ALCOHOL
AWARENESS
WEEK HELD AT
WCC
By Cathy Annas,
Student Services Counselor
Did you know that:
• A person who begins drinking as a young teen is
four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence
than someone who waits until adulthood to use alco
hol?
• During
adolescence
significant
changes occur
in the body,
including the
formation of
new networks
in the brain.
SIMULATOR
Alcohol use
during this time may affect brain development?
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
death among youth ages 15 to 20, and the rate of fatal
crashes among alcohol-involved drivers between 16
and 20 years old is more than twice the rate for alco-
hol-involved drivers 21 and older. Alcohol use also is
linked with youthful deaths by drowning, suicide, and
homicide?
• Alcohol use is associated with many adolescent
risk behaviors, including other drug use and delin
quency, weapon carrying and fighting, and perpetrat
ing or being the victim of date rape?
*Data from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism
Alcohol Awareness Week was held on the WCC Cam
pus November 1-5. A variety of educational activities
for students, faculty, and staff were offered.
At the entrance of the Student Commons a large ban
ner displayed messages concerning awareness of alco
hol abuse.
On Tuesday, Dr. Stephen Walker, Assistant Professor
in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at
Wake Forest University School of Medicine, presented
his findings on the biological/genetic basis of sub
stance abuse. His discussion centered on the results of
chronic alcohol consumption in primates. Dr. Walker
stated that the use of drugs to “solve problems” is a
major contributing factor in becoming addicted. One
can develop a tolerance and physical dependence
where brain patterns change to the point that receiving
the drug in the body becomes the norm. This equates
to psychological and physiological dependence. He
also noted that the cost of substance abuse to society is
great. It causes more deaths, illnesses, and disabilities
than any of the other preventable diseases. Alcohol
can be attributed to one-half of all prison incarcera
tions and 40% of federal prisoner of violent crime sen
tencing. A practical point which Dr. Walker empha
sized was that an individual can have a genetic dispo
sition for alcohol addiction; however, if the person
does not drink, then there will never be an addiction
problem.
On Wednesday, Byron Brooks, mental health coun
selor at N.C. Central University presented, “Substance
Abuse 101.” His discussion centered around the most
common drugs of abuse, the most dangerous drug of
abuse, and why people use and abuse. Mr. Brooks
stated that alcohol is the biggest social problem in
America, “I want to make students aware of the health
effects of substance abuse. More students will die
from alcohol-related causes than will graduate with
advanced degrees. That’s the information that I want
students to know, the true costs of drinking and drug
use.”
On Thursday 145 students, faculty, and staff partici
pated in the “Save A Life” Drunk Driving Simulator.
The experience created a firsthand simulation of the
devastating effects of driving under the influence of
alcohol. Each participant was issued a citation of their
infractions and consequences.
During the upcoming holidays individuals will be cele
brating the season with family and friends. Make a
pledge today to be responsible, safe, and sober in order
to fully enjoy this special time of the year with loved
ones.
*For more infomiation on alcohol issues, log on to
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
Drunk Driving Simulator