April is Alcohol Awareness Month!

Throughout this month, Rethink the Drink will be bringing you articles about the specific dangers of underage and adult alcohol abuse! Topics covered will include: addiction, alcohol poisoning, alcohol and emotional stress, alcohol and abuse, alcohol and death, resources for recovery, life beyond alcohol, and being an example of sobriety and moderation to the world. We hope you’ll stick with us throughout the month of April (and beyond) and that you’ll share our articles with your friends and family. Thank you for all your support!

Want to connect with Rethink the Drink? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and our CPMA Website! “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Pinterest to show your pledge to rethink the drink.

New Study Shows Alcohol-Related Traffic Deaths are Underreported

“A new study from U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicates that alcohol-related traffic deaths are still vastly underreported on death certificates.” (source) Alcohol is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and many people still do not heed the warnings about driving while under even minor alcohol influence. Madd is an excellent resource for those looking for more information about alcohol-related traffic death and injury.

If you’re out drinking with friends as an adult, be sure to designate a sober driver to see you all safely home. If you’re underage, avoid alcohol altogether and never get into the car with an intoxicated driver. Rethink the drink and protect yourself from an alcohol related traffic incident!

Hey, Adults! Don’t Buy Alcohol for Minors!

I always cringe when I hear a story about parents or other adults buying alcohol for minors. Really? REALLY? Stories like this are enough to make you shake your head and scowl. There were some very poignant quotes in this article that hit at the heart of adults buying alcohol for underage people:

“You might get them started on the road to alcoholism,” said Clovis police Sgt. Brett Hershberger. “You’re furnishing them alcohol. They could get drunk and then end up getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and killing somebody, and we don’t want that; that’s what we want to prevent.” (source)

That is exactly the problem. Many adults buy alcohol for minors thinking that the law is “stupid” or “too harsh”, but they rarely think of the consequences of their actions. By purchasing alcohol for a teen, you could be indirectly causing a future addiction or the death of someone. Think about that the next time a teenager outside a package store asks you to buy beer for them. For more thoughts about adult responsibility when it comes to preventing underage alcohol abuse, check out our Pinteres boards [FOR PARENTS] and [ADULT RESPONSIBILITY].

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

We here are Rethink the Drink hope your St. Patrick’s day is full of good clean, green fun! Many people feel that there is an excuse to go wild with alcohol on this holiday. Rather than that, why not enjoy some non-alcoholic beverages and fun themed treats? If you host a party, have your friends bring their favorite alcohol-free drink and themed food. Listen to some Celtic music or watch a great Irish film. Research the history of St. Patrick and learn about the holiday itself! Whatever you do, we hope you’ll make wise choices, have fun, and Rethink the Drink!

Can Alcohol Consumption Increase Your Risk of Skin Cancer?

According to a recent study published by the British Journal of Dermatology, time spent drinking out of doors can increase your risk of skin cancer. For more information please see and share this article from Weather.com. As well, here are more articles on the subject:

BBC’s article: Alcohol Linked to Skin Cancer Risk
Only My Health’s: Drinking Alcohol in the Sun Ups Skin Cancer Risk
Parent Herald: Regular Intake of Alcoholic Beverages Increases Skin Cancer Risks

As nicer weather approaches with the upcoming spring season, keep this in mind if you are of drinking age. If you are underage, stay alcohol free and encourage your older peers to protect their bodies by avoiding excessive alcohol abuse.

Exciting Efforts of Rethink the Drink in Polk County!

Today, I wanted to share with you some of the exciting efforts Rethink the Drink supports and takes part in within Polk county. We’ve got some pictures to share and we hope you’ll see that your support helps us to do these great things in our communities!

Here we have the CHAMP graduation of Eastside Elementary School’s fifth graders. [December 2013, Polk County]

Here we have Rockmart High School students, posed after seeing Chris Sandy’s DUI presentation. [Polk County, December 2013]

The above two pictures are of Rockmart Middle School students participating in our AlcoholEDU curriculum. [December 2013, Polk County].

Pictured above are Rockmart High School Students representing the Public Safety Club with sponsor Leah Reynolds. [December 2013, Polk County].

Here we have Rockmart city businesses that support our cause: Wal-Mart, Raceway, & High-Tech with Stacey Smith, Community Development Coordinator.

As you can see, Rethink the Drink has a lot of local support within our communities, and it is thanks to all the support we receive that we are able to do so much for our teens and parents.

Hard Stories: 35 Year Old Woman Faces Death Due to Alcohol Abuse

Stories like this one just make you so, so sad. Beverly Pickorer is just 35 years old, but images of her in this article will make you believe otherwise. She became an alcoholic in her twenties and went on to consume a highly toxic amount of alcohol each day in the following years. Her condition is dire. Her healthy body has become frail and diseased. She is cared for in a nursing home that is populated by the elderly. This is just another example of how disastrous an alcohol addiction can be. I hope you will go on to read the article in its entirety and truly let it resonate with you. Alcohol abuse is not glamorous, “fun”, or exciting. Its effect on the human body is completely unfortunate. Don’t become another Beverly Pickorer. Rethink the drink and make a commitment to keep your body in good health.