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April marks the 27th annual National Alcohol Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD); a nationwide campaign intended to raise awareness of the health and social problems that excessive alcohol consumption can cause for individuals, families and communities.
This year’s theme, “Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow,” is focused on underage drinking and the particularly dangerous effects alcohol can have on a young person’s health, safety and future.
According to the NCADD, alcohol and drugs are the leading cause of crime and factors leading to youth suicide, with approximately 23 million people over the age of 12 now suffering addiction. Studies show that people who drink before the age of 15 are five times more likely to develop abuse issues than those who start at age 21 or older. Researchers are learning that alcohol can be particularly detrimental on a young person’s developing brain, limiting its proper growth and potential.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 51.5 percent of American adults regularly consume alcohol. In the U.S., the CDC reported 79,000 total deaths due to excessive alcohol consumption.
For over 100 years, The Salvation Army has helped individuals in their struggle with alcohol abuse. The Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center programs consist of counseling, good food, work therapy, life skills classes, leisure time, group bonding and spiritual direction. Approximately 350,000 individuals all over the country are successfully treated through these centers.
If you know of someone who would benefit from treatment at these centers, visit satruck.org.
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