GET THE FACTS ...
Alcohol Affects Your Brain. Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgement, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts.
Alcohol Affects Your Body. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases.
Alcohol Affects Your Self-Control. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions, and impairs your judgement. Drinking can lead to risky behavior, including having inprotected sex. This may expose you to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases or cause unwanted pregnancy.
Alcohol Can Kill You. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to coma or even death. Also, in the late 1990's, nearly 40% of traffic deaths of 15-20 year olds were alcohol-related.
Alcohol Can Hurt You, Even if You Aren't the One Drinking. If you're around people who are drinking, you have an increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence. At the very least, you may have to deal with people who are sick, out of control, or unable to take care of themselves.
BEFORE YOU RISK IT ...
Know the Law. It is illegal to buy or possess alcohol if you are under 21.Get the Facts. One drink can make you fail a breath test. In some states, people under the age of 21 who are found to have any amount of alcohol in their systems can lose their driver's license, be subject to heavy fine, or have their car permanently taken away.
Stay Informed. "Binge" drinking means having 5 or more drinks on one occasion. About 15% of teens are binge drinkers in any given month.
Know the Risks. Mixing alcohol with medications or illicit drugs is extremely dangerous and can lead to accidental death. For example, alcohol-medication interactions may be a factor in at least 25% of emergency room admissions.
Keep Your Edge. Alcohol can make you gain weight and give you bad breath.
Look Around You. Most teens aren't drinking alcohol. Research shows that 70% of 12-20 year olds haven't had a drink in the past month.
KNOW THE SIGNS ...
How can you tell if a friend has a drinking problem? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:- getting drunk on a regular basis
- lying about how much alcohol he or she is using
- believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun
- having frequent hangovers
- feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal
- having "blackouts" - forgetting what he or she did while drinking
- having problems at school or getting in trouble with the law
Q&A
Q: Aren't beer and wine "safer" than liquor?A: No. One 12-ounce beer has about as much alcohol as a 1.5-ounce shot of liquor, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a wine cooler.
Q: Why can't teens drink if their parents do?
A: Teen's bodies are still developing and alcohol has a greater impact on their physical well-being. For example, people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin at age 21.
Q: How can I say no to alcohol? I'm afraid I won't fit in.
A: Remember, you're in good company. The majority of teens don't drink alcohol. Also, it's not as hard to refuse as you might think. Try: "No thanks," "I don't drink," or "I'm not interested."
For more information, visit www.health.org
www.thecoolspot.gov - Check out this COOL site to get your facts straight about alcohol and resisting peer pressure.
YOUNG PEOPLE'S CT: A.A. MEETINGS
Find an A.A. meeting near you. Quickly and easily search by city, town or district, by date, or by meeting type at Ct-aa.org.
| TOWN | DAY | TIME | ADDRESS | TYPE |
| Ansonia | Thursday | 9:15 p.m. | Sahara Club: 165 North Main St. | O |
| Cannan | Tuesday | 8:00 p.m. | Christ Episcopal Church: Main St. | OD |
| Canton | Tuesday | 7:30 p.m. | Congregational Church: 184 Cherry Brook (Rte. 179) | OD |
| Coventry | Monday | 7:00 p.m. | OBB | |
| Danbury | Saturday | 11:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall Westconn.: James Roach Blvd. | |
| Deep River | Thursday | 8:00 p.m. | Congregational Church: 1 Church St. (Rte. 154) | OD |
| East Lyme | Tuesday | 6:00 p.m. | Flanders Baptist Church: 138 Boston Post Rd. | |
| Enfield | Friday | 7:00 p.m. | St. Adelbert's Church: 90 Alden Ave. | OSD |
| Fairfield | Saturday | 5:30 p.m. | Club 12 @ St. Emery School: Halley Ave. | OD |
| Greenwich | Saturday | 5:00 p.m. | Teen Center: 100 Arch St. | OD |
| Guilford | Wednesday | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Congregational Church: Guilford Green | |
| Naugatuck | Saturday | 7:30 p.m. | Salem Lutheran Church: 14 Salem St. | |
| New Haven | Monday Tuesday | 8:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. | 1st Baptist Church: Livingston & Edwards Streets | CBB CST |
| Norwich | Wednesday | 8:00 p.m. | Congregational Baptist Church: 2 Union Square | OD |
| Putnam | Friday | 8:00 p.m. | St. Mary's Church: Providence & Marshall Streets | OSD |
| Stamford | Monday | 8:15 p.m. | Glenbrook Community Center: 35 Crescent St. | CD |
| Trumbull | Thursday | 7:30 p.m. | Grace Episcopal Church: 5958 Main St. | OD |
| Waterbury | Wednesday | 7:30 p.m. | Congregational Church: 274 Bunker Hill Ave. | OD |
| Winsted | Monday | 7:00 p.m. | St. Joseph's Church: 31 Oak St. | OD |