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

21st Annual
Alcohol Awareness Month

Theme-April 2007:
KEEP OUR FUTURE GROWING:
END UNDERAGE DRINKING

HISTORY:

Alcohol Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence since 1987, encourages local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. Alcohol Awareness Month began as a way of reaching the American public with information about the disease of alcoholism - that it is a treatable disease, not a moral weakness, and that alcoholics are capable of recovery. As a national public awareness campaign, Alcohol Awareness Month has featured honorary chairpersons such as Senator George McGovern, Dr. David Satcher, the former Surgeon General, Barry McCaffrey, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, New York Yankees baseball star Derek Jeter, and has collaborated with organizations such as The Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, a unique coalition of more than 30 Governors' spouses, Federal agencies, and public and private groups focused on preventing the use of alcohol by children ages 9 to 15. A primary focus of Alcohol Awareness Month over the past ten years has been Underage Drinking and the devastating effects it can have on our youth.

An integral part of Alcohol Awareness Month has been Alcohol-Free Weekend, which takes place on the first weekend of April (April 6-8, 2007). Alcohol-Free Weekend is designed to raise public awareness about the use of alcohol and how it may be affecting individuals, families, and businesses. During Alcohol-Free Weekend, NCADD extends an open invitation to all Americans to engage in three alcohol-free days. Those who experience difficulty or discomfort in this 72-hour experiment are urged to contact local NCADD affiliates, Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon to learn more about alcoholism and its early symptoms. Essentially, it is a community consciousness-raising effort about alcoholism and health related issues and may serve as a trigger to recovery.

SOME HELPFUL LINKS

• Center for Science in the Public Interest
  http://www.cspinet.org/booze/youthsurveys.htm
• American Medical Association
  http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3566.html
• National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
  http://store.health.org/catalog/results.aspx?h=publications&topic=97
• Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth
  http://camy.org/
• Youth, Alcohol and Other Drugs Fact Sheet
  http://www.ncadd.org/facts/youthalc.html
• Underage Drinking Fact Sheet
  http://www.ncadd.org/facts/youthalc.html
• Alcoholics Anonymous
  http://www.aa.org
• Al-Anon
  http://www.al-anon.alateen.org
• National Association for Children of Alcoholics
  http://www.nacoa.org
• Facts On Tap
  http://www.factsontap.org

April 2007:

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THIS KIT

1. All of the materials may be reproduced or adapted to your own needs and distributed within your community without permission. An acknowledgment that the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. is the sponsor of Alcohol Awareness Month, and identification of our website (www.ncadd.org) as an information resource would be appreciated.
   
   
2. Distribute materials to other organizations and local print media to begin generating early community interest in Alcohol Awareness Month.
   
   
3. Add local information to the sample proclamation and press materials to greatly increase their appeal for officials and media in your community.
   
   
4. The following time line may be helpful in using this kit:
   • JANUARY: Customize materials for use in your community; identify public official to issue proclamation; begin planning suggested grassroots activities or develop your own activities; place camera-ready advertisements.
   • FEBRUARY: Submit live copy PSAs to radio stations.
   • MARCH: Adapt sample proclamation and press materials for local use; plan proclamation ceremony or press event to kick-off Alcohol Awareness Month; distribute media advisory and news release; make follow-up phone calls to media.
   • APRIL: Publicize each of your Alcohol Awareness Month activities to target audiences; submit letter to the editor and op-ed piece.

Kit Contents:

PDF DOWNLOAD	WORD DOWNLOAD
		Organizer's Guide · (includes Sample Proclamation; Media Advisory & News Release; :30 Radio PSA Scripts; Op-Ed Piece; Letter to the Editor; Suggested Grassroots Activities)
		· Youth, Alcohol and Other Drugs Fact Sheet (online)
		2007 Resource and Referral Guide