Alcohol Awareness: There is hope and help… By:Fred Knapp Lead Counselor at New Connections Broadlawns Medical Center April is Alcohol Awareness Month which is an annual opportunity to overcome the stigma of alcohol use disorder and increase education of the dangers of alcohol misuse. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 14.1 million Americans ages 18 and older had an alcohol use disorder and 25.8% individuals 18 and older had participated in binge drinking in the past month (4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men in about 2 hours). Each year, an estimated 95,000 people in the United States die from alcohol-related causes. It is the third most preventable cause of death in the US, following tobacco use and poor diet/physical activity. Drinking too much alcohol over time can cause serious health problems including: liver disease, digestive problems, heart problems, diabetes complications, eye problems, birth defects, bone damage, neurological complications, weakened immune system, and an increased risk of cancer. Some people are more affected by a certain amount of alcohol, while others are less affected. The reason for this is unknown, but it is known that an undefined amount of alcohol can cause changes in the brain leading to use disorder. These are a few behaviors that may indicate that you or a loved one could be abusing alcohol: • The smell of alcohol on the breath, slurred speech, lack of coordination, nausea or vomiting, hangovers • Having memory loss or blackouts from drinking • Experiencing accidents or injuries while drinking • Alcohol use interfering with work, school, or other activities • Choosing to drink alcohol while or prior to driving or boating Alcohol abuse can manifest to become an alcohol use disorder. There is no way to determine how much alcohol use it might take to move from simple use to an alcohol use disorder except, more. The amount is different for each individual, making identifying a problem challenging. These are some indicators of alcohol disorder: • Cannot control the amount they drink • Tolerance continuing to increase to create a “buzz” • Feeling sick, shaky or restless when not using alcohol • Continuing to drink, even though it is harming themselves or their loved ones • Putting drinking ahead of other activities • Making excuses or hiding drinking • Wanting to quit drinking, but still drinking The URBAN EXPERIENCE | 2021 31
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