Since 1987, April has been deemed Alcohol Awareness Month, sponsored and funded by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. The month is dedicated to raising public awareness for alcohol abuse as well as encouraging communities to take action regarding prevention and alcohol-related issues. Every year, the NCADD and other supporting organizations reach out to the American public with information about alcoholism and recovery options.
Alcohol Awareness Month is aimed at reducing the stigma and negativity around alcoholism, and replacing it with compassion and understanding towards those affected. Not only that, but working towards making treatment options more readily available by spreading knowledge and decreasing misunderstandings towards alcoholism treatment and recovery.
Alcohol Awareness Month 2018
This year’s theme, “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage’”, is all about educating individuals about the prevention of alcohol abuse, especially among the youth of America. It stresses the importance and influence of the role of parents in teaching their children about the effect that alcohol can have on their lives. For the entire month of April, the NCADD and other supporting organizations will hold events at local, state and national events stressing the critical public health issue of underage drinking.
Alcohol misuse has the potential to impact individuals as well as entire communities. Consuming too much alcohol increases the risk of violence, injury, disease, and some forms of cancer. Alcohol Awareness Month encourages local communities to get informed and inform others on the damaging individual, family, and community consequences of underage alcohol use.
Becoming More Aware
The month of April and Alcohol Awareness is designated for people to become more conscious of their own drinking habits in order to stay aware. The most effective way to prevent the possible damage to your body and mind by alcohol abuse is to identify the signs of abuse early. Taking time to recognize why you are drinking can help to identify possible signs of alcohol abuse.
Some questions to ask yourself:
- Am I using alcohol as an escape? Will it make this situation better in any way?
- Why am I drinking? Do I feel pressured?
- Do I even want to drink right now? Do I like the flavor?
- How much have I had to drink this month?
If you feel like you may be suffering from alcohol abuse, it is important to seek professional help to prevent alcohol from controlling your life.
Spreading Awareness
Once you are educated yourself, you can start to spread awareness for alcohol abuse and treatment options throughout your community. Bringing attention to the cause will inspire others to analyze their own drinking habits and hopefully seek help if necessary.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there are an estimated 88,000 alcohol-related deaths in the United States per year. Alcohol is the third most preventable cause of death in the nation. The stigma surrounding alcohol abuse can be decreased by bringing attention to the cause and spreading the facts.
What Can You Do?
You may be wondering what you can do to make a difference during Alcohol Awareness Month. It is important to remember that every attempt, big or small, can make a big difference in someone’s life. Whether at home or within the community, there are several things you can do to make an impact this month, including:
- Using social media to spread the word.
- Encouraing friends and family members to make small changes in their drinking habits.
- Sharing information about alcoholism with parents to discuss with their children.
- Creating a community newsletter with alcohol abuse information.
- Learning more about local addiction resources in your community and passing along that information.
- Adding information or banners to your company newsletter or website.
- Sharing resources about health topics and tools that can keep people informed.
The prevalence of alcohol abuse among Americans is staggering, but it is 100% preventable. Alcohol Awareness Day was created to bring awareness to the situation, and to let those dealing with alcohol abuse that recovery and treatment is possible. By keeping the American public informed and educated on the damaged effects of alcohol misuse, we can end the stigma and make treatment options more available while practicing prevention methods.
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