Proclaiming April of 2026, to Be "Alcohol Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, "Alcohol Awareness Month" is a public health program which began in April of 1987, and is organized by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence as a way of increasing outreach and education regarding the dangers of alcoholism and issues related to alcohol; and

WHEREAS, Alcohol abuse affects everyone, not simply the person with the drinking problem. It impacts family, friends, and the workplace. The numerous initiatives promulgated during Alcohol Awareness Month benefit everyone, and all people and organizations are welcome to participate including parents, schools, healthcare facilities, medical professionals, law enforcement, substance abuse organizations, faith-based groups and other important community organizations; and

WHEREAS, The disease of addiction, including dangerous alcohol use, continues to devastate Rhode Island's communities and remains a public health emergency that poses a significant public health and safety threat to our State; and

WHEREAS, According to the 20 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 33 percent (12.7 million) of young people aged 12 to 20 have consumed at least one alcoholic drink in their lives. Similarly, 27 percent (10.4 million) reported that they drank alcohol in the past year, and 13.3 percent (5.1 million) of young people aged 12 to 20 reported that they drank alcohol in the past month. In addition, 7.6 percent (2.9 million) reported that they engaged in binge drinking of alcohol in the past month; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Center For Health Statistics, collectively, alcohol-related deaths in the United States cost the United States Economy approximately $249 billion dollars and shorten the lives of those who die by an average of 24 years; and

WHEREAS, According to Susan G. Komen Foundation, excessive alcohol use is linked to at least seven types of cancer: breast, colorectal, esophagus, larynx (voice box), liver, mouth, and throat; and

WHEREAS, According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2024, there were an estimated total of 3.3 million emergency room visits in the United States related to alcohol. Overall, alcohol was the most prevalent in substance-related emergency room visits, with approximately 38.9 percent; and

WHEREAS, The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that nearly 18 percent of Rhode Islanders binge drink with approximately 500-600 deaths per year in Rhode Island are attributable to excessive alcohol use; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims April of 2026, to be "Alcohol Awareness Month"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Richard Charest, Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Jerome Larkin, MD, Director of the Department of Health, and Richard Leclerc, Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.