April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and the Berrien County Health Department is spreading awareness about the dangers of underage drinking.
Prevention supervisor Lisa Peeples-Hurst tells us many young people underestimate the risks of alcohol use because the substance is legal. However, it can hinder the development of the brain.
“Primarily in alcohol, we see problems come up that may be school problems, social problems, legal problems, and then even physical problems,” Peeples-Hurst said. “So that early use of alcohol does lend itself to a myriad of different things that can happen.”
According to the 2021-2022 Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth, 16% of Berrien County high school students reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days, and the average age of first alcohol use is 13.5 years. Peeples-Hurst says alcohol is the number one used substance among teens in Berrien County.
“Vaping and marijuana are kind of running neck and neck for second and third, but alcohol is still number one, by far.”
The Berrien County Health Department is doing presentations at schools to spread the message about why underage drinking is dangerous. It also urges parents to talk to their kids and regularly works with vendors to ensure they’re not selling to anyone underage.
