PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING IN ALABAMA

NEWS TO KNOW

• Alcohol is the No. 1 drug of choice among young people.
• Alcohol kills more young people than all other illicit drugs combined.
• Alcohol is associated with the leading causes of death among youth; motor vehicle crashes, homicides, suicides and drowning.
• Underage drinking costs our society approximately $62 billion annually, including costs for traffic crashes, violent crime, suicide attempts and treatment
• The average age American teens begin to drink is 15.9.
•     Youth exposure to alcohol ads on TV increased 41% from 2001-2005. Industry reforms overwhelmed by historic increases in advertising  (Center on Alcohol Marketing, CAMY).
• The approximate age at which the brain is fully developed is 21 years old
• There are approximately 900 lives saved each year by the 21 drinking age law.

GET INVOLVED WITH OUR MADD Alabama State Youth Advisory Board (MASYAB).  It is a program designed to provide young people the skills and education necessary to effect true environmental changes on underage drinking problems in Alabama . The Board consists of youth from communities throughout the state of Alabama . 

OUR MISSION :

To prevent underage drinking, to reinforce the consequences of alcohol use, and to provide peer support and education throughout Alabama  . 

Major Initiatives:

• Youth Prevention and Education on issues of underage drinking
• Community Outreach (help raise public awareness in the community)
• Public Awareness and Advocacy
• Help youth become leaders in the schools and communities
• Supporting Law Enforcement

Click Here to see a list of programs MADD Alabama offers for underage drinking.

FOR RESOURCES:

Contact our Contact our MADD Alabama State Office

1-800-635-0722

Click Here for more information on our underage programs.

PARENTS

The key to the prevention of underage drinking is parents and adults talking to children about the dangers of underage drinking and the importance of making responsible decisions about beverage alcohol and other drugs.

Our program has numerous materials to help parents and educators communicate about this import subject with their children.

Underage drinking: You can prevent it when they’re under your influence.