The Bethel City Council is Proclaiming April Alcohol Awareness Month
WHEREAS, Alcohol Awareness Month is a time for awareness, education, and understanding of the causes and treatment of alcohol dependency and misuse;
WHEREAS, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States with one in every 12 adults (17.6 million people) suffering from alcohol misuse or dependence;
WHEREAS, excessive alcohol use in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking contributes to more than 95,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the leading cause of preventable death in the United State;
WHEREAS, alcohol misuse is the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the nation, with more than half of alcohol-attributable deaths due to health effects from drinking too much over time;
WHEREAS, alcohol poisoning, cancer, car accidents, heart failure, liver damage, violent deaths, and harm from alcohol use are preventable;
WHEREAS, according to the Partnership to End Addiction, individuals who begin drinking during adolescence have significantly higher odds of developing an alcohol or another substance use disorder, 33% of young people ages 12-20 reported drinking alcohol in 2019, 21% of those were aged 12-17;
WHEREAS, education of excess alcohol use needs to start with our youth; in the United States, approximately 45% of all college students ages 18-24 engage in what can be considered heavy episodic drinking; excessive drinking is also responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year;
WHEREAS, many with alcohol dependance need outside assistance to recover from their disease, we must provide support, for those who have substance use disorders, recognize the signs of the problem, and guide those in need to appropriate treatment and support services such as:
YKHC Behavioral Health
Bethel Family Clinic
Ayagnirvik Health Center
Recover Alaska
ONC Social Services
NOW, THEREFORE, the Bethel City Council proclaims April Alcohol Awareness Month in City of Bethel, Alaska. The Council calls upon all citizens, parents, governmental agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, hospitals and health care facilities, schools, and colleges to support and provide early education, increase support for individuals and families coping, and alleviate discrimination and stigmas associated with alcohol dependency and misuse through tolerance and understanding. As a result of these efforts, we can provide hope, help, and healing to individuals facing challenges with alcohol use.
IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION WHEREOF, I hereby affix my signature on this 26th day of April 2022.
Original source can be found here.
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