Underage Drinking Crisis
The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office estimates 11 million teens and young adults are drinking before their 21st birthdays this year. The Surgeon General’s research shows teenagers who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to have problems with alcohol later in life. New evidence also suggests alcohol is more damaging to developing adolescent brains than previously thought. Did you wait until your 21st birthday to down an alcoholic drink? If you’re not 21 yet, are you waiting? What were your experiences with underage drinking? And if you’re a parent now, how do you approach the subject of alcohol with your children?
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March 27th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Community Response to Underage Drinking
Two community meetings have been held regarding this issue. The group assembled agreed that: 1) Underage drinking is a serious problem; 2) Our community needs to address this issue; and 3) Our response will be data driven, evidence-based, multi-faceted, and collaborative. A strategic planning meeting will be held Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 10:00 AM, Hamilton/South Caddo Library, 2111 Bert Kouns, Shreveport, LA. For more information, contact Jessie Walker at (318) 632-2040 or J. Peter Bunce at (318) 798-0880.