Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens, and almost a third of young drivers killed in fatal crashes involved underage drinking. In 2022, 30% of young drivers 15 to 20 years old who were killed in crashes had BACs of .01 g/dL or higher. The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed. This drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union (EU). In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers. Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco.
How to support Alcohol Awareness Month
Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses ecstasy detox symptoms timeline medications and treatment a risk of developing cancer. It’s normal for people with alcohol use disorder to be ambivalent about getting treatment. Part of you may want badly to stop your problem drinking, but you likely also have personal reasons why you drink, to begin with – it helps you in social situations, it helps you to sleep, and so on.
No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health
At a BAC of .15, drivers are at least 12 times more likely to crash than drivers with a BAC of zero. Because of the number of factors that affect BAC, it is very difficult to assess your own BAC or impairment. People often think they are “fine” after several drinks – but in fact, the failure to recognize alcohol impairment is often a symptom of impairment. Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., LMHC., LPC, is a licensed mental health counselor and author of Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic. As you build your knowledge base, you’ll be better equipped to engage in meaningful conversations and share accurate information. Read on to learn more about this month-long observance and how to get involved.
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It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. Don’t hesitate to educate yourself, spread the word, and extend a helping hand to those grappling with alcohol addiction. Every April, communities across the United States meet to observe National Alcohol Awareness Month to reduce the stigma surrounding alcoholism while providing vital information about alcohol, alcoholism, and recovery. Alcohol misuse is linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including liver, breast, esophagus, throat, mouth, and colon cancer. The substance’s disinhibiting effects can make individuals more prone to engage in confrontations or become involved in violent incidents. Your local community might have events planned for Alcohol Awareness Month.
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Motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes were found to have the highest percentage (28%) of alcohol-impaired drivers than any other vehicle types. To reduce alcohol-related fatal crashes among youth, all states have adopted a minimum legal drinking age of 21. NHTSA estimates that minimum-drinking-age laws have saved 31,959 lives from 1975 to 2017. Again, alcohol abuse is not a moral failure and says nothing about your character.
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They Hear You,’ has talking points and tools for coalitions, parents and caregivers so they can start talking to their children early—as early as 9 years old—about the dangers of alcohol. Two years ago, we found about do shrooms show up on a drug test 24.6 percent of 14- to 15-year-olds reported having at least 1 drink. We also found out that seven million young people ages 12 to 20 reported that they drank alcohol beyond “just a few sips” in the past month.
The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration
Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. Alcohol Awareness Month is a chance to spread the word about strategies for preventing the misuse or abuse of alcohol. I also encourage you to take a close look at Rethinking Drinking and the Alcohol Treatment Navigator to learn more about AUD and how to find quality care to address it. During the month, the NCADD and other national public health organizations encourage community organizations and healthcare professionals to hold events and offer alcohol-related education materials.
Common signs of alcohol addiction include drinking alone, drinking to cope with stress or emotions, experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, and neglecting responsibilities. Individuals, organizations, and communities can all get involved by hosting events, sharing information, and supporting local initiatives. Lastly, consider organizing fundraising events and campaigns to generate awareness and resources for alcohol prevention and recovery programs. Sharing informative materials, joining webinars, and engaging in online discussions can also go a long way. With these steps, you can make a difference during Alcohol Awareness Month and beyond. Local alcohol treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, or organizations, such as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), often welcome helping hands.
We keep track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar — giving you exciting activities, deals, local events, brand promotions, and other exciting ways to celebrate. Click here to learn more about going to rehab for alcohol use or the difference between inpatient and outpatient programs. Whether you are looking for counseling, peer support groups, accountability, or recovery tools you can pull up on your phone, you have options. All Americans are encouraged to participate in Alcohol Awareness Month by reflecting on their relationship with alcohol.
Mental health is something that can be addressed and maintained in order to prevent issues or to address existing conditions. 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. “So, when we talk about possible so-called safer levels can you overdose on xanax of alcohol consumption or about its protective effects, we are ignoring the bigger picture of alcohol harm in our Region and the world. Although it is well established that alcohol can cause cancer, this fact is still not widely known to the public in most countries. Early intervention and treatment for alcohol abuse and addiction can be lifesaving.
