Nearly 100,000 Americans die each year as a result of alcohol abuse, and alcohol is a factor in more than half of the country’s homicides, suicides, and traffic accidents.

Unfortunately, alcohol dependence is increasing among younger people.  In addition to causing numerous serious medical disorders (e.g., liver and heart disease), alcohol dependence is associated with costly, adverse social consequences such as disruption of families, crime, traumatic accidents, and lost productivity. 

Youth access to alcohol is a serious problem.  The consequences are unhealthy, unsafe, and even life-threatening.  Poor academic performance injuries, traffic crashes, accidents, assaults, date rape, addiction, teen pregnancy, and death from alcohol poisoning are all associated with underage drinking.

There is no single solution.  But adults and youth working together cna have a dramatic impact in reducing the risks.

Who is drinking?

* The average age when youth say they first tried alcohol is 12 years.

* Forty-eight percent of high school seniors say they consumed alcohol in the last 30 days.

Where do they get alcohol?

* Nearly 84% of tenth graders and 67% of eighth graders say alcohol is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get.

* Almost 65% of the students who drink buy their own alcoholic beverages.

* Teenagers often find someone older to buy it, use fake ID and purchase it themselves, steal it from stores, or take it from their own homes.

* Think about where alcohol is kept in your home and how much alcohol you have on hand.  Remember, almost 75% of seventh graders who drink alcohol obtain it from their parents (with or without their knowledge).

AA (Toll free information number:  1-800-333-5051)

 Local Meetings in Logan County:

Monday:          7:30 p.m. @ Chapmanville City Hall (no mtg the 2^nd Monday of each month)

                       7:30 p.m. @ Old Town Hall, Gilbert

Tuesday:          7:30 p.m. @ Nighbert Memorial Church, Coal St., Logan                            

                       7:30 p.m. @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Williamson

                       7:00 p.m. @ Boone Co. Business Development Bldg, Ave. C, Madison

Thursday:        7:30 p.m. @ Bruce McDonald Methodist Church, South Man

                       7:30 p.m. @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Williamson

                       7:00 p.m. @ Boone Co. Business Development Bldg, Ave. C, Madison

Friday:             7:30 p.m. @ Chapmanville City Hall, Chapmanville

Saturday:         7:30 p.m. @ First Presbyterian Church, Stratton St., Logan

Sunday:           6:30 p.m. @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Williamson

Al-Anon For families and friends:  (Toll free information number:  1-800-4AL-ANON)

 Local Meetings in Logan County:

Tuesday           7:30 p.m. @ Nighbert Memorial Church, Coal St., Logan

You may be worried about a friend or relative who uses alcohol.  How can you tell if your friend or loved one has a drinking problem? 

If the person you're worried about is a teen, some warning signs are listed here.

Does your friend:

* Spend a lot of time planning for drinking, getting drunk, and time recovering from drinking?

* Seem to think that getting drunk is the only way to have fun?

* Do new or dangerous things, hang out with different friends, or have lower grades?

* Forget things, take crazy risks, and/or get into trouble?

If you know a teen with a drinking problem, remember:  Alcohol is even worse for teens than for adults.  Encourage your friend to get help.