The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 raised the minimum legal drinking age to 21. Motor vehicle crashes and underage drinking saw immediate decreases in the years following the passage of this bill. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act followed suit 35 years later when it raised the age of sale for tobacco products from 18 to 21 in December 2019. This law applies to all tobacco products including e-cigarettes. The age limit of 21 is important because people under 21 are more susceptible to the negative effects of substances.
The brain is not fully developed until a person reaches their mid-20s. The rapid development during adolescence gives us the cognitive, emotional, and social skills to survive and thrive. Alcohol and tobacco impact the brain in different ways. Alcohol use during adolescence has been tied to reductions in the size of the frontal lobe, hippocampus, and the amygdala. These regions of the brain are responsible for decision-making, learning and memory, and fear-sensing among other things. Smoking and vaping during adolescence increases stress levels and the likelihood of nicotine addiction as an adult. Additional harms from using alcohol and tobacco at a young age include:
Social, academic, and legal issues
Physical and mental conditions
Increased likelihood of developing a substance use disorder later in life
The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for planning and decision-making, is one of the last areas of the brain to develop. This is why youth are more likely to take risks and engage in unsafe behaviors. The parts of the brain that respond to rewards and stressors are very active in adolescence which means youth will experience higher highs and lower lows when they experiment with substances. An age limit of 21 on alcohol and tobacco removes one barrier of entry for youth, and makes it less likely that they will experience the negative outcomes associated with using those substances.
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Wayne County Coalitions strives to observe the many different awareness events throughout the year that focus on mental health, substance use prevention, and other important topics. Please visit the links below for information and resources.
National Human Trafficking Prevention Month: The U.S. Department of State estimates that 27.6 million people are trafficked around the world, including the United States. Human Trafficking Prevention Month brings awareness to this issue and celebrates the efforts being made to stop it.
Mental Wellness Month: January is Mental Wellness Month because we need a reminder to take care of our mental well-being after the busy holiday season. Mental health significantly impacts our physical health, so take some time this month to recharge and prepare for 2025.
January 20th – Martin Luther King Jr. Day: This day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the life of MLK and consider the work that needs to be done to address racial equality and civil rights issues.
January 27th – International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Also known as Holocaust Memorial Day, this year marks 80 years since the largest Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, was liberated. This year’s theme is For a Better Future, which tasks us with learning from the Holocaust and recent genocides so we can create a better future.
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