Image: iStockphoto, Dean Mitchell

It has long been a complaint that there are more liquor stores and alcohol advertising in black neighborhoods. One of the main concerns is the effect this has on children who see these ads. But the exposure isn’t just scattered across communities; it goes directly to them through the media as well. A new study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that African-American youth are exposed to more alcohol advertisement. The special report, Exposure of African-American Youth to Alcohol Advertising, 2008 and 2009, contained some sobering stats.

Black youth from the ages of 12 through 20 see more advertisements for alcohol in magazines and on radio and TV compared with all youth in that age group. And get this: the ads are mostly in media targeting black readers. Dr. David Jernigan of John Hopkins, who was a researcher for the study, was recently interviewed on the Tom Joyner morning show. He said that publications like Essence, Vibe, Black Enterprise, and other popular black outlets are filled with alcohol advertisements. The study also pointed to alcohol references in rap music. “A recent content analysis of the most popular rap songs from 1998 to 2009 found that from 2002 to 2005, 64 percent of the songs contained alcohol references,” states the report.

Despite this bombardment of advertising, black youths consume the least amount alcohol of all other races. But still the numbers of African-American adolescents drinking are surprisingly high. In fact, alcohol is the most widely used drug among African-American youth.

The study found that “among African-American high school students nearly 65 percent report having had at least a sip of alcohol and an estimated 25 percent report drinking alcohol for the first time before age 13.3.” And, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, about one in three African American high school students are current drinkers, and about 40 percent of those who drink report binge drinking, defined as drinking five drinks or more in a row.
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Are you dating or married to someone who has a problem with alcohol or substance abuse? Are you tired of the negative affects this problem has had on your relationship and waiting for the one you love to change?

In this video, at Your Tango.com, psychotherapist Julie Orlov helps a reader whose husband is a high-functioning alcoholic. She says she has lost faith that he will ever get sober and is thinking about leaving him. She asks for Julie’s guidance during this tough time in her life.

See what advice the expert has to give at Your Tango.com.

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Tyrese Gibson said his mother struggled with an alcohol addiction for 27 years. And although she’s been sober for 4 years now it’s an issue that’s still close to his heart. Which is why he expressed his opinions about a liquor being located very close to a Delaware elementary school. Turns out the radio station where he was voicing said opinions didn’t want to hear it and asked Tyrese to leave the station.

Yes. Craziness.

Check out Tyrese’s response to the situation and his views on alcohol near children over at Hello Beautiful.

At the beginning of every month I receive a story list as a freelance writer for Madame Noire. This month one of the topics was alcoholism and it shocked the hell out of me. It hit close to home. Not because I’m some raving alcoholic but a few months ago my drinking exploits had become so commonplace that I started looking up quizzes on the internet and talking to people about alcoholism because I was concerned that I might have a problem. Honestly, it was less me thinking I had a problem and more about judgments other people were projecting onto me and my friends. After some much needed reflection I started asking myself the hard questions about my “fun”. What I learned was that I wasn’t an alcoholic per say but I did abuse alcohol at times, usually on the weekend.

You hear about binge drinking all the time in college but if you’re not in a white fraternity somewhere having 24 hour drinking sessions and passing out in your own vomit you don’t think the rules apply to you. So below, I’ve compiled a list of alcoholism symptoms for you to check out just in case someone you know is abusing alcohol or is in fact suffering from alcoholism. Most importantly if you or someone you know has a dependency on alcohol, it’s best to find professional help for yourself/friend or find a supportive circle because you never know the demons people are dealing with.

Let’s take a look at some signs of alcoholism via Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Help’s website:

• Preoccupation or Craving: Spending large amounts of time thinking about your next drink
• Increased Tolerance: Needing more to get the same effect
• Continued Use: Inability to reduce/stop your intake despite progressively damaging consequences
• Withdrawal Symptoms: Like the shakes or nausea and need a drink just to get to ‘normal’ again
• Drink Alone: Often drink secretively to avoid getting caught drinking and to avoid suspicion
• Regular Blackouts
• Hide your Supply: Always have alcohol available, often on you, just ‘in case’ you need some
• Find an Excuse to Drink: You’ll always be able to justify having a drink, e.g. ‘I’ve had a bad day, I’m stressed out … or any other ‘creative’ reason
• Failed Promises: Have promised on more than one occasion (even to yourself) that you’ll cut down or quit without being able to
• Family and Friends Avoided: Often don’t want to do things and spend time with the people you usually do – becoming vague and distant [Source]