Besides showers bringing May flowers, April is also Alcohol Awareness Month.
Alcohol Awareness Month has been ongoing since 1987, and is sponsored by The National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Its purpose is to open the eyes of the American public to the impact and risks of alcohol abuse. Its cause is necessary and vital to those who believe addiction could never happen to them.
Heavy alcohol consumption often takes place during college. According to a study by Harvard School of Public Health, young adults ages 18-22 who do not go to college drink less than those who do.
Alcohol is easily accessible at colleges because of the broad age ranges, there are plenty of college students 21 or older who attend.
From house parties to casual get-to-togethers, alcohol is often on the guest list. All in good fun—I’m sure—but what happens when things get out of control and poor choices are soon to follow?
Drinking should not be the life of the party.
There are other fun alternatives besides drinking. Movies, shopping, and dinner are just some general activities I do in exchange for going out to parties.
But next time you go to the club, try this: Go out and do not drink, just sit back do the stanky leg and watch other people drink. You’d be surprised at the things you’d notice being sober.
If you do drink, drink smart and in moderation. Responsibility should come into play, and if that fails, then use common sense.
This is where the facts come in; alcohol has a helping hand in car accidents, date rape, health problems and deaths. Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death after smoking and obesity. According to www.ihs.gov, alcohol contributes to nearly 85,000
American deaths a year and out of that, 16,000 die from drunk driving. Annually more than 70, 000 college students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. Some health risks from drinking include brain damage, heart problems and immune system problems.
Alcohol Awareness Month is helpful for those who are oblivious to the harmful effects of drinking. This allows people to get informed and have resources available to them that they can turn to for help.
Alcohol has become a priority in today’s young generation when it should be an option, and for some not even a thought.
Kendra Anderson is a sophomore magazine student from Stafford, Va. She can be reached at famuanopinions@gmail.com.