The Federal Government’s Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) is supporting Town Hall Meetings that took place in communities across America during the week of March 22–March 26, 2010, while for Palau they are taking place in April in support of the Alcohol Awareness Month. This Town Hall Meeting educated youth, and other community members about the impact underage alcohol drinking has on developing youth and the community. Together, they discussed possible ways to address the issue.
Underage drinking is an important community concern. Among high school students, about 4 in 10 (43.7 percent) reported having drank alcohol one or more times in the past month (2009 YRBS). Three out of every 10 high school students (31.6 percent) reported having drank five or more drinks in a short period of time (binge drinking) and five of every 10 students (50.7 percent) of high school students report they rode in a car driven by someone who has been drinking (2009 YRBS).The devastation of alcohol use/abuse in our community is witnessed every weekend and makes it critical for the whole Republic of Palau to all work toward alcohol abuse.President Johnson Toribiong declared April as “Alcohol Awareness Month”, and urged everyone to take part in preventing the people and especially youth from the ill effects of alcohol abuse.
SAMHSA reports that children and teens are less likely to abuse alcohol if parents are involved in their children’s lives, make and enforce clear rules, and are positive role models.The whole community’s attitude toward alcohol use (social acceptance) influence a young person’s decision to abuse alcohol.It is illegal to provide or sell alcohol to minors and yet some adults still provide alcohol to them as seen in the survey.
Other Town Hall Meetings will take place this month in support of “Alcohol Awareness Month” so keep an eye for future announcement and join the meetings.
For more information contact the State Incentive Grant Office at 488-6576 or the Council of Chiefs at 488-3350 and talk to Maura Gordon or Dilmei Olkeriil.
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