by Zakariah Robinson // Staff Writer
Many people are unaware of the danger of alcohol. It’s viewed as a way for people to let loose. As you become a young adult, you will see it everywhere. At parties, on your tv, around your household, it’s everywhere. It’s one of the few topics that don’t get discussed. Parents always have the talk about the birds and the bees but what about the do’s and don’ts and safety of alcohol.
Every April, since 1987, is used to make the public have a better understanding on alcohol related issues.
According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD), “Alcohol and drug use by young people is extremely dangerous–both to themselves and to society–and is directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, educational failure, alcohol overdose, unsafe sex and other problem behaviors, even for those who may never develop a dependence or addiction.”
We asked Carson Complex nurse, Ms. Hishinuma, to inform us on the importance of alcohol month from a health perspective.
“Alcohol Awareness Month is important because it provides information which in turn stimulates awareness. Information is powerful. When one is informed one can make better life decisions. Alcohol abuse is particularly dangerous for the teenage population. The frontal cortex of the brain is not fully developed and alcohol can impede the development of this portion of the brain. Alcohol not only impacts the brain, it also negatively affects other vital organs in the body like the liver and kidneys. In addition teenagers tend to be ‘impulsive.’ Alcohol impairs judgement. Poor judgement in a teenager can lead to poor decisions and ‘risky behaviors.’ The consequences of ‘risky behaviors’ can be a life altering.” Students and faculty are awareness of the importance of this month and are trying to make a difference.
“Carson Student Movement brings awareness to people of our generation who lack information on the subject,” stated senior and president of CSM Anthony Alvarez of the Academies of Education and Empowerment. “We try to provide ways to break the addiction by providing resources to those affected or are the victim[s] of it. We want people to go to college [and] have a life [in order to] be a person they can be proud of .”