With Regard To Alcohol Abuse

With regard to alcohol abuse:

1. Currently, nearly 14 million Americans—1 in every 13 adults-abuse alcohol or are alcoholic.

2. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems.

3. Even more scary and sad is how young people are when they get started.

4. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, is annual survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), let me share some of the more notable statistics from the 2004 study.

5. They found that 17.6 % of 12 to 17 year-olds used alcohol in a given month. 11.1 % were binge drinking. And 2.7 % considered their use to be heavy. (www.oas.samhsa.gov. I found information from Infoplease.com)

6. The same survey found that 60.5 % of 18 to 25 year-olds used alcohol in a given month. 41.2 % were binge drinking. And 15.1 % considered their use to be heavy.

7. The consequences of excessive and underage drinking affect virtually all college campuses, college communities, and college students, whether they choose to drink or not.

a. 1,400 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle crashes (2002).

b. 500,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol (2002).

c. More than 600,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking (2002).

d. More than 70,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape (2002).

e. About 25% of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall (1996, 2002).

From David Owens’ Sermon: Avoiding the Mistake of Alcohol and Drugs