DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. - An alcohol awareness exhibit drew 364 employees who pledged to not drink intoxicating beverages, or send text messages, while driving an automobile.
The Army Substance Abuse Program set up a bar in a high-traffic area where Sgt. Curt Dennis, garrison police, demonstrated the effects alcohol on the body.
"We strive to present interactive displays to get the message out to the workforce, to get people talking," said Anna Samulski, ASAP program specialist. "Judging from the response of the crowd, I'd say that we were successful."
During the Intoxiclock and SUM It Cup demonstration, participants would present hypothetical situations to Dennis like, "I'm a 220-pound man who has had four whiskey sours in the past hour." Using water, Dennis would then physically pour that amount of "alcohol" into a beaker to give the attendees a visual display of the quantity.
"People may not know how much alcohol they are consuming in a drink and may not know how their blood alcohol concentration changes with each drink they consume," said Samulski. "The result may be underestimating their consumption of alcohol, which can lead to accidental binge drinking and many serious consequences."
Dennis also performed mock field sobriety tests on volunteers, explaining what would happen if individuals were stopped by a police officer.
April is designated as Alcohol Awareness Month to draw attention to the seriousness of alcohol abuse. Other activities promoted during the month target expectant mothers and parents of teens.
With Project Nine-Zero, mothers-to-be take a pledge to remain alcohol and drug free during their pregnancy. In order to acknowledge the commitment to their unborn child, the parents receive books, health information provided by the March of Dimes and a hand-crafted quilt donated by the Oak Park Quilters.
For parents who are preparing to launch their teen to college, informational brochures are provided dealing with subjects such as alcohol-related rights of passage, leaving the safety of home, and the responsibilities of youth and parents when it comes to underage drinking.
Warning Signs of Alcoholism include: drinking alone or secretly, an inability to reduce or stop, worsening eating habits, morning shakiness, declining physical appearance, frequent drinking just to function, finding excuses to drink, and continued use despite consequences.
"I've been working with the ASAP for at least three years now and am glad to be able to help our community," said Dennis.
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