a new study supported by NIAAA that appeared in the June 2009 issue of Pediatrics.
Alcohol Use Before and After the 21st Birthday
This issue of The NSDUH Report examines alcohol use before and after the 21st birthday. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Office of Applied Studies, among young adults approaching their 21st birthdays (i.e., persons surveyed in the 30 days prior to their 21st birthdays)―86.1 percent had used alcohol in their lifetime, including 62.8 percent who had initiated use before their 18th birthdays. Rates of past month and binge alcohol use were higher among young adults who had recently turned 21 than among those who were still 20 years old. Rates of past month and binge alcohol use among 21 year olds declined and then stabilized in the months following their 21st birthdays, but their rates still remained higher than those for 20 year olds.
NIAAA Web Site Presents Information on Underage Drinking Policies
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) operates the Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) Web site to present information on 10 policy topics that are particularly relevant to underage drinking. Although these topics are classified under several different headings on the APIS Policy Topics Index page, all of the topics that relate to underage drinking can be accessed from this page using the vertical navigation bar on the right side of the screen.
Underage Alcohol Use Continues to Decline
The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, shows the current rate of alcohol use dropped among youth aged 12 to 17 years, from 28.8 percent in 2002 to 26.4 percent in 2008. More good news in the survey findings: among people aged 12 to 20, both past month use of alcohol and binge drinking have fallen since 2002. The survey is the primary source of information on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among persons aged 12 and older in the United States. View the latest findings on underage alcohol use here.
December Is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
President Barack Obama has proclaimed December
National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports “Teens are at far greater risk of death in an alcohol-related crash than the overall population, despite the fact they cannot legally purchase or publicly possess alcohol in any State.” NHTSA also states: “On average from 2001to 2005 (the last year for which complete data is available), about 40 percent of all fatalities during the Christmas and New Year holiday periods have occurred in crashes where at least one of the involved drivers was alcohol-impaired as compared to about 28 percent of all fatalities during the rest of December.” Since 1981, December has been proclaimed National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, and NHTSA provides a “3-D Month Holiday Planner” for States and communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers additional information and resources to support the annual observance.
National Red Ribbon Week—October 23-31, 2009 Make Underage Drinking Prevention a Priority for Your Community.
Red Ribbon Week, a national drug prevention observance reaching millions of youth, is almost here. There are countless opportunities for organizations such as yours to participate and conduct activities that raise awareness about the tragic consequences of underage alcohol use. Help prevent underage drinking today and encourage youth to live a healthy, alcohol-free lifestyle.
Underage drinking prevention materials to support the 2009 Red Ribbon Week observance are available.
The fourth annual national Drug-Free Work Week observance―a public awareness campaign that highlights the importance of being drug-free for workplace safety and also encourages workers with alcohol and drug problems to seek help―is fast approaching. This year, the campaign is offering a new initiative for communities to address Drug-Free Work Week. In addition, a Webinar entitled WORKING to Prevent Underage Drinking: Workplace is the Key is scheduled for October 20, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EDT), to encourage the adoption of drug-free workplace programs that not only make workplaces safer, but also help prevent underage drinking.
Drug-Free Work Week is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking.
A Developmental Perspective on Underage Alcohol Use
This Alcohol Alert, by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, examines the complex relationship between underage drinking and development: how developmental factors influence drinking, the social and physical consequences of alcohol use, and how various developmental stages can be specifically targeted to design more effective measures for preventing or treating underage drinking.
We Don’t Serve Teens Launches New Underage Drinking Prevention Activities
The Federal Trade Commission will launch a new round of We Don’t Serve Teens (WDST) activities during September 2009 with new point of sale materials and radio ads, encouraging partners to speak out in support of WDST messages to help reduce underage access to alcohol.
What can you do to help? Use the free materials available on www.DontServeTeens.gov to reduce underage drinking in your community.
Prevention Program Helps Teens Override a Gene Linked to Risky Behavior
Researchers have found that a family-based substance abuse prevention program is especially effective in helping young teens with a genetic risk factor contributing to risky behavior. The study, supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, monitored the progress of 11-year-olds carrying a gene associated with impulsivity, low self-control, binge drinking, and substance abuse. Tweens who participated in the program were less likely to engage in these risky behaviors than those in the comparison group.
