The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

NCADD Action Alert

THE NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING ACT OF 2001

MARCH 30, 2001

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) has introduced legislation to establish a national media campaign to reduce and prevent underage drinking in America. A similar bill was introduced in the previous (106th) session of Congress. Information about the previous version of this bill can be found in the policy archive on the NCADD website.

BACKGROUND

The need for a comprehensive public education campaign aimed at reducing and preventing underage drinking is undeniable: Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal in all 50 states, yet 10.4 million kids in this country consume alcohol illegally starting, on average, at just 13 years of age. (Healthy People 2010 Study, Department of Health and Human Services). Underage drinking contributes to increased motor vehicle accidents, crime, violence, unprotected sex, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, depression, suicide, alcohol dependence, and illegal drug use. Underage drinkers are 22 times more likely to use marijuana and 50 times more likely to try cocaine than kids who do not drink. (National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse at Columbia University). Young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking after 21 years of age. (National Institutes of Health). Heavy and binge drinking adolescents are five times more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Underage drinking costs U.S. society more than $58 billion annually. (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention/Department of Justice and Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Provisions of the legislation: Modeled on the Office of National Drug Control Policy's successful Youth Anti-Drug Campaign, the National Media Campaign to Prevent Underage Drinking will be conducted by the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Public Health and Science, in conjunction with the Surgeon General. The Campaign will use television, radio, print, and other media to educate youth and parents about the serious risks associated with underage drinking. The bill authorizes up to $1 million in the first year for HHS to submit (within six months) a comprehensive strategy to develop, implement, conduct and evaluate the Campaign and "such sums as may be necessary" for the Campaign in the following five years. Like the Office of National Drug Control Policy Anti-Drug Media Campaign, this bill includes a matching requirement to leverage federal expenditures (i.e., media buys). Support: The bill is supported by a broad coalition of health and substance abuse treatment organizations and advocacy groups, including: MADD, Center for Science in the Public Interest, American Medical Association and National Crime Prevention Council.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Representatives are working in their District Offices until April 20 and Senators until April 22. During this recess, members of Congress will be holding town meetings and community forums for their constituents. Attend these meetings and ask about H.R. 1509 (ask Senators if they would be willing to offer a similar bill for consideration in the Senate). You may prefer to set up a personal meeting with your Representative or Senators to discuss the need for this national media campaign. What to Ask: H.R. 1509 will develop and implement a national media campaign for the purpose of reducing and preventing underage drinking in the US. Will you support such an effort and sign on as a co-sponsor? Additionally, please write members of Congress to make the above points. The address for your member of Congress is: U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 If you have any questions, please contact the Policy Office via email at publicpolicy@ncadd.org.

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

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