Dear Editors,I was saddened by Jon Walsh’s attitude toward alcohol. Jon, you’re a great writer, but you need to read this and wise up before you become a statistic. Here are the facts about alcohol use. Alcohol is the most addictive drug on the market today. If your parents or grandparents drank, or, if you began drinking before age 15, your statistical chance of becoming addicted are quadrupled. Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people more than all other illegal drugs combined. Binge drinking (the consumption of five or more drinks at one time) is the number one cause of death on college campuses. Ethyl Alcohol is poisonous and can cause lifelong brain damage as well as severe damage to bones, liver, pancreas and esophagus. If you’re involved in sports, alcohol damages physical performance and endurance.
The use of alcohol can interact with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25. In one recent study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink. Alcohol use is associated with high-risk sex. The result can be pregnancy or any of the many sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/ AIDS, which is fatal! Drinking is a major contributing factor in cases of sexual assault, including date rape. Alcohol is known to cause infertility in men and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (severe mental retardation) in babies. Anyone that’s pregnant or thinks they might be pregnant should never ever drink.
Alcoholism is a considered by the medical profession to be a disease and early detection is critical. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you think you have a drinking problem, a good place to start is to contact your school counselor or physician. One organization that is helpful and free is Ala Teen and Al Anon. Meeting information can be found on the web at www.ct-al-anon.org or by calling 1-888-825-2666. Also for individual, family counseling or ongoing parent support groups, call Bridges Community Support System (formally Milford Mental Heath Clinic) Their hot-line for teens is 878-6365. Do something positive if you want to get high, go running. And if you want to be cool, be giving and serve others. Then you will automatically make friends– the real kind!
Betsy Orman is a freelance writer and UB student in the Ideal program.
Letters to the Editor