“The findings underscore that ‘nurture’ can influence ‘nature’ during adolescence, a pivotal time when delaying the start of alcohol consumption and other risky behaviors can have a significant impact on healthy child development,” says NIAAA Acting Director Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D. “This study is one of the first to combine prevention research with a
gene-environment study design.”
The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking: What It Means to You: A Guide for Families.
Available to order or download (PDF - 899 KB)
The 2009 Reach Out Now materials, developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in collaboration with Scholastic Inc., are available online to view and download. Reach Out Now provides school-based underage alcohol use prevention materials for fifth- and sixth-grade students, their families, and their teachers. These underage drinking prevention classroom materials feature lessons and worksheets, an interactive wall poster, bonus skill-building activity worksheets, and family activity pages.
Underage Drinking Prevention Town Hall Meetings
State/Territory Profiles Now Available
Last year, every State, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories participated in Town Hall Meetings (THMs) to help prevent and reduce underage drinking. Altogether, more than 1,600 community-based organizations (CBOs) held a THM as part of this national effort. Meeting summaries for individual States and Territories are now available.
Posted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the profiles are based on feedback from 86 percent of the CBOs. Tables, charts, and graphs present information on participation by youth and adults, number of meetings, communities where meetings were held, and highlights of events. Major actions resulting from the efforts of local communities include discussions and follow-up meetings as well as plans for legislation, THMs and future events, and other activities.
Reach Out Now/Reach Out Now Teach-Ins
The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is sponsoring the Reach Out Now(RON) underage drinking prevention initiative in communities across the Nation. CSAP has collaborated with Scholastic Inc. to develop and disseminate effective school-based underage alcohol use prevention materials to participating fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms across the Nation in March.
In addition, CSAP is supporting and encouraging community-based organizations (CBOs) to collaborate with schools in conducting Reach Out Now Teach-Ins. CBOs are responsible for inviting prominent community leaders such as mayors and local celebrities to deliver classroom presentations. They also conduct media outreach, thereby increasing community awareness of the underage drinking issue.
Teach-In leaders use a specially designed lesson plan that is interactive and engaging. Experience has shown that Teach-Ins led by community leaders encourage broader use of RON materials by youth, teachers, and parents.
Check out the new Business category in the red audience sections above! Businesses can have a strong influence over youth in preventing underage drinking in their communities. Click here to see how.
New Data Show Drinking Age Laws Saved 4,441 Lives Over 5 Years
Minimum 21-year-old drinking age laws prevented an estimated 4,441 drunken driving deaths in the last five years alone, according to a new report released Nov. 6. NHTSA Acting Administrator David Kelly, who presented the report at a symposium on the subject led by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) said, “Turning our back on these laws would be a deadly mistake. Minimum drinking age laws are among the most effective measures ever used to reduce drunken driving deaths among America's young people.”
Read the Report (PDF 366KB)An Examination of the Criticisms of the Minimum Legal Drinking Age 21 Laws in the U.S. from a Traffic-Safety Perspective (PDF 244KB)
SAMHSA/CSAP’s Prevention Fellowship Program
SAMHSA is accepting applications for its Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s (CSAP) Prevention Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program, launched in 2006, is designed to build a workforce of highly competent substance abuse prevention professionals. Each Fellow will be assigned to a State, community, or local agency to work on projects that promote skills development and knowledge of state-of-the-art prevention practices needed for direct, hands-on substance abuse prevention service work. Web-based training and workshops conducted by leaders in the field will expose Fellows to advances in prevention science, new methods and approaches. Applicants for CSAP’s Prevention Fellowship Program must complete and submit the online application by September 11, 2009.
Back to School: Help Youth Resist Peer Pressure
It’s time to go back to school, and with that comes new schedules, more responsibilities, and new choices for kids. Help your children make safe and healthy decisions by talking to them about the dangers of underage alcohol use and how to say no to peer pressure.
Encourage them to learn more about underage alcohol use by playing free games, taking quizzes, and studying the facts.
10th Annual EUDL Program Conference A Notable History: Forging the Future
August 21-23, Nashville, TN
The 10th Annual Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Program Conference, sponsored by OJJDP and the Underage Drinking Enforcement Center, is right around the corner. For the past 10 years, this event has been the premier research-based conference on underage drinking prevention and enforcement. The conference will highlight communities, programs, and other initiatives that have successfully implemented science, performance, and data-driven strategies to support the reduction of youth access to alcohol. Additional details about the upcoming conference are available online.
