Every April the
National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) sponsors Alcohol Awareness Month to increase awareness and understanding
of the causes and treatment of the nation’s #1 public health problem:
alcoholism. The theme this year is “Changing Attitudes: It’s
not a ‘rite of passage.’” The target audience: youth
and their parents.
As part of Alcohol Awareness Month, the NCADD says local, state, and national
events will be “aimed at educating people about the treatment and
prevention of alcoholism, particularly among our youth, and the important
role that parents can play in giving kids a better understanding of the
impact that alcohol can have on their lives.”
Leo Gaeta, VP of Programs at CBHA, believes there has never been a greater need for awareness of the dangers
of underage drinking. “Sadly, approximately 5,000 youth under the
age of 21 die each year because of drinking,” Gaeta says.
CBHA regularly participates in educational events. Gaeta says, “We
use an alcohol screening tool that helps patient identify behaviors that
might indicate an alcohol dependence problem. Trained staff member assist
patients and they are assured that the information they share is completely
confidential.”
When a patient shares a question or concern about their use of alcohol
or any substance, CBHA providers take that concern seriously. “We
place a high priority on situations like this,”
Michelle Taylor, Psychiatric Mental Health Provider, says. “If a clinic physician calls me and has a patient he would
like me to see right away, I will do my best to see the patient in the
moment.”
This campaign and associated events are an opportunity to reduce the stigma
associated with alcohol dependence, as well as remove the barriers to
treatment and recovery while making help available to those who suffer
from the disease.
TRY TO GO DRY
An important part of Alcohol Awareness Month is choosing an Alcohol-Free
weekend during the month of April. The intent is for you to stop drinking
from Friday through Monday, and then gauge the effect of the alcohol-free days.
If your body has become used to the continual presence of alcohol, suddenly
stopping can cause physical effects, such as sweating, nausea, headaches
and trouble sleeping.
If it was difficult to manage 72 hours without drinking, that struggle
could signal a dependence on alcohol that should be more closely examined.
If you are having trouble with your three-day alcohol-free test, we urge you to
contact your medical provider at CBHA to learn more about alcoholism and its early symptoms.
SOURCE: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence