Narconon International Warns of Underage Drinking Problems
Alcohol consumption by minors during prom and graduation season brews serious consequences
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 4, 2007
As one of the world's largest and most successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education programs, Narconon International supports the recent Call to Action against underage drinking issued by the United States Surgeon General's Office. U. S. officials estimate there are 11 million minors currently consuming alcohol, with over 7 million considered to be binge drinkers and more than 2 million of them are heavy drinkers.
Spring tends to be a more concentrated time for underage alcohol consumption. First there is spring break, which is notorious for heavy drinking, followed by prom and then graduation parties before the summer months.
Acting Surgeon General Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu exclaimed, "Research shows that young people who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life."
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that on average, about 40% of traffic fatalities throughout the country in a given year are alcohol-related, but during prom and graduation weekends reports found that closer to 60% of traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
According to results from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), young adults who had engaged in past-month heavy alcohol use were more than twice as likely to contract a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) as those who did not drink alcohol.
"I think what most young people are missing," says Narconon International's Director of Drug Education Bobby Wiggins, "is that alcohol and all other drugs are basically poisons -- the more you consume the more problems occur for yourself and others physically, mentally and socially."
Statistics from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at Georgetown University reports that there has been a 32% increase in spending on televised alcohol ads and a 34% increase in the number of alcohol ads on television from 2001 to 2005, and that youth (ages 12 to 20) exposure to those ads increased by 41% during that time period.
Mr. Wiggins also points out that alcohol is positioned next to positive things in movies, magazines and other media outlets. Sadly, this is true with other drugs and the impact this has on our children is clearly demonstrated in one of our educational videos, "Xtasy-The Real Story."
For more information on how to help prevent underage alcohol and drug use or to order and educational video, contact Narconon International today by calling 323-962-2404 or visit www. narconon. org. Narconon is a worldwide organization that applies American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard's effective drug-free social education approach to preventing drug use and overcoming addiction.
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