UDETC is supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice for Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking.
Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center's (UDETC)Audio-Teleconference Communities Working With the Judiciary To Address Underage Drinking
July 22, 2009 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. (EDT)
This program is the third in a series of audio-teleconference presentations with a focus on the relationship of the judicial and probation communities and the issues related to underage alcohol abuse. Presenters will discuss how various community leaders have appropriately engaged judges in their work to prevent youth access to alcohol and reduce youth consumption of alcoholic beverages; and how judges have set the “bar” for community responses to underage drinking, including promising court practices. The recorded audio presentations are now available.
UDETC is supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice for Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking.
Fourth of July Holiday: Be Safe. Don’t Drink and Drive.
The Fourth of July is a time for outdoor parties, picnics, and other festivities. Alcohol often is served during these events, increasing the risk and negative consequences of drinking and driving. With adults helping to prevent underage drinking, the holidays can be happy and safer for everyone. But sometimes more is needed. Introducing laws can also help combat underage drinking.
A new study, The Impact of Underage Drinking Laws on Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes of Young Drivers, has identified four types of underage drinking laws that lead to reductions in underage drinking and driving fatal crashes: possession, purchase, use and lose, and zero tolerance. The study was partially funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. According to the abstract from Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, “These findings point to the importance of key underage drinking and traffic safety laws in efforts to reduce underage drinking-driver crashes.”
School is out: Time for summer safety
School is out! The days of homework, tests, and getting up early are coming to an end. Long summer days are approaching, and now it’s time for youth to sleep in and hang out with friends. While summer vacation can be healthy for youth, too much free time can lead to boredom and risky activities such as alcohol use. Compared with other months, June and July have high rates for youth’s first-time use of alcohol.
Keeping youth busy in alcohol-free activities such as sports or summer camps is key to ensuring they stay healthy and have a safe summer. Please visit the following links for resources and tips on ways parents and community leaders can create alcohol-free activities for youth:
OJJDP’s Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center (UDETC) has announced that registration is open for the 2009 National Leadership Conference, a premier event on research-based underage drinking prevention. To be held August 12–14 in Dallas, TX, the conference will offer interactive workshops, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities.
UDETC is supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice for Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking.
Many Youth Are Getting Prevention Messages From Parents
A new National Survey on Drug Use and Health Report illuminates the important role of parents in underage drinking prevention, especially with the decline in messages received through media. The proportion of adolescents exposed to drug or alcohol use prevention messages through print and broadcast media declined from 83.2 percent in 2002 to 77.9 percent in 2007. In 2007, 59.6 percent of the youth talked with at least one parent about the dangers of substance use, compared with 58.1 percent in 2002. Adolescents ages 12 to 17 years who had conversations with parents about the dangers were less likely to have used alcohol in the past month than those who did not.
Help Youth Play It Safe During Prom and Graduation Season
Across the Nation, 15 million high school students are planning prom and graduation events. Now’s the time for parents, educators, and communities to ensure that underage drinking prevention is part of those plans. Among the resources available are a flyer, sample discussion points and activities, event planning guide, and a brochure targeted to youth.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. It’s also planting season and a good time for parents and other caring adults to sow clear no-use messages that can help prevent underage drinking. The list below offers information, messages, and publications that can help you raise children who make smart and healthy decisions about alcohol.
Communities observe Alcohol Awareness Month each April to draw attention to problems related to alcohol abuse and to inform people about resources that can help. For many communities, the annual observance is a way to focus on underage drinking prevention. This year, thousands of schools and community-based organizations (CBOs) are helping to prevent underage drinking by participating in the national Reach Out Now initiative. (See separate news item about Reach Out Now Teach-Ins.)
CBOs also can use the free Reach Out Now materials developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention to increase awareness about underage alcohol use and the importance of prevention. They can describe the underage drinking problem in their community in a letter to the editor or an opinion-editorial. They can ask their mayor or other top official to issue a proclamation about Alcohol Awareness Month. They can cite key underage drinking facts and adapt the samples in the Reach Out Now Teach-In media package. Individuals and families can also use the materials to learn about the dangers underage alcohol use poses to our youth and share with others what they’ve learned. Everyone can be part of this month-long observance to help prevent harms—including injury and death—that all too often are the result of underage drinking.
Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center's National Electronic Seminar Adolescent Development and Alcohol: Brain, Body, Behavior and Cultural Context
April 23, 2009 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. (EST)
In part two of their look at the interaction between alcohol and the developing adolescent brain, the presenters will discuss not only the latest research on the pre-adolescent and adolescent brain, but also other aspects of adolescent physiology and psychosocial development and how they interact in response to alcohol exposure. This information can help enhance work with law enforcement, parents, communities and decision makers. Given developmental determinants, the question of how teens would be expected to interpret conflicting environmental messages underscores the need to be even more focused on environmental strategies. Join UDETC on the cutting edge of research as it applies to your prevention and enforcement efforts.
UDETC is supported by the Office of Juvenile Justice for Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, a member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking.
Every fall, towns, high schools, and colleges come together to welcome back former residents and alumni. Homecoming activities range from football games and tailgate parties to parades, dances, and rallies. In the coming months, many adolescents will participate in these and other celebrations where alcohol is often easily accessible.
Schools and communities can incorporate underage drinking prevention when planning and conducting traditional events and celebrations. They can:
Publicize and enforce policies against alcohol use on school and community property and at all events.
Sponsor and promote alcohol-free activities.
Make sure nonalcoholic beverages are available at all events.
The NSDUH Report explores “Underage Alcohol Use: Where Do Young People Drink?”
The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asked past month alcohol users aged 12 to 20 how they obtained the last alcohol they drank and where they were when they consumed it. This issue of The NSDUH Report examines age-related changes in the locations where male and female underage drinkers use alcohol. It also examines differences by college enrollment and living situation for those aged 18 to 20. To learn more, visit: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/location/underage.cfm.
National Red Ribbon Week—October 23-31, 2008 Underage Drinking Prevention: Protect the Future of Our Youth!
Red Ribbon Week, a national drug prevention observance that reaches millions of youth during the last week of October, is fast approaching. This observance provides organizations such as yours with the perfect opportunity to conduct activities that raise awareness about underage alcohol use and ways to prevent it in your community. What you do today can be enormously important in protecting the future of our youth.
The 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the nation’s largest substance use assessment, shows the level of alcohol use dropped among those aged 12 to 17, from 17.6 percent in 2002 to 15.9 percent in 2007. To view the report, go to http://oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUHlatest.htm. To view the related press release, go to http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0809033637.aspx.
Research Findings and Statistics on Underage Drinking and the Minimum Legal Drinking Age
Back to School: The ABCs of Resisting Peer Pressure To Drink
It’s back to school time—time to think about skills and tools for academic success. Studies show that underage drinking is associated with academic failure. Make your school a safe place where students can thrive academically, grow personally, and mature socially. Help youth learn skills to resist the pressure to drink and give them reasons not to drink.
With the back-to-school season fast approaching, more and more colleges, universities, and their students are taking steps to prevent underage drinking and its harmful consequences. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s College Drinking: Changing the Culture Web site provides a one-stop resource for parents and others who need comprehensive research-based information and valuable resources on alcohol abuse and binge drinking among college students—and what to do about it. Links to underage drinking prevention resources for campuses and communities are included. To learn more, go to: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/NIAAACollegeMaterials/parentBrochure.aspx.
Parents Hold the Key To Preventing Underage Drinking
Parental disapproval is the key reason children who do not drink give for their decision to avoid alcohol. Even so, a recent national study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that 1 in 16 underage drinkers was given alcoholic beverages by their parents in the past month. To learn more about underage drinking and what you can do to prevent it, select the “Parents” tab from the red navigational bar at the top of this page—or go to www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/parents.aspx—for free materials and online resources to start talking with your children about the consequences of underage alcohol use.
New Nationwide Report Estimates that 40 Percent of Underage Drinkers Received Free Alcohol from Adults Over 21
More than 40 percent of the nation’s estimated 10.8 million underage current drinkers (persons aged 12 to 20 who drank in the past 30 days) were provided free alcohol by adults 21 or older, according to a nationwide report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released on June 26, 2008. The study also indicates that one in 16 underage drinkers (6.4 percent or 650,000) was given alcoholic beverages by their parents in the past month.
For the SAMHSA News Release containing the report's key findings and quotes from Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H, and SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D. go to: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0806250013.aspx.
