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April is National Alcohol Awareness Month

by Joy Spencer


National Alcohol Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and encourage people to make healthy, safe choices. During this month, the OLCC encourages you take time to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
According to ECONorthwest & Oregon Health Authority, each year alcohol abuse in Oregon leads to 1,400 alcohol-related deaths, 5,100 violent crimes, and 41,000 offenses related to driving under the influence.

What are some things that you can do this month?
Check in with yourself about your drinking habits.

Today is National Alcohol Screening day, which is an important part of Alcohol Awareness month. This day is intended to help people who may not know how much is too much to drink or if the amount that they drink is putting them at risk for injury, illness and addiction. Take the screening online or locate an event near year you.


Talk to your kids.
Getting the word across to your kids about the dangers of underage drinking is very important. Many parents don't realize what their kids do after school, at a friend's house, or at a party. And with prom and graduation season right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to have these conversations with your kids. Alcohol related tragedies involving teens increase dramatically in April, May and June so now is the perfect time to talk to your kids about the dangers of underage drinking. If you need help initiating these conversations, check out our video “Wasted” which features real kids that were involved in an unfortunate situation involving underage drinking and the tragic consequences that resulted from it.
For more information about alcohol and minors, visit the OLCC's website: http://www.oregon.gov/OLCC/alcohol_and_minors.shtml.
If you are concerned about someone's alcohol abuse problems, here is a website of resources from Oregon's Department of Human Services that can help you: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/crisis.shtml
For more resources on National Alcohol Awareness Day, visit the Mental Health Services Administration website.

Comments

  1. johnseomavenSeptember 21, 2011 at 6:10 AM

    Awareness training should start from Alcohol retailing premises to its employees. This is a good way to reduce incidents of drunk driving, public intoxication, underage drinking and alcohol-related crimes. This training is also designed to discuss different policies and laws as well as standards in serving alcohol beverages.

    ReplyDelete

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