Each November, the Department of Mental Health & Substance Dependence (DMHSD) within the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services observes Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness and understanding about alcohol abuse, treatment, and other related issues, and to encourage people to evaluate their own drinking and determine if they need to change their habits. This November, DMHSD highlights the treatment and prevention of alcoholism with particular focus on the important role of parents.
Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous—both to themselves and to society, and is directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, educational failure, alcohol overdose, unsafe sex and other problem behaviours, even for those who may never develop a dependence or addiction. Adolescence is a time of heightened risk-taking and as alcohol and drugs enter the picture, parents are faced with a unique set of challenges. They can simply sit back and hope their kids will “get through it,” or they can take an active role in learning about alcohol and drugs and helping their kids do the same.
It can be daunting to talk with children about drinking and drug use, but it is well worth the effort parents put into it. In fact, research has shown that kids who have conversations with their parents and learn a lot about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are 50% less likely to use these substances than those who don’t have such conversations.
“Alcohol is the number one drug choice for TCI’s youth,” says Dr. Alicia Malcolm, Director of DMHSD, “but parents can make a difference”. The longer children delay drinking and drug use, the less likely they are to develop any problems associated with it. That’s why it is so important to help your child make smart decisions about alcohol and drugs.
With this year's theme, “Talk Early, Talk Often: Parents Can Make a Difference in Teen Alcohol Use,” the month of November will be filled educational information and local events aimed at raising awareness about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism and encouraging individuals and families to get help for alcohol-related problems.
Activities being held by the Department of Mental Health & Substance Dependence include:
1) Alcohol screening at local Hospitals – November 7th 9:00am-12:00 noon (Alcohol screening questionnaires will be administered, and counseling will be available on site).
2) Alcohol Free Weekend: November 11-13 (During this seventy-two-hour period, the DMHSD extends an open invitation to all persons residing in the Turks and Caicos Islands, to participate in three alcohol-free days. The goals are to raise awareness around alcohol-related diseases, and promote healthy lifestyle choices.
3) Appearances on outreach media
4) Airing of Daily Alcohol Facts
For further information on Alcohol Awareness Month, kindly contact the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence within the Ministry of Health and Human Services at: 338-3613 for Grand Turk and 338-4737 for Providenciales. You can find information on this and other events on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TCIDMHSD.