TOWNHALL TACKLES UNDERAGE DRINKING AS A COMMUNITY ISSUE

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Contact: Antonio Edwards, 334-262-1629

[email protected]

Montgomery, Ala. – The Council on Substance Abuse – NCADD (COSA-NCADD) has partnered with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to host a Communities Talk Town Hall Meeting to address underage drinking.

 

The meeting will be held at Montgomery City Hall from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18th.

 

This meeting is a part of the Communities Talk series and focused on addressing, reducing and preventing underage drinking.  According to the Alabama Department of Mental Health’s 2014 Epidemiological Profile Report:

 

Alabama State Profile and Underage Drinking Facts

State Population: 4,833,722    Population Ages 12–20: 587,000

 

Data for Ages 12–20

Past-Month Alcohol Use – 19.4% (Total Number 114,000)

 

Data for Ages 12–20

Past-Month Binge Alcohol Use – 11.5% (Total Number 68,000)

 

“The purpose of this meeting is to engage the community in meaningful conversation to address underage drinking in our communities,” said Antonio M. Edwards, MPA, APS, a Behavioral Health Prevention Specialist at COSA-NCADD.  “We want to look at some of the risk factors and find ways to reduce and prevent underage drinking because this is an issue that affects the entire community from a health, financial and safety standpoint, If these behaviors aren’t addressed as adolescents, the problem gets worse as adults and there are greater consequences associated.”

 

The town hall will include a special panel of experts on the issue. COSA-NCADD is urging the entire local Montgomery community, clergy, community leaders and educators to join the conversation to help reduce and prevent underage drinking.

 

“The future of our young people is at stake, and we need support as we aim to educate the community about underage drinking and mobilize Montgomery around its prevention.”

 

Established in 1973, the Council on Substance Abuse-NCADD’s (COSA-NCADD) mission is to reduce the incidence and prevalence of the disease of alcoholism, other drug addiction diseases, and related problems.  For more information about the organization, visit www.cosancadd.org or call 334-262-1629.

 

 

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