Campaign to Fight Underage Drinking

NEWS RELEASE FROM SOUTHEAST TEXAS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION:

To highlight the prevalence of underage drinking, often accelerated during the Holiday season and New Year's Eve the Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Committee (RADAAC) will be promoting the attached flyer aimed at preventing the growing problem of underage drinking in Southeast Texas. RADAAC has joined the Surgeon General's Call To Action.

In January of 2007 Acting Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu, M.D. M.P.H., issued a Call To Action, asking Americans to do more to reduce underage drinking. In doing so he placed underage drinking on the agenda as a major health concern of the United States. View the Surgeon General's Call To Action at: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/

Alcohol continues to be the most widely abused substance among youth, with 65.9 precent of Texas secondary students reporting that they had used alcohol at some point in their lives, while 31.5 precent reported that they used alcohol in the last month. Underage drinking is a serious problem in our community as well as a national problem that costs the United States $62.6 billion annually in deaths, injuries, property damage and related economic and productivity losses. Child and adolescent drinkers are a threat to themselves and the community.

Research indicates that drinking is associated with risk-taking and sensation-seeking behavior among adolescents. Alcohol consumption diminishes inhibitions and increases the likelihood of participation in unsafe activities. Young people who drink heavily or binge drink (consuming five or more drinks per occasion) consume the vast majority of the alcohol drunk by their age group.

Have a Safe and Sober New Year

Holiday parties give people more chances to use drugs and alcohol. The increase in drug-and alcohol-related tragedies are at least 50 percent during the holiday season. Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Committee (RADAAC) wishes to remind everyone of this sad statistic, and that it is strictly illegal to host alcohol related parties for persons under the age of 21.

The holidays may mean that your child is more exposed to substance abuse whether it¡¦s an uncle who drinks too much during your holiday dinner or a friend or family member who offers your child pot at a New Year¡¦s Eve party. The incidence of alcohol poisoning of children is common during the holiday season. So during this time it is especially important that parents keep their children safe and talk with them about staying away from drugs and alcohol. PARENTS BE A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR CHILDREN!

Holiday Celebration Tips:

* Let your child know what you expect. Tell your child that adults may be drinking during the holidays but under no circumstances are they allowed to consume alcohol.

* Plan a nonalcoholic holiday party with your child so children learn that they can have fun without alcohol. Send out invitations with alcohol and drug free messages on them, and make sure the guests know that yours will be a substance-free event

* For your holiday meal, let your child help you prepare and serve traditional drinks without alcohol. You can make nonalcoholic cider, eggnog, or punch

* Make sure your holiday festivities involve lots of delicious-and nonalcoholic-food, which your child can help you make.

* If your child is going to a holiday event, call ahead to make sure that the event will be alcohol and drug free. Check in with the party planner to see what measures are in place to keep alcohol out.

Remember there are those in our community who have trouble controlling their own substance use during New Years and other holidays. These friends will thank you for supporting their recovery.