Did You Know? 11% of Alcohol in the US is Consumed by Underage Drinkers
Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States, and youth alcohol consumption is a big problem in Benton County. Alcohol abuse often leads to risky behaviors like binge drinking and drunk driving, which have the potential of harming other people as well as the individual doing the drinking.Â
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Get The FAQs Answers to Your Most Common Questions About Alcohol
Your brain isn't finished developing until you're in your mid-twenties, generally speaking. Using alcohol while your brain is still developing has been shown to affect the parts of the brain that control memory, learning, impulse control, language, and decision-making—in short, parts that are really important!
Your age when you take your first alcoholic drink is also a major factor in your likelihood of addiction down the road. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, people who begin drinking before age 15 are 5 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than people who waited until they turned 21.Â
Alcohol is a toxin that affects your central nervous system, and when you drink a lot of it in a short period of time, you're at risk of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is a potentially fatal complication of alcohol use that can cause you to become confused, pass out, throw up, slow or stop breathing, and/or have seizures. A person experiencing alcohol poisoning needs to be seen by a medical professional immediately.
Binge drinking means consuming an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. Generally speaking, this means five or more drinks within two hours for a man, and four or more drinks within two hours for a woman. Binge drinking can results in accidents, injuries, violent behaviors, sexually transmitted diseases, and alcohol dependence, just to name a few.Â
Drug & Alcohol Treatment in and around Prosser, Washington
If you or someone you know is in need of treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, please contact one of the following organizations.
Integrity Support Services, LLC
242 Division Street
Grandview, WA. 98930
(509) 882-8012
Valley Vista Medical Group
820 Memorial Street, Suite 1
Prosser, WA 99350
(509) 786-2010
Central Washington Comprehensive MH Sunnyside Center
1319 Saul Road
Sunnyside, WA 98944
(509) 837-2089
Merit Resource
Services
702 Franklin Avenue
Sunnyside, WA. 98944
(509) 837-7700