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Proclamation: Alcohol Awareness Month

PROCLAMATION

Underage drinking poses a number of immediate and long-term threats to young Hawaii residents and visitors. Often, before an adolescent reaches adulthood, they are exposed to the negative influences of alcohol and drug abuse.

According to the Hawaii State Health Department’s Alcohol and Drug Division, alcohol use is second only to marijuana as the preferred illicit drug in Hawaii for youth. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) notes that alcohol is the most significant contributor in automobile crashes, homicides and suicides – the three leading causes of death among adolescents. Early exposure to alcohol can also affect individuals once they become adults by increasing their chances of habitual binge drinking or becoming addicted to alcohol or illegal drugs.

For the past 22 years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month as part of a national effort to educate the public about the long-term effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

The Hawaii Partnership To Prevent Underage Drinking and Hawaii State Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division work continually with members of law enforcement, organizations, families, schools and concerned individuals throughout Hawaii to educate young people, parents and caretakers on underage drinking.

The Hawaii Strategic Prevention Framework – State Incentive Grant Project aims to combat underage alcohol consumption by youth ages 12 –17 years old by leveraging both state and county resources to implement evidence-based programs that work to eliminate risk factors and to strengthen protective factors that will allow youth to choose alcohol free lifestyles.

THEREFORE, I, LINDA LINGLE, Governor, and I, JAMES R. “DUKE” AIONA, JR., Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii, do hereby proclaim April 2010, as ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH in Hawaii, and urge all citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions and businesses to invest in preventing underage drinking by talking to young people and reminding them that 70 percent of Hawaii teenagers do not drink alcohol.

DONE at the State Capitol, in the Executive Chambers, Honolulu, State of Hawaii, this thirteenth day of April 2010.

Linda Lingle
Governor, State of Hawaii

James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr.
Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawaii

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