In April most people know that April Fool’s Day is the first day of April. On that day, we play pranks on friends in good-natured fun. What’s not funny is alcohol abuse.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. It’s also the month of the Bob Jones prom, and it’s important for teens to be reminded of the dangers of alcohol. 

Alcohol is a dangerous, especially with teens. It is a danger to themselves and to society. Alcohol is often directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, educational failure, overdose, unsafe sex and other problem behaviors, even for those who may never develop a dependence or addiction.

According to the 2015 National Drug Use survey, an estimated 623,000 adolescents ages 12–17 have had at least one drink. It is estimated that 88,000 people die to alcohol related causes yearly. Drinking and driving is careless; it affects both the individual and completely innocent victims on the road.

Though Alcohol Awareness Month doesn’t get as much attention as Healthy Heart Month or Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is just as important.