April is national Alcohol Awareness Month and the focus is on underage drinking. Alcohol is the drug most frequently used by high school seniors, and the use is increasing.
According to the 2008 Sequoyah County Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment survey 39.1 percent of high school seniors have used alcohol in the past 30 days and 30.2 percent of seniors are having more than five drinks in a row.
Unfortunately binge drinking is the most prevalent form of underage drinking. Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes and contributes to youth suicides, homicides and fatal injuries.
The issue of underage drinking is a complex problem, one that can only be solved through a sustained and cooperative effort between parents, schools, community leaders, and the children themselves.
There are three areas which have proven to be effective in prevention of underage drinking, curtailing the availability of alcohol, consistent enforcement of existing laws and regulations, and changing cultural misconceptions and behaviors through education. In addition the alcohol beverage industry has a responsibility to discourage underage drinking and to stop advertising and marketing that appeals to youth.
Let’s wake up to this problem and get started on the solution. We can’t afford to wait any longer.
JANET PETTY, TAHLEQUAH
Editor’s Note: Janet Petty is director of the Bill Willis Area Prevention Resource Center.
