Human Relations Media Blog
Information and Resources for Guidance Counselors & Health Teachers
Alcohol Awareness Month
Posted on March 27th 2013
Alcohol Awareness
April is Alcohol Awareness Month! The National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) is spearheading a nation-wide alcohol awareness month with the theme, "Help for today. Hope for tomorrow." The intention for Alcohol Awareness Month is to promote public awareness and understanding aimed at reducing stigma that may prevent individuals from seeking help. This is the 27th year of Alcohol Awareness Month, which has designated April 5 - 7 as as alcohol-free weekend.
Statistics
- Approximately 10% of 9-10 year-olds have started drinking.
- Nearly 1/3 young people today starts drinking before the age of 13.
- Alcohol is the #1 drug of choice for adolescents, with a higher incidence of usage than tobacco or illicit drugs.
- About 1,700 college students die each year from alcohol-related injuries, and 600,000 college students are injured from alcohol-related incidents.
- Underage drinking is a risk factor for heavy drinking later in life.
What You Can Do:
Talk to your students about alcohol. It is important to engage your students in open conversation about these tough topics. Some questions might be:
- Do they feel pressured to drink?
- What is the social stigma attached to alcohol consumption?
- What could your students do if they wanted to say no?
- Are there programs in your school to promote zero tolerance for drinking and driving?
- How would your students deal with the consequences of an alcohol-related arrest or an alcohol-related injury?
- How has alcohol affected people who are close to them?
Human Relations Media has a wide range of outstanding, research-based video programs and print materials to help bring the message home to your students. Our programs feature real teen interviews, exciting dramatizations and compelling, teen-centered formats to engage and inform your students. Here is a list of our programs about Alcohol Awareness. Titles include:
Drinking Games: Alcohol Abuse & Overdose
Brain Scans: Alcohol and the Teenage Brain
All You Need to Know about Alcohol in 17 Minutes
and many more!