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2007
A new report summarizes results from the 2007 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey and trends between 1991–2007 in selected risk behaviors, including underage drinking. The report is published as part of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report series, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention prepares. It focuses on priority health-risk behaviors, which are behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults and often are established during childhood and adolescence, extend into adulthood, are interrelated, and are preventable. Click on the following link to access the report: www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/pdf/yrbss07_mmwr.pdf. Please see underage drinking information on pages 14, 15, 23, and 33. See underage drinking tables on pages 42, 71, 72, 73, 74, 87, 88, 93, and 94.
Summer Is Play Time and High-Risk Season for Kids
More young people try alcohol for the first time during June and July than at any other time of the year. Keeping teens occupied and supervised helps to ensure they have a safe summer. By involving teens in a variety of alcohol-free activities—such as sports, summer camps, and outdoor recreational activities—you can help prevent underage drinking. For tips on ways parents and community leaders can create alcohol-free activities for youth, visit www.family.samhsa.gov/get/timeteenbusy.aspx.
Help Teens Stay Alcohol Free on Prom Night and Graduation
As prom season and graduation season approach, families, communities, and educators all can play a part in helping and protecting teenagers from underage alcohol drinking. Simple, important precautionary measures such as prom-planning involvement and open communication with your child and student can make a difference for this memorable occasion. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “A Guide to Safe and Sober Event Planning,” and other resources in the Youth section of this Web site can help teenagers take the lead in planning safe and healthy celebrations. For information on how to “Help Your Teens Party Right at Graduation,” go to: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/GraduationFacts/Graduation_Fact_Sheet.html
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Report: Quantity and Frequency of Alcohol Use among Underage Drinkers
This report focuses on the frequency and quantity of past month alcohol use among underage drinkers (i.e., persons aged 12 to 20 who consume alcohol). Comparisons of the quantity and frequency of alcohol use in the past month also are made between underage drinkers and drinkers aged 21 or older. All findings presented in this report are based on combined 2005 and 2006 NSDUH data. View the report.
Materials for 2008 Town Hall Meetings
Materials to help you plan and conduct successful 2008 Town Hall Meetings are now available in English and Spanish. View and download these materials.
New Localizable Materials for Town Hall Meeting Promotions
New print promotion templates provide a space for local organizations to enter specific information related to the location, date, and time of their Town Hall Meetings. Please click on each template to download these materials for your event.
(PDF 475KB)
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Acting U.S. Surgeon General Kicks Off Nationwide Series of Town Hall Meetings to Address Underage Drinking
Acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven K. Galson is kicking off a nationwide series of more than 1,600 Town Hall Meetings in March and April to encourage action against underage drinking. The Town Hall Meetings are to raise awareness of the public health dangers of underage drinking, and steps that parents, community leaders and concerned citizens can take to combat and prevent it. Please see SAMHSA’s full news release and media advisory.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month—Communities Are Coming Together To Stop Underage Drinking
Many teens drink, but underage alcohol use is not inevitable. It takes a commitment by everyone in the community to make change happen, including parents, educators, and all the other community elements influencing adolescent life. A community that opposes underage drinking can help change how people think and act. Hundreds of communities across America are doing just that, by holding Town Hall Meetings this spring and conducting other public education activities during April’s annual Alcohol Awareness Month. As communities begin implementing The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, they also bring valuable support to teens who have already decided NOT to drink alcohol.
SAMHSA has completely updated, revised, and redesigned one of its most popular educational brochures, formerly called “Tips for Teens: About Alcohol.” The new 2008 pre-publication edition of “Underage Drinking: Myths vs. Facts (PDF 4.11MB)” is now available here for viewing, downloading, and printing.
(PDF 4.11MB)
Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse program
These grants provide funds to local educational agencies to develop and implement innovative and effective alcohol abuse prevention programs in secondary schools. In addition, grantees have a significant amount of technical assistance available to them through an agreement between the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Applications are due on February 19, 2008. The grant program has $24,500M to award to approximately to 70 districts around the country and the territories. The average awards for this 3 year effort is around $400,000 per year.
The Notice Inviting Applications for the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse (84.184A) was published in the Federal Register on 1-3-08. It is
currently posted on grants.gov at: http://apply.grants.gov/apply/UpdateOffer?id=11200.
Communities across America will be hosting Town Hall Meetings on the prevention of underage drinking during the week of March 31 through April 4, 2008. For more information about the 2008 Town Hall Meetings, click here.
February 10–16, 2008 is National Children of Alcoholics (COA) Week.
