The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) observes National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week each March. A platform used to educate citizens and raise awareness about the dangers of substance misuse, the annual observance serves to arm Alabama’s youth with the knowledge they need to make informed life decisions, particularly in regard to drug and alcohol use.

The emphasis began this year on Saint Patrick’s Day, running from March 17 – 23. It’s more than a coincidence that on the same day, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) shared a message titled, “Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving,” urging drivers to remember that drinking and driving can be deadly and should never be an option.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 38% of traffic fatalities occurring on Saint Parick’s Day between 2018 and 2022 involved drunk drivers. In 2022, 74 drunk-driving fatalities took place on March 17 and 49 of those involved drivers with a blood alcohol level almost twice the legal limit.

The agency reports that drivers ages 21 – 34 were the age group most involved in alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities during the holliday. It bears mentioning that young adults, just beginning a promising, independent life full of possibilities, are most at risk of losing it all with the choice to drink and drive.

The week is focused on f more than awareness. Aimed at starting meaningful conversations, challenging misconceptions and providing people, especially young citizens, with facts about addiction and the impacts of drug and alcohol, the observance is not just for those who consider drug or alcohol use. It is also for the ones who, out of love for one another, may need to encourage the conversations needed to educate others or inspire someone battling substance abuse to seek much-needed help.

The ADMH emphasizes its commitment to fostering a healthier, more informed community extending beyond the observance. Saint Patrick’s Day is a great time to start conversations which can continue throughout the whole year.

To find out more about substance misuse education and preventions, visit the Council on Substance Abuse website, www.cosancadd.org, or the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) at www.asaprev.com.