Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug in the United States. It is very accessible, and in some cases, people don’t even consider it to be a drug because they can purchase it just about everywhere. Even though you have to be 21 to purchase and legally consume alcohol, many young people, even those as young as age 12, abuse alcohol.

Drinking can make you feel sociable, but it can quickly get out of hand. Using alcohol can have long lasting harmful effects on the body and relationships. So what do you need to know? What does it do to your body — what are some of the consequences?

Numbers don’t lie. Alcohol abuse hits our community hard.

• One in six Native American adolescents (ages 12 to 17) engage in underage drinking, the highest rate of alcohol use of all racial/ethnic groups.
• Native American youth have been found to start consuming alcohol at a younger age and in greater quantities than other youth. (Friese and Grube, 2008; Friese et al., 2011; Spear et al., 2005)
• Your brain continues to develop into your early 20s. Underage drinking can impede that development.

Cotton Candy Punch
¼ cup of pink candy sugar or sprinkles
1 2-liter bottle of lemon-lime or strawberry soda
1 bag of pink cotton candy

This mocktail is fun to serve in wine or champagne flutes. Wet the rim of your glasses, then dip them into sugar. Place some of the pink cotton candy into the glass and fill the glass with soda. Looking for a little extra pizzazz? Add a maraschino cherry to the glass for a garnish!

Cranberry Sangria

3 cups cranberry juice
1 can plain seltzer
1 sliced orange
1 apple, cored and sliced
1/3 cup frozen cranberries

Place juice and fruit in a pitcher or punch bowl. Pour seltzer over the ingredients and enjoy!

Have fun garnishing your drink with evergreen sprigs for a holiday party or an orange paper straw for the fall.