“The most widely abused drug in America”
Greetings! My name is Hanna*, a volunteer for the Futuro Latino Coalition this semester. I will be creating several blog posts each week on substance abuse and alcohol prevention, offering perspectives and resources on alcohol abuse to students. Posting blogs is very new to me, and hope my skills as a ‘blogger” can improve over the course of posting these articles.
A few things about myself:
- I attend James Madison University
- I am a Biology Major; Pre-Medicine minor
- I like animals, working out, and going on nature walks!
I hope that with my time contributing to the Futuro Latino Coalition team, I’ll be able to become more famliar with substance use prevention strategies and help create a drug-free environment for youth in Harrisonburg.
Educational Facts
Alcohol is a depressant: A depressant slows down vital functions of the body. Four teens die everyday due to drunk driving accidents. When your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) exceeds .08 from alcohol consumption, you are considered impaired and unable to drive. Only time can increase sobriety from alcohol impairment. One drink takes approximately an hour to be used by the body.
Did you know?
Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Over 50% of traffic accidents are involve either drugs or alcohol. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance. 34 of 35 alcoholics have never received any form of treatment. The younger an individual starts drinking, the more likely they are to develop a drinking problem.
With that being said, It’s important to never be afraid to look for help when trying to reduce or stop your alcohol consumption. There’s many resources available in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham county area. Being aware of said resources is the first step in the path to improvement, and the programs available are abundant and there to help. Multiple of these programs include ones that are free, and programs that are anonymous and non-judgemental. A few of these resources include, but aren’t limited to
As well as many others that can be located within the Harrisonburg and Rockingham 
area. On top of local help, there are many resources available nationally, such as SAMHSA, a free national helpline dedicated to helping individuals find local treatments for mental and substance related disorders. They are a confidential information service that is available in both English and Spanish.
To conclude, I want you guys to know that you are not alone. There are many people that care for your well-beings. It’s also important to build relationships with your parents and teachers to discuss important matters like these to a trusted one. Feel free to send us any comments or questions by using the comment section below.
Sources
- https://aavirginia.org/
- http://ceasar.childrenshospital.org/
- http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html
- https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
- https://www.sentara.com/harrisonburg-virginia/medicalservices/services/behavioral-health/services/addiction-services.aspx
- https://www.vaalanon.org/
- Hanna Terrill is a volunteer with Futuro Latino Coalition through the Huber Residential Learning Communities program at James Madison University (JMU). Futuro Latino is a program of the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (IIHHS) at JMU.
Coalición Futuro Latino 