April is Alcohol Awareness Month

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1 Family Service Madison PICADA AODA PREVENTION NEWSLETTER APRIL 2018 April is Alcohol Awareness Month Each April since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma and encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. With this year s theme -- Changing Attitudes: It s not a rite of passage. -- the month of April will be filled with local, state, and national events 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. Changing Attitudes: It s not a rite of passage Alcohol and drug use by young people is extremely dangerous--both to themselves and to society--and is directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, educational failure, alcohol overdose, unsafe sex and other problem behaviors, even for those who may never develop a dependence or addiction. Adolescence is a time of heightened risk-taking and as alcohol and drugs enter the picture, parents are faced with a unique set of challenges. Parents often forgive underage drinking as a rite of passage. They can simply sit back and hope their kids will get through it, or they can change their attitude and take an active role in learning about alcohol and drugs and help their kids do the same.

2 It can be daunting to talk with children about drinking and drug use, but it is well worth the effort parents put into it. In fact, research has shown that kids who have conversations with their parents and learn a lot about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are 50 percent less likely to use these substances than those who don t have such conversations. Here s the opportunity when parents can reinforce that using alcohol is not a rite of passage. In fostering changing attitudes parents can help kids understand that drinking isn t a way to feel or be independent, cool, or to fit in socially. Young people can learn that alcohol is not necessary for having a good time and non-use of alcohol is a healthy and viable option. We can learn to respect another person s decision not to drink alcohol. Alcohol and drug use is a very risky business for young people, says Andrew Pucher, President and CEO of NCADD, and parents can make a difference. The longer children delay drinking and drug use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it. That s why it is so important to help your child make smart decisions about alcohol and drugs.

3 G e t I n v o l v e d Take action to raise awareness about alcohol misuse and abuse. 1. Partner with a local high school or youth organization to host an event about alcohol abuse prevention. 2. Host an alcohol-free community block party. Invite local restaurants and a local radio station to provide free food and music. 3. Partner with a local health clinic to offer free or low-cost screenings for alcohol abuse on National Alcohol Screening Day (April 5, 2018). 4. Work with your local police station to host a Family Information Night. Share free information on preventing alcohol abuse and provide demonstrations. For example, use drinking goggles to show how drinking too much can affect vision. 5. Post information on bulletin boards at local community centers, places of worship, the library, and post office.

4 ALCOHOL 101: Learning New Facts and Remembering What You Forgot Think you know everything you need to about alcohol? Guess again. One drink is not necessarily one serving of alcohol. One serving of alcohol is.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. For a 12 fl oz beer, 5% alcohol is one serving of alcohol in one serving of beer. One alcohol serving of a 12% wine is 5 fl oz, more than half the size of most wine glasses. Lastly, Cocktails usually contain more than one shot (1.5 fl oz of 40% proof liquor is one serving), as well as other alcoholic ingredients such as liquors. It takes more than one hour to metabolize one serving of alcohol. Most people have a blood alcohol level of.08 by the time they have their third drink. Even though alcohol may make you feel good, it is still a depressant. While some people do become psychologically depressed when drinking alcohol, everyone becomes physiologically depressed when they drink alcohol. Certain brain and body functions become less active as alcohol affects the central nervous system. It slows breathing, relaxes muscles, and impairs thinking. Slurred speech, lack of coordination, and slowed reaction time are all caused by depressing the central nervous system. So, even if you are not feeling morose, your body is still being depressed when you consume alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates you. This may seem counter intuitive because you are introducing liquids into your body. Alcohol is actually a diuretic, which means you are losing more liquids than you are gaining, namely through increased urination. Dehydration causes a dry mouth, headache, dizziness, insomnia, irritability, and dizziness. Yes, all the symptoms of hangovers are caused by mild dehydration. Severe dehydration can lead to brain damage, seizures, and death. To avoid mild and sever dehydration, limit your alcohol intake, drink water, eat non-salty foods, and avoid carbonated beverages. Alcohol is a frequent factor in sexual assault. WHAT WE ARE NOT SAYING: That if you are sexually assaulted and have been drinking it is your fault. Rape and sexual assault are never a victim s fault. WHAT WE ARE SAYING: It is the unfortunate fact that ⅔ of date rape cases involve alcohol. For the assaulted, intoxication compromises their ability to fend off attacks, whether that be because of passing out, inhibited motor skills, or slurred speech. For the assaulter, intoxication loosens inhibitions and impairs thinking. Remaining aware of alcohol consumption, and stopping when a limit has been reached, will allow individuals to control their situations better and reduce the risk of a sexual assault crime.

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6 O A M U S E L A E P P A H B P S P R E T E N D E A D S R E L D D I R U E R A T E I P Q E G A M Y E M X O R L E U A R B R G O O F Y V K Q M A F A W D N N J R A I E T O R T U N A O O F N O T U T R P K A G N S U C L N N A E L I T I S H W E D O E I A E D S N E M I X C H R C L L H R A N Y B P I A I F T A C E N S C M N D G I Y L I R D E E Z G N O R U L J V Z N H Y I E L T I O L O I A U S E L L U N W A R Y R N U F A I D F G H J K L T Y M C S A I S U H T N E U

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8 The construction of nearly every prevention program begins with an understanding of factors that place people at risk for or protect them from problem behaviors. PICADA Programming for 2018 Website: Abovetheinfluencedcw.org AODA Basics Alcohol Education Options program (AEO) Alcohol: True Stories, Narrated by Matt Damon FORTRESS Media Detective Multi-Jurisdictional Alcohol Program (MAP) Outreach/Community Networking PICADA (A program of Family Service Madison) ; WEBSITES MANAGED BY PICADA Family Service Madison continues to be a strong Madison health care agency by creating and sustaining quality services through entrepreneurship and collaborative partnerships that make our community a better place to live. FAMILY SERVICE MADISON 128 East Olin Avenue Madison WI Ph Fax