Pretty much every teen knows what alcohol looks like, how it's packaged, and how it makes you feel.  But what a lot of teens don't realize is that alcohol is a drug.  Its scientific name is ethyl alcohol and it is classified as a depressant, the same drug class as a barbiturate or tranquilizer.  Alcohol is unique because it is legal for adults to buy and drink and is widely accepted in our culture.  In fact, alcohol is the most popular drug among youth and adults in our country.

Sadly, alcohol is also one of the most deadly drugs available to our youth today.  The leading cause of death among teens in this country is alcohol-related traffic accidents.  Alcohol also causes heart disease, high blood pressure, liver damage, brain damage, and many other health problems.  Alcohol is an addictive drug.  The medical term for this addiction is alcoholism.  It strikes all age groups; about ten percent of the population will develop the disease.

Links

Drinking: It Can Spin Your World Around: Facts for Teens

The Teens Health site has up to date information about alcohol and can answer any questions you may have on the subject of alcohol.

The Partnership for a Drug Free America  has basic information on alcohol.  There are also links for related topics, quizzes, and stories about alcohol.

NIAAA has information that can help you detect if you have a problem with alcohol and how you can break habits.  It tells you how much is too much, strategies for cutting down, and questions and answers.

Most of your questions will be answered about NIAAA!

Only you can decide: Is AA for you?

Do you know what AA is exactly? Here’s some history!

Is your drinking a problem? Answer these questions to find out.

Where do I find AA meetings?

Is alcoholism a disease? Inherited? Curable? Do alcoholic programs actually work?

Local Resources

Twin County Recovery Services                                                                                                                  
428 West Main Street
Catskill, NY 12414
518-943-2744
518-943-2036 (Hotline)

Alcoholics Anonymous

P.O. Box 376

Catskill, NY 12414

518-943-9394

518-625-2002

Al-Anon Family Groups or Alateen

P.O. Box 14313

Albany, NY 12212-4313

518-292-0577

Albany Citizens Council on Alcoholism

and other Chemical Dependencies Inc.

P.O. Box 4007

Albany, NY 12204

518-465-5470

ONE SERVING SIZE OF ALCOHOL

St. Peters Addiction Recovery Center                                                                                      

3 Mercycare Lane

Guilderland, NY 12084

518-452-6700

National Resources

Alcoholics Hotline

1-800-331-2900

Nasaic Hotline

1-800-784-6776

Al-Anon For Families of Alcoholics

1-888-425-2666

Alcohol Treatment Referral Hotline

1-800-252-6465

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Hotline

1-800-729-6686

Alcoholics Anonymous

Check your local phone book for listings in your area

www.aa.org

National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information

P.O. Box 2395

Rockville, MD 20847

1-800-729-6686

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)

22 Cortland Street, Suite 801

New York, NY 10007-3128

1-212-269-7797

1-800-NCA-CALL (24 hour hotline)

www. ncadd.org

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304

Bethesda, MD 20892

www.niaaa.nih.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline

1-800-729-6686

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA) Treatment Facility Locator

www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

1-800-662-HELP

Return to Main Page