With dangerous drugs like heroin and meth making inroads into communities all over the country, it’s easy to get distracted and to forget what one of the most dangerous drugs of all is. While “street” drugs are definitely dangerous, they are nowhere near as common as a widely available drug that almost every adult in the United States has come in contact with. That drug is alcohol.
How Alcohol Endangers Our Lives
Since we often don’t think of it as a drug, alcohol can be an incredibly dangerous substance. When we underestimate the power of any drug to do harm, it can quickly put us into situations that endanger our lives.
In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Americans that have been affected by car crashes caused by drunk drivers, there is also the damage done by alcohol poisoning. Many young people in high school and college think that being young means you should experiment with heavy drinking. When high schoolers and college students drink to excess, they put themselves at risk for alcohol poisoning. Even a few drinks can overwhelm your body and cause you to black out.
Alcohol also contributes to tens of thousands of sexual assaults every year. Sexual predators will use alcohol to get their victims drunk in order to facilitate an assault. Alcohol is also used as the delivery method for “date rape” drugs that can knock a victim unconscious. In the hands of these criminals, alcohol becomes a weapon for destroying lives.
Education is an Answer
In order to protect our families and communities from all the ways that alcohol can put our health and lives at risk, it’s important to start with education. If a young person were to get their entire image of alcohol from magazine and TV ads, they’d think that it was a great idea to go out every weekend to get drunk.
Parents need to get to their kids first in order to tell them the truth about this legal but deadly drug. When our children understand why and how alcohol can be harmful, they can start to make their own decisions about how to stay safe.
Schools, community centers and drug rehabs can also help with educational campaigns. For example, the Narconon New Life Center in Louisiana did its part this spring by setting up a display in its local library. This display educated library visitors on the dangers of heavy drinking and alcohol abuse. It contained statistics about how alcohol can harm your body and what it does to relationships and families.
By spreading this information in the community, the Narconon New Life center is helping turn the tide against ignorance.
How You Can Help in Your Own Community
No one has to wait for other people to handle alcohol abuse. Any concerned member of a community can take a stand to start fighting back against alcoholism and the way that alcohol damages lives. For example, every family can teach young children about what alcohol is and why many adults drink it even though it can be harmful. By answering children’s questions honestly, kids can see how adults can be responsible around alcohol.
You can also talk to local schools and other community groups about volunteering to spread awareness on the danger of alcohol. Many schools and other groups are under-manned when it comes to delivering seminars on important public safety topics such as this, and they might be more than welcome for your help. In order to get more information or helpful materials on alcohol, contact your nearest Narconon center.