April 2021
Newsletter Special Edition:
April is Alcohol Awareness Month!
Each April, communities across the country celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month to share information about the facts and consequences of alcohol use and to raise awareness about the causes and effects of a substance use disorder.

SAPCA invites everyone in our community -- youth, parents, and caring adults -- to join in recognizing and participating in Alcohol Awareness Month by:


Together, we can ensure that youth in Alexandria have the information and tools to make informed choices about their health and future so they can thrive today, tomorrow and in the future.

To learn about other ways to support local efforts to prevent youth substance use and misuse, contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov
The brain is not fully developed until age 25.
Drinking alcohol during the teen years can harm the growing brain and increase the risk of developing alcohol use disorder later in life.

Even small amounts of alcohol impact judgment, coordination, and the way you make decisions.
Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, which can result in saying something out of character or making choices you may not normally make -- such as getting in a car with someone that has been drinking alcohol and plans to drive.

Alcohol use disorder can be genetic.
Research has shown that alcohol use disorder runs in families. Young people with parents that have a history of substance use are four times more likely to develop a substance use disorder if they choose to drink alcohol. If substance use runs in your family, it’s important to realize that you are at a higher risk of developing alcoholism if you drink. 
The amount of liquid in a glass, can or bottle does not always match up with how much alcohol is in a drink.
In the United States, a standard drink contains about 0.6 fluid ounces, or 14 grams, of pure alcohol. Even though they come in different sizes, the drinks pictured here are examples of one standard drink and each contain approximately the same amount of alcohol
Binge drinking is the most common, costly, and deadly pattern of  excessive alcohol use in the United States. 
Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 g/dl or above. This typically happens when men consume five or more drinks or women consume four or more drinks in about two hours.

Alcohol use disorder is a treatable medical condition, not a moral failure.
Alcohol use disorder is characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite social, occupational, or health consequences. It encompasses the conditions that some people refer to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and the colloquial term, alcoholism. No matter how severe the problem may seem, evidence-based treatment can help people with alcohol use disorder achieve and maintain recovery.
It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for adults to provide alcoholic beverages to any person under the age of 21.
Upon conviction, legal penalties for adults that provide alcohol to persons under 21 include:
  • A $2,500 fine per young person provided any alcoholic beverage and
  • Loss of the adult’s driver’s license for up to one year and/or one year in jail.
It is a Class 1 misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to buy, consume, or possess any alcohol beverage.
Upon conviction, penalties include:
  • Mandatory minimum fine of $500 (up to $2,500) or a minimum of 50 hours of community service
  • Loss of driver’s license for 6 to 12 months
  • Up to 12 months in jail
  • Possible expulsion from school if caught on school property and/or possible loss of participation in all after school activities
  • The additional penalty for driving after illegally consuming alcohol is mandatory loss of a driver’s license for one year or a delay in obtaining a first license.
  • For use of a fake ID to purchase an alcoholic beverage, the additional penalty is loss of a driver’s license for up to one year.

For answers to other questions about alcohol, marijuana vaping or other drugs, text DRUGS to 30644 for a response within 24 hours.

Need an answer sooner? Visit PreventItAlexandria.org
Resource Spotlight: Exploring Healthy Coping Practices

How do you cope with stress? There are many ways to adjust to change and uncertainty, but did you know choosing healthy ways to cope can impact your own health and resilience and the health and resilience of your families and your community? Take a few minutes this week to explore healthy coping practices, such as creating space to exercise, video chatting with friends or family or spending five or ten minutes using a meditation app. Then, try to practice one of these approaches next time you are stressed. You can also encourage friends and family to explore healthy coping practices with you and reflect on your experiences together. Click here to explore more ways to cope in a healthy way.
Supporting Healthy Youth and Healthy Families

Even though it might not seem like it, children and teens hear you when you talk to them about alcohol. Plus, children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about alcohol and other drugs are 42% less likely to use these substances.

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Connect With Us
SAPCA
Alexandria Teen Life
Contact Us
Emma Beall, MPH
SAPCA Coordinator
O: 703.746.3670 
C: 571.302.1022
Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria 
123 N Pitt St, Suite 225
Alexandria, VA 22314