Often, the people hurt most by alcohol abuse and alcoholism don’t drink—not yet, at least. According to The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, children of alcoholics (COAs) are between 4 and 10 times more likely to become alcoholics than children from families with no alcoholic adults. COAs are at elevated risk for earlier onset of drinking and earlier progression into drinking problems.
Parental disapproval is the key reason children give for not using alcohol. But despite the powerful influence they have over a young person’s decisions about alcohol use, many parents and other caregivers may feel unprepared to discuss drinking with their children.
The beginning of a new year is an exciting time, filled with anticipation and high expectations—a great time for families to make positive changes. So make a New Year’s resolution to establish and maintain good communication with your child.
New National Survey Reveals Drug Use Down Among Adolescents in U.S.
Current illicit drug use has declined among the nation’s adolescents, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced today. The rate of adolescents ages 12 to 17 acknowledging drug use in the past month dropped from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.8 percent in 2006. This level is similar to the level in 2005 (9.9 percent).
This initial report from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) also indicates use of cigarettes decreased from 2002 to 2006 for people ages 18 to 25. However, the level of underage drinking, ages 12 to 20, remained unchanged since 2002, at 28.3 percent in 2006.
National Red Ribbon Week—October 23-31, 2007 Time for communities to make underage drinking unacceptable.
Alcohol is the number one drug of choice for young people – even more than tobacco and illicit drugs! It’s time to make underage drinking prevention a priority! Help change attitudes about underage drinking in your community by participating in National Red Ribbon Week activities.
Find additional resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and more information on the 2007 Red Ribbon Week observance.
Press Release: Underage Drinking Starts Before Adolescence New Summary of Surveys Shows Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Graders Have Already Started Drinking
“A review of national and statewide surveys conducted over the last 15 years shows that among typical 4th graders, 10% have already had more than a sip of alcohol and 7% have had a drink in the past year. While the numbers are small in the fourth grade, the surveys show that the percent of children who have used alcohol increases with age, and doubles between grades four and six. The largest jump in rates occurs between grades five and six,” according to John E. Donovan, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The study was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a member or the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, has designated September 10–15, 2007 as National We Don’t Serve Teens Week. During We Don’t Serve Teens Week, public and private entities from across the country are urged to spread the word that serving alcohol to teens is unsafe, illegal, and irresponsible. The program Web site, www.DontServeTeens.gov, provides parents and others with tools and information to reduce teen drinking and related harm.
Many types of prevention programs and policies are being implemented to reduce alcohol-related problems on campus. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking (PDF 1MB) recommends specific strategies for changing campus culture that contributes to underage alcohol use. The Call to Action states, "Colleges and universities have a responsibility to reduce risk factors associated with underage alcohol use and an obligation to students to protect them from adverse consequences of their own or others’ alcohol use, such as accidents, assaults, and rapes."
Back to School: Tips for Parents, Teachers, and Schools
Schools have a strong influence over decisions young people make about risky behaviors such as alcohol use. If you are not already involved in your child’s school and know what the alcohol education curricula and alcohol policies are, now is a good time to connect. Urge parents, educators, and schools in your community to support and follow the recommendations in The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking and in the companion guides to action.
Parents—Work with the schools to ensure that protective rules around adolescent alcohol use are in place, that the penalties are well known, and that enforcement is sure and uniform.
Teachers—Work to increase students’ involvement in their school, a factor that has been found to predict less alcohol use.
Schools—Restrict the sale of alcoholic beverages on campus or at campus facilities such as football stadiums and concert halls.
New Study Finds Rates of Underage Drinking Initiation Higher in Summer Months
Government PSAs Ask Parents to Intervene Now, Before Drinking Begins
In an effort to encourage parents to talk to their children about underage alcohol consumption, as part of the Surgeon General’s “Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking,” the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Ad Council are strategically distributing new Underage Drinking Prevention PSAs at the end of the school year when kids are on summer break. New data released by SAMHSA shows that the highest occurrence of first-time alcohol use (13.1%) takes place during July. Also according to the same study 10 percent of children age 12 and 50 percent of children age 15 have consumed alcohol, and by the time young people are graduating from high school at age 18 , 75 percent have had their first drink.
