Alcohol Abuse Education in Our Schools

December 25th, 2009

Today we are facing an ever growing population of uneducated adolescents. Perhaps not uneducated in the sense that don’t go to school. But undereducated in the area of alcohol and drug abuse. The information is out there, but there seem to be a lack of alcohol abuse info classes that are correctly structured for the appropriate age groups.

Beginning with the approximate age of eleven, kids are subjected to the DARE program which introduces them to a good abundance of information on alcohol and other drugs. This program is a positive way to introduce an education on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. But in order to be effective, the same type of education must continue throughout the teenage years. Too many kids have used the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program as a gateway into learning which drugs and alcohol they would like to try. While this program may steer some kids away from drug or alcohol abuse in the beginning, if they are not exposed to more education in alcohol abuse information throughout their young adulthood, they run the risk of forgetting the realities of abusing alcohol or drugs. They may then use the alcohol abuse information they gained earlier on to locate these substances and unknowingly abuse them.

Therefore middle school and high school curriculums in the U.S. should be scrutinized to determine if they include substantial classes on alcohol abuse information. Young adults should be encouraged to take these classes at least once throughout their time in junior high and high school. In addition to classes on the dangers of abuse, students should be offered the opportunity to take classes on drug and alcohol counseling. This way they will not be bombarded with all the negativities of drugs and alcohol, but given a chance to see the rewards of helping those who do have a drug or alcohol problem.

In our current society with an rapidly growing population and troubled economy, it is more important than ever to give every young adult a proper education. But budget cuts and closing schools are making that very hard. We as a country must realize that we cannot sit back and expect big brother to fix this problem for us. We must be proactive. If you are concerned by this problem, please attend city counsel meetings and voice your concerns. Starting local is the only way to be heard. But also write to your congressman and propose your ideas for new ways of educating young adults with alcohol abuse info. If no one continues to voice concerns about this issue it could easily be put aside due to other problems we are facing. But this is an issue that need to be kept on the forefront because if drug and alcohol abuse continue to rise among adolescents, it will undoubtedly create more of the same problems our society is already facing.

Together we can make a difference in giving the adolescents of our nation a better chance at understanding the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and it’s abuse. We will also be opening their eyes to new opportunities and ideas for helping their peers who do abuse or face addictions with alcohol. We must let these kids know they have a chance. They are not alone. And they, even at a young age, can make a difference in the lives around them by becoming educated and practicing what they learn.

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