This campaign empowers young adults to make well-informed decisions about alcohol consumption. With its relatable message, the campaign strikes a chord with its target audience, promoting responsible drinking in a way that resonates. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) underage drinking prevention campaign, ‘Talk.
NHTSA is dedicated to eliminating risky behaviors on our nation’s roads
Wellspring Center for Prevention is a private nonprofit agency serving the community members and organizations of Middlesex and Monmouth Counties. We are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities through our quality prevention and early intervention services. Our programs promote sound mental health, effective family functioning, and awareness of the devastating effects of substance misuse and dependency. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth, and drinking by young people poses enormous health and safety risks.
The Consequences of Alcohol Misuse
The month-long campaign kicks off this week with its Alcohol-Free Weekend to raise public awareness about the use of alcohol and how it may be affecting individuals, families, businesses and communities. During Alcohol-Free Weekend, meth withdrawal NCADD extends an open invitation to all Americans to engage in three alcohol-free days. If the Easter Bunny’s chocolate isn’t enough and one craves alcohol this weekend, then the council encourages people to seek help.
April National Health Observances: Minority Health, Alcohol Awareness, and More
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), approximately 14.5 million adults in the United States aged 18 and older had Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in 2019. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. During Alcohol Awareness Month, you can also find information across the NIAAA website to learn more about NIAAA-supported research and initiatives. These efforts aim to generate and disseminate fundamental knowledge about the adverse effects of alcohol on health and well-being. Such research is critical in helping us to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems.
Viral Hepatitis Awareness
Alcohol misuse can also lead to many mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or even self-harm. Furthermore, it can complicate the treatment of other diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Alcoholism in a patient with one or more of these mental disorders is a complication known as Dual Diagnosis. Every year, April is recognized as Alcohol Awareness Month to address the stigma surrounding alcoholism and help educate the public on alcohol-related issues. The NCADD encourages people to participate by wearing red ribbons, talking with kids and teens about alcohol, hosting dry parties, having conversations with friends and family about drinking, and having an alcohol-free weekend.
What are the physical and psychological signs of alcohol addiction?
There are many ways to treat mental health disorders, and it can be harmful to go without treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling, be sure to contact a doctor or a mental health professional to seek help and treatment. Although there is no cure for hepatitis B, treatments are available that break the cycle of addiction with these strategies to keep dopamine in check can delay or reduce the risk of developing liver cancer. Superbad, House Party, Mean Girls, Dazed and Confused … what do all these movies have in common? They’re all considered classic coming-of-age stories, but they also feature (and in some cases, glorify) underage drinking and binge drinking.
By raising awareness about alcohol abuse, we can help others be more likely to catch the signs and seek support when it’s needed. There are many ways you can support Alcohol Awareness Month, including sharing information and resources on social media, attending local events and workshops, and donating to organizations that support alcohol education and addiction treatment. Alcohol Awareness Month is important because it helps to reduce the stigma surrounding alcohol addiction and encourages individuals, families, and communities to address alcohol-related issues and seek help. In conclusion, Alcohol Awareness Month addresses the widespread issue of alcohol abuse and addiction.
Adolescents are less likely to drink heavily when the adults in their life demonstrate responsible behavior regarding their own alcohol use and when they live in homes where parents/guardians have specific rules against drinking at a young age. The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator can help you recognize and find high quality treatment for alcohol use disorder. If you drink excessively, seek medical help to plan a safe recovery as sudden abstinence can be life threatening. NIAAA’s Rethinking Drinking can help you assess your drinking habits and provides information to help you cut back or stop drinking.
NHTSA strongly supports the expansion of ignition interlocks as a proven technology that keeps drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel. If you drive while impaired, you could get arrested, or worse — be involved in a traffic crash that causes serious injury or death. In 2022, there were 2,337 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07 g/dL. Despite this, the question of beneficial effects of alcohol has been a contentious issue in research for years. NIAAA supports and conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being.
- Long-term, excessive drinking of alcohol can gravely affect your health and leads to chronic diseases including high blood pressure, liver disease, digestive problems, and even cancer.
- Superbad, House Party, Mean Girls, Dazed and Confused … what do all these movies have in common?
- Alcohol remains a profoundly influential substance, especially among younger demographics.
- This month asks individuals to increase their awareness of their own mental health, which can include mood, sleep, wellness activities, functioning, focus, and social functioning.
Alcohol is a controlled, legal substance and the most available abused drug in the world. Most civilized societies around the world generally accept alcohol use, and the misuse of alcohol is fashionable within certain social situations. These trends make it difficult to notice when someone is having a dependence issue. The anxiety and inhibition-lowering properties are often seen as a positive side effect of alcohol, but alcohol comes with a long list of negative side effects. Each month we highlight National Health Observances (NHOs) that align with our mission to improve health in the United States.
The choice to designate April as Alcohol Awareness Month was far from random. Spring, a season of renewal and transformation, symbolically resonates with the journey of recovery many individuals embark upon. “Check-ins from trusted adults should happen regularly to ensure kids feel safe, seen, and supported,” remarks Kimball.
About one in four college students report academic consequences from drinking, such as missing class, falling behind, or doing poorly on an exam. It’s no secret that alcohol is part of the American “college experience” for many, and a student’s first college party, drinking game, or hangover could even be considered a rite of passage in some circles. While it’s important to acknowledge that these things are happening on campus for some students, it’s also critical to educate students about the risks involved 50 substance abuse group therapy activities for recovery in using and abusing alcohol. This month is relevant for everyone because mental health is just as important as physical health but is more often overlooked. What is unique about having mental health issues is that the very filter, our brains, that assesses our state of mind is the thing that is afflicted. This differs from medical conditions in that physical pain, discomfort and diagnosis can be objectively viewed by individuals as the afflicted body part or organ is not always their brain.