The 4th of July is a time of fireworks and celebrations and a time when parents and other adults need to be vigilant in preventing underage drinking. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show this national observance to be one of the most deadly holiday periods of the year due to impaired driving.[1] According to the Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking: A Guide to Action for Families, “Alcohol affects how well a young person judges risk and makes sound decisions.” Underage drinking puts young people at risk of putting their lives and the lives of others in danger. Families can help prevent underage alcohol use. The links below provide helpful information to make this Independence Day safe and fun.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has developed two promotional planners to help increase awareness about the dangers of impaired driving during the 4th of July holiday:
In the summertime, youth are out of school and have large amounts of unmonitored free time to play and hang out with friends. Summer is the season when youth are likely to engage in risky activities. Compared with almost all other months, June and July have higher rates for youth’s first-time use of alcohol as well as marijuana and cigarettes.1 Parents and communities can be proactive and help youth have safe and fun summers. For example, the Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking: A Guide to Action for Communities recommends “work with sponsors of community events to help them send the message that underage drinking is not allowed” and “create friendly, alcohol-free places where teens can gather.” With these approaches, communities can prevent underage drinking during the summer and all year long.
‘Dear Abby’ Supports U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking
The Acting Surgeon General asks “every American to join in a national effort to change attitudes and behaviors regarding underage alcohol use” in “Dear Abby,” the Nation’s most widely seen syndicated advice column. In his letter, RADM Kenneth Moritsugu challenges common myths: “…underage drinking is not a ‘harmless rite of passage,’ as many still believe.” Abby joins him in urging her audience—estimated at 110 million readers daily—to request The Surgeon General’s Call to Action To Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, the Start Talking Before They Start Drinking: Family Guide, and other free materials about youth and alcohol.
The end of the school year is at hand. For many teens, this means celebrating their much anticipated graduation and prom night. It is important to make a difference and prevent teenagers from engaging in risky behaviors, such as underage alcohol use, that could prevent them from having a safe and enjoyable experience. Parents can guide and protect their children by following these links and using the helpful resources on underage alcohol use prevention that they offer:
Reach Out Now is a unique school-based underage drinking prevention initiative designed specifically for use by fifth- and sixth-grade students, their families, and their teachers. Each year, Reach Out Now materials are disseminated to public, private, and parochial schools nationwide to provide teachers, students, and their families with easy-to-use, informative alerts to the dangers of underage alcohol use. They reinforce and underscore the importance of preventing underage drinking. Reach Out Now is a collaboration between the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Scholastic Inc., a children’s publishing and education company.
Reach Out Now Teach-Ins are opportunities for prominent national, State, and local youth leaders--using an evidence-based curriculum and other helpful SAMHSA materials --to teach fifth and sixth graders, parents, teachers, and the community about the dangers of underage alcohol use and encourage young people to make healthy decisions. Although teach-ins can be conducted throughout the year as an effective strategy to prevent underage drinking, SAMHSA releases the materials to coincide with the April observance of Alcohol Awareness Month.
Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking
In response to new knowledge about the number of children who drink, how much they drink and what happens when they drink, the Acting U.S. Surgeon General of the United States has issued a Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. The Call to Action describes the scope of the problem, discusses underage drinking within a developmental framework, and identifies a series of goals and action steps that could be taken to address the issue. Download the Surgeon General’s Call to Action. View the related press release.
New Start Talking Before They Start Drinking Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Ad Council are pleased to announce the release of new TV, outdoor, and online PSAs for the national Underage Drinking Prevention campaign. The new PSAs are a continuation of the successful Underage Drinking Campaign launched on October 31, 2005. The campaign objective is to help reduce or delay the onset of underage drinking. Specifically, the campaign targets parents of children ages 11 to 15 and encourages them to speak with their children early and often about alcohol, especially before they’ve started drinking. View and order PSAs.
Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drownings (1–5).
Report to Congress: A Comprehensive Plan for Preventing and Reducing Underage Drinking
Red Ribbon Week:Preventing Underage Drinking Materials
During the last week in October, many Americans who are dedicated to preventing substance abuse participate in Red Ribbon Week. The following are materials that will help you make underage drinking prevention a part of your community’s Red Ribbon Week observance. These materials will also support for your underage alcohol use prevention efforts throughout the year.
The recent National Research Council and Institute of Medicine report, Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility, underscores the dangers of underage drinking, even when the level of drinking falls short of a diagnosable condition. This report also proposes a strategy to begin to address this issue. This issue of Alcohol Research & Health is a first step in National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA) efforts to bring the developmental perspective to bear upon the problem of underage drinking.
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