Many of us know alcohol consumption is one of the main causes of car accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 29 people per day in the United states die from a car crash involving a drunk driver.
Depending on how much alcohol you consume, alcohol can go from being an enjoyable beverage to an addictive drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alcohol has short- and long-term health effects on our bodies. Some long-term effects are liver disease, cancer and even anxiety and depression. Although alcohol is legal for adults 21 and older, it is risky to drink excessively.
The National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week is an educational week for students to learn about the effects of alcohol and the necessary steps students should take to avoid getting into a car accident. Many colleges have activities for their students to participate in. Students need to be aware of how dangerous alcohol is and how to drink responsibly.
The Health and Wellness Center here in Penn State Altoona suggest that students shouldn’t have drinks back-to-back. This includes beer, wine, and liquor (vodka, tequila, and Whiskey). This increases the chances of getting alcohol poisoning. The Health and Wellness Center also suggest that student should always serve their own drink. This is important because it’s easy for someone to put something in your drink while you’re not looking.
A few students here at Penn State Altoona were asked about their experience with alcohol and what they have to say about alcohol awareness.
Eemonie Moore, a freshman psychology major from Connecticut, said, “I’ve tried alcohol before, but I didn’t like it, it has a bad taste, so I wasn’t interested in drinking more. I think it important for kids our age to be aware of what alcohol can do.”
Jana Baligod, also a freshman forensic science major from south New Jersey, said, “I think our families should expose us to alcohol, this will allow us to acknowledge how alcohol affects our life and our body.”