OBCS Cares!!!

Every April the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month to increase awareness and understanding of the causes and treatment of the nation’s #1 public health problem: alcoholism. The theme this year is “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage.’” The target audience: youth and their parents.

As part of Alcohol Awareness Month, the NCADD says local, state, and national events will be “aimed at educating people about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism, particularly among our youth, and the important role that parents can play in giving kids a better understanding of the impact that alcohol can have on their lives.”

Leo Gaeta, VP of Programs at CBHA, believes there has never been a greater need for awareness of the dangers of underage drinking. “Sadly, approximately 5,000 youth under the age of 21 die each year because of drinking,” Gaeta says.

CBHA regularly participates in educational events. Gaeta says, “We use an alcohol screening tool that helps patient identify behaviors that might indicate an alcohol dependence problem. Trained staff member assist patients and they are assured that the information they share is completely confidential.”

When a patient shares a question or concern about their use of alcohol or any substance, CBHA providers take that concern seriously. “We place a high priority on situations like this,” Michelle Taylor, Psychiatric Mental Health Provider, says. “If a clinic physician calls me and has a patient he would like me to see right away, I will do my best to see the patient in the moment.”

This campaign and associated events are an opportunity to reduce the stigma associated with alcohol dependence, as well as remove the barriers to treatment and recovery while making help available to those who suffer from the disease.

TRY TO GO DRY

An important part of Alcohol Awareness Month is choosing an Alcohol-Free weekend during the month of April. The intent is for you to stop drinking from Friday through Monday, and then gauge the effect of the alcohol-free days.

If your body has become used to the continual presence of alcohol, suddenly stopping can cause physical effects, such as sweating, nausea, headaches and trouble sleeping.

If it was difficult to manage 72 hours without drinking, that struggle could signal a dependence on alcohol that should be more closely examined. If you are having trouble with your three-day alcohol-free test, we urge you to contact your medical provider at CBHA to learn more about alcoholism and its early symptoms.

SOURCE: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

1. 
   

   Alcohol use disorder

   An estimated 414,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 have alcohol use disorder in the U.S.

   
   

2. 
   

   Alcohol-impaired driving deaths

   It accounts for 10,625 deaths, which is 29% of the overall driving fatalities.

   
   

3. 
   

   It’s taking a toll on the economy

   In 2010, binge-drinking-related costs reached $249 billion.

   
   

4. 
   

   It makes students perform poor in academics

   A report revealed that one in every four college students have trouble focusing on studies and receive lower grades overall.

   
   

5. 
   

   And for fun…

   Interestingly, when aging, white wine gets darker and red wine gets lighter.

   
   

Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth and can cause them enormous health and safety risks.

The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone—regardless of age or drinking status.

Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families—it is a nationwide concern.

Underage Drinking Statistics

Many Youth Drink Alcohol

• In 2011, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 20.9% of youth ages 14 to 15 reported having at least 1 drink in their lifetime.

• In 2021, 5.9 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol beyond “just a few sips” in the past month.

• Adolescent alcohol use differs by race and ethnicity. For example, at age 14, White, Black, and Hispanic youth are equally likely to drink. By age 18, White and Hispanic youth are twice as likely to drink than Black youth.

How Much Is a Drink?

In the United States, a standard drink is defined as any beverage containing 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol (also known as an alcoholic drink equivalent), which is found in:

• 12 ounces of beer with about 5% alcohol content
• 5 ounces of wine with about 12% alcohol content
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits with about 40% alcohol content

The percentage of pure alcohol, expressed here as alcohol by volume (alc/vol), varies within and across beverage types. Although the standard drink amounts are helpful for following health guidelines, they may not reflect customary serving sizes. A large cup of beer, an overpoured glass of wine, or a single mixed drink could contain much more alcohol than a standard drink.

Youth Often Binge Drink

People ages 12 to 20 drink 3.4% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. Although youth drink less often than adults, when they do drink, they drink more. More than 90% of all alcohol drinks consumed by youth are consumed through binge drinking5 (see the "What Is Binge Drinking?" box).

• In 2021, 3.2 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking at least once in the past month.

• In 2021, approximately 613,000 youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking on 5 or more days over the past month.

SOURCE: 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Tables 1.7B, 2.3B, 2.8B. Accessed January 19, 2023.

Drinking Patterns Vary by Age and Gender

Alcohol use often begins during adolescence and becomes more likely as adolescents age. In 2021, fewer than 2 in 100 adolescents ages 12 to 13 reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and fewer than 1 in 100 engaged in binge drinking. Among respondents ages 16 to 17, fewer than 1 in 5 reported drinking, and fewer than 1 in 10 reported binge drinking. Implementing prevention strategies during early adolescence is needed to prevent this escalation, particularly because earlier alcohol use is associated with a higher likelihood of a variety of alcohol-related consequences.

