OASAS Calls On Communities to Take Action to Prevent Alcohol Abuse and Addiction

ALBANY, NY (04/17/2008)(readMedia)-- State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo today called on communities across the state to take action to prevent alcohol abuse and addiction. Governor David A. Paterson has designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month throughout New York State as a way to educate individuals of the consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. http://www.ny.gov/governor/keydocs/proclamations/proc_alcoholawareness_print.html

Alcohol abuse and addiction continue to present a major health crisis today. Alcohol can affect judgment, coordination and long-term health. These consequences can increase health care, welfare and criminal justice costs as well as impact job performance and family relationships. In addition, underage alcohol use has been linked to academic failure as well as interpersonal difficulties with peers. Most importantly, alcohol by youth can disrupt the normal process of development and place young people in high-risk situations such as teen pregnancy, car crashes, and alcohol poisoning.

“Teenagers who experiment with alcohol are more likely to develop an alcohol problem in their adult years, which could then develop into a life-long addiction,” said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. “By raising awareness of the consequences of alcohol abuse, communities can help prevent the early onset of addiction and ensure that not only youth, but adults as well, should be mindful of the dangers of alcohol at any age.”

There are some people who should not drink any alcohol, including those who are under the age of 21, pregnant or trying to become pregnant, taking prescriptions or over-the-counter medications, suffering from a medical condition, driving, or participating in activities requiring skill, coordination and alertness, or recovering from alcoholism.

The OASAS treatment providers treated more than 16,500 individuals underage age 21 and nearly 150,000 individuals over age 21 for an alcohol problem in 2007. OASAS research also indicates one-in-four or 333,000 junior and high school students engage in binge drinking at least once per month. In the past year, 8.4 percent or 1.2 million adults age 18 and older have experienced an alcohol dependence or abuse disorder.

The OASAS Legislative agenda for this year includes a Social Host Bill that would prohibit any person over age 18 to allow individuals under age 21 to consume alcoholic beverages in their home. The bill also adds penalties for violating the provisions of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and the third offense and any subsequent offense a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed one year or by both fine and imprisonment.

Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo continued, “We must be proactive in New York state to stop the use of alcohol among those who are under 21, and this measure will directly address the adults, and even parents, who might consider allowing alcohol consumption at their home. There is no safe place to serve alcohol to those under 21 and New Yorkers need to take their responsibility in this issue."

New York State’s Alcohol Awareness Month coincides with the national observance of Alcohol Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. New York supports national efforts to prevent underage drinking by taking action in response to the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to prevent and reduce underage drinking.

More than 1,600 town hall meetings will take place across the country in March and April 2008. These meetings are designed to raise awareness about new public health risks that underage drinking poses, as well as the steps that communities and individuals can take to combat and prevent it. For more information on the town hall meetings visit: http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/townhall/flashmap/2008/locations.aspx

A number of prevention programs from across the state are spreading the alcohol awareness message in their communities. For a complete activity list please visit: http://www.oasas.state.ny.us/pio/press/PCActivities.cfm

OASAS oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems with more than 1,550 programs which treat 110,000 New Yorkers on any given day for drug, alcohol or gambling addictions. For more information please visit www.oasas.state.ny.us.

In addition, if you or someone you know needs help, please call the OASAS 24-hour help line at 1-800-522-5353.

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