April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. It was developed to spread awareness and reduce the stigma associated with alcohol addiction, and to highlight the need for education on the dangers of unsafe alcohol consumption. Did you know that alcohol is the most used substance by youth and adults in the United States? According to the National Institute of Health’s 2020 Monitoring the Future Survey, 55.3% of high school seniors used alcohol in 2020.

From the 2021 Monitoring the Future Survey found here: The percentage of students who reported using alcohol within the past year decreased significantly for 10^th and 12^th grade students and remained stable for eighth graders.

• Eighth graders: 17.2% reported using alcohol in the past year in 2021, remaining steady compared to 20.5% in 2020 (not a statistically significant decrease)

• 10^th graders: 28.5% reported using alcohol in the past year in 2021, a statistically significant decrease from 40.7% in 2020

• 12^th graders: 46.5% reported using alcohol in the past year in 2021, a statistically significant decrease from 55.3% in 2020

  
  

In March we attended the Rio Mesa High School Wellness and Prevention Fair where students shared how they take care of their health, why they choose not to drink alcohol, and what they like to do for self-care by writing messages for their peers on our laminated cards. Check out some of their messages:

Here at BRITE, we think that some of the most powerful prevention messaging is from students to their peers. Youth and young adults in our community are so smart and experience so much, which is why getting their input about the issues that touch their community is so important. What do the youth in your community have to say?

Resources

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA) Monitoring the Future survey results.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) underage drinking prevention campaign, ‘Talk. They Hear You,’  has talking points and tools for coalitions, parents and caregivers so you can start talking to your children early—as early as 9 years old—about the dangers of alcohol.

• The Penn Foundation has a list of resources including general tips, information for parents, and information specifically about underage drinking and college drinking.