Historically, adolescent boys were more likely to drink and binge drink than girls. Now, that relationship has reversed. Alcohol use in recent years has declined more among adolescent boys than among girls, with more adolescent girls reporting alcohol use and binge drinking than boys.

SOURCE: Population prevalence estimates (%) are weighted by the person-level analysis weight and derived from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH-2-21-DS0001) public-use data file. Binge alcohol use is defined as drinking 5 or more drinks on the same occasion for males or 4 or more drinks on the same occasion for females on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Any alcohol is defined as a drink of an alcohol beverage (a can or bottle of beer, a glass of wine or a wine cooler, a shot of distilled spirits, or a mixed drink with distilled spirits in it), not counting a sip or two from a drink. [cited 2023 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/dataset/national-survey-drug-use-and-health-2021-nsduh-2021-ds0001.

Underage Drinking Is Dangerous

Underage drinking poses a range of risks and negative consequences. It is dangerous because it:

• Causes many deaths. Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths of people younger than age 21 in the United States each year. This includes deaths from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides.
• Causes many injuries. Drinking alcohol can cause youth to have accidents and get hurt. In 2011 alone, about 188,000 people younger than age 21 visited an emergency room for alcohol-related injuries.
• Impairs judgment. Drinking can lead to poor decisions about taking risks, including unsafe sexual behavior, drinking and driving, and aggressive or violent behavior.
• Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault. Underage binge drinking is associated with an increased likelihood of being the victim or perpetrator of interpersonal violence.
• Can lead to other problems. Drinking may cause youth to have trouble in school or with the law. Drinking alcohol also is associated with the use of other substances.
• Increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life. Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life. For example, adults ages 26 and older who began drinking before age 15 are 3.5 times more likely to report having AUD in the past year than those who waited until age 21 or later to begin drinking.
• Interferes with brain development. Research shows that people’s brains keep developing well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affecting both brain structure and function. This may cause cognitive or learning problems as well as may increase vulnerability for AUD, especially when people start drinking at a young age and drink heavily.

Why Do So Many Youth Drink?

As children mature, it is natural for them to assert their independence, seek new challenges, and engage in risky behavior. Underage drinking is one such behavior that attracts many adolescents. They may want to try alcohol but often do not fully recognize its effects on their health and behavior. Other reasons youth drink alcohol include:

• Peer pressure

• Increased independence or the desire for it

• Stress

In addition, many youth have easy access to alcohol. In 2021, among adolescents ages 12 to 14 who reported drinking alcohol in the past month, 99.7% reported getting it for free the last time they drank. In many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members or find it at home.

What Is Binge Drinking?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%—or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter—or more.* This typically happens if a woman has 4 or more drinks, or a man has 5 or more drinks, within about 2 hours.20 Research shows that fewer drinks in the same timeframe result in the same BAC in youth: only 3 drinks for girls, and 3 to 5 drinks for boys, depending on their age and size.

*A BAC of 0.08% corresponds to 0.08 grams per deciliter, or 0.08 grams per 100 milliliters.

Preventing Underage Drinking

Preventing underage drinking is a complex challenge. Any successful approach must consider many factors, including:

• Genetics

• Personality

• Rate of maturation and development

• Level of risk

• Social factors

• Environmental factors

Several key approaches have been found to be successful. They are:

• Individual-level interventions. This approach seeks to change the way youth think about alcohol so they are better able to resist pressures to drink.
• School-based interventions. These are programs that provide students with the knowledge, skills, motivation, and opportunities they need to remain alcohol-free.
• Family-based interventions. These are efforts to empower parents to set and enforce clear rules against drinking, as well as improve communication between children and parents about alcohol.
• Community-based interventions. Community-based interventions are often coordinated by local coalitions working to mitigate risk factors for alcohol misuse.
• Policy-level interventions. This approach makes alcohol harder to get—for example, by raising the price of alcohol and keeping the minimum legal drinking age at 21. Enacting zero-tolerance laws that outlaw driving after any amount of drinking for people younger than 21 can also help prevent problems.

The Role Parents Play

Parents and teachers can play a meaningful role in shaping youth’s attitudes toward drinking. Parents, in particular, can have either a positive or negative influence.