This expansion came in response to a growing body of research highlighting early intervention’s advantages in preventing alcohol-related issues later in life1. NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month encourages organizations and communities to reach out to the public with information about alcohol use and alcoholism as a preventable disease and encourages people who are already addicted to seek treatment. One of the most well-known long-term effects of chronic alcohol misuse is liver disease, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis, which can lead to liver failure and death. By raising awareness about alcohol misuse and abuse, communities, organizations, and health professionals can take action to prevent it, both at home and in the community. An integral part of NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month is Alcohol-Free Weekend, which takes place on the first weekend of April to raise public awareness about the use of alcohol and how it may be affecting individuals, families, businesses and our communities. Those individuals or families who experience difficulty or discomfort in this 72-hour experiment are urged to contact local NCADD affiliates, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon to learn more about alcoholism and its early symptoms.
Even though things have changed in recent years, alcohol continues to play an important role in many workplaces (for example, employees may drink at holiday parties or during happy hour gatherings). This can make it difficult to be able to tell when an employee has an alcohol abuse problem and when their drinking is within “normal” limits. It’s important to be aware of the warning signs of alcohol addiction so that you can be ready to seek, or offer, support for yourself or loved ones. Contribution of excessive alcohol consumption to deaths and years of potential life lost in the United States.
- If you or someone you know is struggling, be sure to contact a doctor or a mental health professional to seek help and treatment.
- Charges range from misdemeanors to felony offenses, and penalties for impaired driving can include driver’s license revocation, fines, and jail time.
- Alcohol consumption during adolescence can interfere with brain development, leading to potential cognitive deficits and increasing the risk of developing alcohol use disorders later in life.
- The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator can help you recognize and find high quality treatment for alcohol use disorder.
- Moreover, Alcohol Awareness Month offers a lifeline to families and individuals.
- Furthermore, it can complicate the treatment of other diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Visit OSI’s website to read the full Alcohol and Other Drug Policy and to learn how the Good Samaritan/Medical Amnesty Provision can protect you if you call for help. According to data gathered from Georgia Tech students in the National College Health Assessment administered in 2020, 55 percent reported that they had used alcohol in the two weeks leading up to the survey. Although most students indicated that they drank responsibly, 11 percent did report experiencing a blackout. Many states require offenders to install ignition interlock devices at the driver’s own expense. An ignition interlock device is a breath test device connected to a vehicle’s ignition. The vehicle cannot be operated unless the driver blows into the interlock and has a BAC below a pre-set low limit, usually .02 g/dL.
NCADD encourages people in recovery to speak out and share their experiences with policy makers, civic groups and other community leaders, including the media — without violating the anonymity traditions of 12-step groups. NCADD estimates that almost 20 million individuals and family members are living life in long-term recovery! We are all different, with varied backgrounds and life experiences, but we are all addicts, alcoholics and family members living in recovery.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol use and misuse. It offers communities a chance to gain more understanding of how individuals struggle with alcohol use and offers resources and support. Men are less likely to openly discuss mental health issues and seek help than women, due to social norms, reluctance, and belittlement from others, and these stigmas have a significant impact on males, according to the ADAA. Men often face pressure to „man up“ when speaking out about mental health issues, and it is seen as a form of weakness or not „manly.“ NHTSA demonstrates its commitment to eliminating drunk driving through research, public awareness campaigns, and state safety grant programs.
A man’s journey toward mental health may also be influenced by factors such as culture, fatherhood, race, and socioeconomic level, the ADAA reports. Yet, fewer than half of them receive treatment, and each year, four times more men commit suicide than women. In 2022, the highest percentage of drunk drivers (with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher) were the 21-to 24-year-old age group. Men are most likely to be involved in this type of crash, with four male drunk drivers for every female drunk driver. As alcohol levels rise in a person’s system, the negative effects on the central nervous system increase. Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine.
The red ribbon is a symbol for the prevention of alcohol addiction and misuse. Alcohol Awareness Month is held every April to help spread awareness about the dangers of alcohol and the causes of and treatments for alcohol use disorder. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month, which has been observed since 1987. Alcohol Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the dangers of alcohol and the effects and causes of alcohol use disorder.
Encouraged by the massive number of families going into recovery, NCADD marked April to bring about a nationwide change by using communication tools to cultivate awareness about binge drinking and how much more dangerous it can be than just a night of fun. Its primary goal is increasing public awareness and education about alcohol and alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly known as “alcoholism”. Choosing recovery over addiction opens a world of possibilities for living a happy, drug-free life. Let NCADD help you find care in your community, learn more about important health issues, and make informed health-care choices.