Alcohol Awareness Month takes place every year in April. It is a health awareness campaign that was started in 1987 to help raise community awareness of alcoholism and also to help people understand the causes and treatments for one of the nation’s biggest lifestyle-related health issues. It also aimed to reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism. It offers communities a chance to gain more understanding of how individuals struggle with alcohol abuse, offers advice and help for those affected, and highlights the serious health issues caused by alcohol.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 65 million Americans report binge drinking or heavy drinking in a one-month period. The Prevention Technology Transfer Center Network (PTTC) states that there are approximately 380 deaths each day in the U.S. due to excessive alcohol use. That is approximately 140,000 each year. Teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people each year. Nearly one in three deaths from alcohol-impaired driving are among passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. Excessive alcohol use is also a drain on the economy. It costs $249 billion loss in total with $179 billion of that loss in workplace productivity.
Fortunately, the effects of drinking too much are preventable. For more information on Alcohol Awareness Month, the effects of excessive drinking, and alcoholism, check out information on the SAMHSA, PTTC, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) websites.
Certified Prevention Specialist
