Timely advice about alcohol
(Dr. Glenn Zehner is chief program officer for Drug- Free Pennsylvania)

Like so many "special attention" months, the designation of April as Alcohol Awareness Month will pass without much notice. Yet the consumption of alcohol creates significant health concerns across all age groups.

More American children are being born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, characterized by a flattened face, wide-set eyes, slow growth, and learning and behavior problems.

Children exposed to alcohol pre-natally are at a higher risk of developing an alcohol and other drug use disorder later in life.

Adolescent use of alcohol can have lasting effects on brain development. A young person, aged 12 to 17, may have a region of his/her brain, the hippocampus, growing smaller as a result of early drinking of alcohol.

Almost 1.5 million adolescents meet the criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse, and only 15 percent receive treatment.

Young adults ages 18-29 are most at risk for alcohol problems when compared to other age groups. Because this is a time of increased independence, the occasions for binge drinking are numerous.

The good news is that brief interventions which target high- risk populations (e.g. college freshmen, fraternities and sororities, athletes, military personnel) and campaigns that focus upon the prevention of driving under the influence have shown promise in preventing abuse and dependence.

Even mid-life adults (ages 30-59) cannot escape the damages inflicted by alcohol abuse: liver disease, pancreatitis, several types of cancer, brain disorders, and heart and circulatory disorders.

Those 60 and older, who tend to drink less than other age groups, are showing habits of increased alcohol drinking. Since their bodies metabolize more slowly, the alcohol remains longer. Health conditions can be intensified by alcohol, thus leading to strokes, hypertension, memory loss, and emotional problems.

Much of the damage that people are doing to their bodies, regardless of their ages, may not manifest itself until later. In the meantime, more accidents are occurring, disease statistics are increasing, and many families and communities are hurting.

As prom and graduation season face us, will we make an effort to prevent problems before they arise by educating our young people about the risks?

Will each of us let April pass as just another "special attention" month and do nothing, or will we make a concerted effort to help those close to us who may need it?