Northwest Iowa — “Help for Today and Hope for Tomorrow” is the theme for the 33rd Annual Alcohol Awareness Month in April.
Compass Pointe — the area alcohol and drug abuse center — works to help families touched by alcohol abuse and works to prevent alcohol abuse. Cheryl Buntsma with Compass Pointe works in the prevention area. She tells us an “alcohol-free weekend” was last weekend, and gives those affected by alcohol abuse the chance to bring up the topic in conversation. She tells us about the effort.
She says education about the risks of alcohol use and abuse is one of the best ways to prevent abuse. She says those who start using alcohol when they are young are more likely to develop other addictions.
Buntsma also wants to make sure people know about Iowa’s “social host law,” which makes it a crime to host a party involving alcohol for underage kids. She says cities can help in the fight against underage alcohol abuse.
She says that in the past three years Sioux County went from 70th to 24th in per capita alcohol sales. She says that could lead to a problem. Plus, she says increased availability of alcohol in more places since a law change in 2011 could be leading to normalization of alcohol abuse.
Buntsma says that if you need help as someone who is affected by your or someone else’s alcohol abuse or dependency, feel free to call Compass Pointe at 712-262-2952 for support and counseling.
