For the Media/Press Release

Young people's=20 drinking means parents seeking help

Al-Anon = Family=20 Group's most recent Membership Survey shows 26 percent of members = in the=20 US have a child with a drinking problem. Al-Anon's findings = match=20 study results released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health = Services=20 Administration (SAMHSA).

SAMHSA's 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health = reveals=20 that the highest prevalence of binge and heavy drinking is for = young=20 adults aged 18 to 25, with a binge drinking rate of 41.6 percent, = and a=20 "heavy alcohol use" rate of 15.1 percent. The study=20 also reveals that 29 percent of youths aged 12 to = 20=20 drink alcohol, and that full-time college students are more likely = than=20 other young people to use and abuse alcohol.

Parents of binge drinking teens and young adults find help and = support=20 in Al-Anon Family Group meetings. In a supportive, = confidential=20 environment, they share their fears and frustrations, and hear the = experiences of other parents. For 55 years, Al-Anon members = have=20 helped each other cope with problem drinking in relatives or = friends.=20 They learn that to help the drinker, they must help = themselves=20 first.

Harvey S.*, a member from North Carolina, shares: "When = I came=20 to Al-Anon, I carried a heavy load of depression, guilt, and = sadness. I=20 suffered from the effects of dealing with a drinking son. I = was in=20 sheer desperation and could see no light at the end of the tunnel. = =20 Somehow I felt I was responsible for the drinking. In = Al-Anon I=20 found people who understood, cared, and accepted me as I was. = They=20 loved me even when I did not love myself. I left my first = meeting=20 with hope and the knowledge I was not alone in my struggle. = I=20 grasped this program as if it were a life preserver that someone = had=20 thrown to me."

Al-Anon Family Group meetings (including Alateen for younger = family=20 members) are available in most communities. Check the white = pages=20 under "Al-Anon," visit www.al-anon.alateen.org, or call = 1-888-4AL-ANON,=20 Monday - Friday, 8 am - 6 pm ET (US, Canada, and the=20 Caribbean).

# #=20 #

*In = keeping with=20 Al-Anon's Tradition of anonymity, members are identified in the = media with=20 first names only.

Al-Anon Membership Survey results are available = at http://www.al-anon.org/survey.html . = SAMHSA's=20 study is available at www.oas.samhsa.gov

Privacy = Statement=20