Parents can help their children avoid alcohol problems by:

• Talking about the dangers of drinking

• Drinking responsibly, if they choose to drink

• Serving as positive role models in general

• Not making alcohol available

• Getting to know their children’s friends

• Having regular conversations about life in general

• Connecting with other parents about sending clear messages about the importance of youth not drinking alcohol

• Supervising all parties to make sure there is no alcohol

• Encouraging kids to participate in healthy and fun activities that do not involve alcohol

Research shows that children of actively involved parents are less likely to drink alcohol. However, if parents provide alcohol to their kids (even small amounts), have positive attitudes about drinking, and engage in alcohol misuse, adolescents have an increased risk of misusing alcohol. Moreover, if the adolescent has a parent with AUD, they are less likely to be protected from alcohol misuse through parental engagement and other factors.

Warning Signs of Underage Drinking

Adolescence is a time of change and growth, including behavior changes. These changes usually are a normal part of growing up but sometimes can point to an alcohol problem. Parents, families, and teachers should pay close attention to the following warning signs that may indicate underage drinking:

• Changes in mood, including anger and irritability

• Academic or behavioral problems in school

• Rebelliousness

• Changing groups of friends

• Low energy level

• Less interest in activities or care in appearance

• Finding alcohol among an adolescent's belongings

• Smelling alcohol on an adolescent's breath

• Problems concentrating or remembering

• Slurred speech

• Coordination problems

Treating Underage Drinking Problems

Screening youth for alcohol use and AUD is very important and may prevent problems down the road. Screening by a primary care provider or other health practitioner (e.g., pediatrician) provides an opportunity to identify problems early and address them before they escalate. It also allows adolescents to ask questions of a knowledgeable adult. NIAAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend that all youth be regularly screened for alcohol use.

Some youth can experience serious problems as a result of drinking, including AUD, which require intervention by trained professionals. Professional treatment options include:

• Attending individual or group counseling sessions one or more times per week
• Receiving a prescription from a primary care provider or psychiatrist to help reduce alcohol cravings
• Participating in family therapy to build a supportive foundation for recovery

For more information, please visit: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov

The Bridge is a nonprofit organization serving Alabama’s adolescents and their families. Our substance use treatment services are certified by and funded through the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Our diversion services are operated in partnership with counties throughout the state and are funded by the Alabama Department of Youth Services through grants to the counties.

While The Bridge is not a mental health center, we support and often partner with Alabama’s community mental health centers. The Bridge is an active member of the Alabama Council for Behavioral Healthcare.

The Bridge has a caring staff of trained professionals who are skilled at engaging adolescents and their families in evidence-based treatment that leads to positive, lasting change.

The Bridge is motivated to help adolescents with substance use or behavioral issues because:

• Substance use in adolescence adversely affects brain development.
• Substance use during early years dramatically increases the risk of a substance use disorder in adulthood.
• Other risky and dangerous behaviors occur more frequently when adolescents are using substances.
• Two in three adults treated for an opioid use disorder first used opioids when they were younger than age 25

• 90% of all addictions start in the teenage years.
• Adolescents deserve an atmosphere of unconditional caring where they can learn social and emotional skills to form stable, healthy relationships.
• Effective treatment for adolescents includes participation by families, schools, and communities

For more information or to schedule an appointment for screening and assessment, contact The Bridge at:

EMAIL

info@bridgeinc.org

PHONE

888- 546-6324

Month

Deaf History Month

Alcohol Awareness Month

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Community Service Month

Counseling Awareness Month

Keep America Beautiful Month

Child National Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month

National Youth Sports Safety Month

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Stress Awareness Month

National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Week

15-21 Week of the Young Child

15-21 National Volunteer Week

24-28 National Youth Violence Prevention Week

Day

2- Children's Day/Book day

2- World Autism Awareness Day

4- Sexual Assault Awareness day of Action

6-National Alcohol Screening Day

7- World Health Day

10- National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

12- Drop Everything and Read Day

14- Day of Silence

15- nation Prescription Drug Take Back Day

22- Earth Day

26- Administrative Professionals Day

Paying Attention to Attendance

Did You Know?

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.

• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success.

For more information and for additional resource please visit: Keeping Your Child on Track in Middle and High School and Your Child Succeed in School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early

My mission is to provide and assist families in finding mental health and community resources in our area. I work closely with our guidance counselors and administrators to raise mental health awareness within our schools, provide mental health support to the entire Makos family, and work to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health within our schools. I am excited to share information and resources to ensure our students have the support necessary to be successful.

Go Makos!

Email: lrogula@orangebeachboe.org
Website: https://www.orangebeachboe.org/families/mental-health
Location: 23908 Canal Road, Orange Beach, AL, USA
Phone: (251) 201-9975