LAKE COUNTY >> The Lake County Behavioral Health Department joins the rest of the nation in recognizing April as Alcohol Awareness Month, educating the public about prevention and treatment of alcohol. The Department said a strong focus is on the youth.
In a prepared statement, the Department said:
“Alcohol and drug use by young people is extremely dangerous, not only to themselves and the community at large, but is also directly associated with educational failure, violence, traffic fatalities, suicide, unsafe sex, and alcohol overdose. This even applies to those individuals who may never develop dependence and/or addiction.”
Parents’ roles in the lives of young adults are vital. While some justify underage drinking or drug use as a “rite of passage,” parents are advised to partake in an active role to learn about alcohol and drugs and assist their kids in doing the same.
Though it is not always an easy task to have this conversation with children, the Department says it is well worth the effort parents can put into it. “Studies have shown that kids who have conversations with their parents early on and learn about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are more than 50 percent less likely to use these substances than those who did not have such discussions.”
The Department adds that the longer young people delay alcohol and drug use, the less likely he or she is to develop the inherent problems associated with the usage.
For more information, contact Lake County Behavioral Health at 707-274-9101 or 707-994-7090.
