Lake County proclaims April 2025 Alcohol Awareness Month; behavioral health highlights DUI services and new MAT grant

The Lake County Board of Supervisors on April 22 adopted a proclamation designating April 2025 as Alcohol Awareness Month in Lake County, citing local program data and urging community participation in prevention and treatment efforts.

The proclamation, presented by the board and the Lake County Department of Behavioral Health Services, noted 2024 program metrics: 563 participants in DUI program services, 566 substance‑use treatment service requests and 256 individuals offered treatment services. Officials also cited a youth binge‑drinking rate in Lake County of roughly 20.23 percent for ages 12 to 17, a statistic the proclamation said exceeds the state average.

Lake County Behavioral Health Director Elise Jones and staff described local prevention and treatment work. Paul Verhey, senior DUI counselor, said DUI programs serve as early intervention and can connect clients to integrated care, including medication‑assisted treatment (MAT). Verhey announced a new DUI MAT grant awarded by the California Department of Health Care Services in partnership with the California Association of DUI Treatment Programs; the award will expand access to opioid and polysubstance early‑intervention services and in‑house addiction‑medication services in Lucerne.

Verhey and other speakers also shared county public‑health data: a 2023 self‑report that roughly 21.5 percent of Lake County adults reported heavy or binge drinking, and county rates of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis of 42.9 per 100,000 residents compared with a state average of 13 per 100,000. Verhey described recovery work and said the county’s DUI program keeps fees low for residents and aims to be accessible.

Partner organizations described services for pregnant and parenting people and youth prevention campaigns. Redwood Community Services said it offers residential and outpatient services with childcare for children up to age 12. Speakers from Lake County Behavioral Health and program partners urged community members to support prevention, early intervention and treatment and noted available local services and referral pathways.

Why it matters: County staff and partners emphasized that alcohol misuse is a driver of preventable illness, traffic fatalities and other harms locally and that expanding treatment options, including MAT, and youth prevention can reduce long‑term harm.

What the board did: The board adopted the proclamation and received presentations from Behavioral Health staff and partner agencies. No legislative action or spending appropriation was made at the meeting.

Sources and next steps: Behavioral Health said the DUI MAT grant will support services in Lucerne; staff encouraged community members to refer people in need to county programs and partner agencies.