Proclamation - Stop Alcohol Abuse Week

Proclamation - Stop Alcohol Abuse Week

WHEREAS, alcohol use among children and adolescents starts early and increases rapidly with age; and

WHEREAS, nationally, alcohol use by the end of the sixth grade was reported by 20.9 percent of eighth graders in 2004, and 77 percent of students reported consuming alcohol - more than a few sips - by the end of high school, with nearly half having done so by the eighth grade; and

WHEREAS, a higher percentage of youth aged 12 to 20 use alcohol than use tobacco or illicit drugs, and alcohol is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined; and

WHEREAS, ten percent of 9- to 10-year-olds say they have already started drinking alcohol, making it more important than ever to begin teaching youth at an early age about the dangers of alcohol; and

WHEREAS, adults who had first used alcohol before the age of 15 are five times as likely to be dependent on alcohol as adults who first used it at the age of 21 or older; and

WHEREAS, this week, town hall meetings will be held in communities across our state to raise awareness about the risks of underage drinking and inform all citizens about what they can do to help stem the trend of alcohol use among our youth.

NOW, THEREFORE, as Governor of the State of North Dakota, I do hereby proclaim March 28, 2006, STOP ALCOHOL ABUSE DAY in the state of North Dakota.

John Hoeven
Governor
Attest:

Alvin A. Jaeger
Secretary of State

http://www.governor.state.nd.us/proc/docs/2006/03/20060328a.pdf