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. One negative side effect of alcohol misuse is being unable to remember periods of time during which the individual was intoxicated, which is known as a “blackout.” Regular binge drinking and experiencing frequent blackouts can lead to significant and long-term brain damage. Such patterns of alcohol consumption can impair the brain’s ability to form new memories, affecting the individual’s memory retention even when sober. Current data indicate that approximately 95,000 Americans die each year group activities for addiction recovery due to alcohol-related causes, highlighting a significant public health concern. This statistic encompasses a range of outcomes, from long-term health consequences like liver disease to immediate dangers such as alcohol poisoning.
- Participate in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) and help share facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction in your community.
- With this and other National Health Observance toolkits offered on healthfinder.gov, we’ve made it easier for you to make a difference.
- 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.
- Sign up for NDAFW email updates below, and find lots of great resources for planning and promoting your very own NDAFW event.
Another strong start is to understand your key function as a role model when it comes to alcohol. 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. In addition, the Rethinking Drinking website features interactive calculators as well as tips and strategies to cut down or quit drinking.
NDAFW is an annual health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. NDAFW provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners to help advance the science and address youth drug and alcohol use in communities and nationwide. Sign up for NDAFW email updates below, and find lots of great resources for planning and promoting your very own NDAFW event. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, an opportunity to update your knowledge about the adverse effects of alcohol misuse on health and society. It is also a good time to talk to teens about drinking and to equip them with the knowledge to handle situations involving alcohol. Even teens who would not normally be tempted to drink alcohol may be drawn in by certain social situations, so don’t assume they have all the facts they need to resist peer pressure.
Alcohol Awareness Month: A Catalyst for Prevention
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. This introspection during Alcohol Awareness Month serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility—to educate, to support, and to advocate for strategies that address not just alcoholism but the broader spectrum of substance abuse affecting our communities, especially our youth. We understand how overwhelming it can be to consider seeking help for addiction and we’re here to take that burden off your shoulders. Our admissions navigators are available 24/7 to discuss your alcohol addiction treatment options and answer any questions you may have about the process.
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Such research is critical in helping us to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth, and drinking by young people poses enormous health and safety risks. 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.
More than 90 percent of all alcoholic drinks consumed by young people are consumed through binge drinking. Understanding the impact of alcohol misuse is crucial in recognizing its potential risks and long-term health implications. This discussion aims to shed light on how alcohol affects the body and mind, emphasizing the urgency for awareness and preventative measures. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, it’s time to rethink the role that alcohol plays in your life. NIAAA has some interactive resources to help you examine your drinking patterns further and, if needed, recognize and search for quality care. With this in mind, Alcohol Awareness Month gives public health bodies, community centers, and treatment facilities the chance to increase their efforts to reach people who may not fully appreciate the dangers of unhealthy alcohol consumption.
At the same time, alcohol-related problems are among the most significant public health issues in the country. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects about 15 million adults in the United States, and an estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the nation. A big part of the work of Alcohol Awareness Month is to point out the stigma that still surrounds alcoholism and substance abuse in general. Two years ago, we found about 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.
In addition, for adults, the Rethinking Drinking website features interactive calculators as well as tips and strategies to cut down or quit drinking. The Alcohol Treatment Navigator walks individuals through the process of finding treatment options and recovery resources. 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. Wellspring Center for Prevention is a private nonprofit agency serving the community members and organizations of Middlesex and Monmouth Counties.
The Prevalence of Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism in the U.S.
Parents and trusted adults can play a meaningful role in shaping youth’s attitudes toward drinking. Understanding the breadth of short-term and long-term effects of alcohol misuse highlights the importance of addressing alcohol dependency and promoting healthy drinking habits. Recognizing these risks can empower individuals to make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption.
All approved events will be displayed on the Events Map within 2 weeks of submitting the registration form. 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.
Make sure to register your event, have it listed on the Events Map, or promote it as an NDAFW event. Please send an email to with information about your event, the dates, and any questions you may have. Share information with your family and friends that will inspire dialogue about preventing youth drug and alcohol use.
Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. Prolonged alcohol misuse can lead to persistent memory problems, beyond the periods of intoxication. Individuals may struggle to remember recent events or learn new information, significantly affecting their harbor house sober living daily functioning. Programs like Alcohol Awareness Month exist to ensure that families and communities have the resources, information, and options available to control the crisis of alcoholism.
It has since become a national movement to draw more attention to the causes and effects of alcoholism as well as how to help families and communities deal with drinking problems. SAMHSA’s mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. The role of parents in preventing underage drinking is paramount, as their attitudes and behaviors toward alcohol significantly influence their children’s perceptions and potential consumption habits. A study from 2018 found that children whose parents allow them to take sips of alcohol are more likely to have favorable expectations about drinking. This insight is crucial for developing effective youth alcohol prevention strategies, emphasizing the need for parents to model responsible drinking behaviors and maintain open, honest discussions about the effects of alcohol. With this and other National Health Observance toolkits offered on healthfinder.gov, we’ve made it easier for you to make a difference.
Full of educational events across the week, NDAFW will focus on educating teens and families on the myths of substance abuse and addiction with the help on industry experts. 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.
Recent findings from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health underscore this, revealing that millions of Americans, including adolescents, grapple with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This revelation calls for a deeper understanding of alcohol’s grip on society—highlighting not only its historical persistence as a challenge but also its modern-day implications. Alcohol misuse is linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including liver, breast, esophagus, throat, mouth, and colon cancer. Every year, April is recognized as Alcohol Awareness Month to address the stigma surrounding alcoholism and help educate the public on alcohol-related issues. As I discussed in my previous blog post, NIAAA also has alcohol dry eyes an important new website that can help you navigate the often complicated process of choosing treatment for alcohol problems.