Author: James Anderson
Alcohol Awareness Month – NIAAA Insights
It aims to foster responsible attitudes by designating a month of candid discussions and information sharing, while reaching out to the American public via community-sponsored awareness activities and campaigns designed to prevent alcoholism. NIAAA’s wealth of research-based resources can help cut through the clutter and get at the heart of the issues around alcohol misuse. These resources are free, cover many topics, and are available in multiple languages. Find a helpful review of some of the major NIAAA resources on the NIAAA Director’s Blog. 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.
Celebrated each April across the United States, Alcohol Awareness Month aims to raise public understanding of alcohol-related issues’ complexities. Binge drinking is when blood alcohol concentration comes to 0,08 g/dL, which happens when a man drinks five glasses and a woman drinks four in about two hours. As I discussed in my previous blog post, NIAAA also has an important new website that can help you navigate the often complicated process of choosing treatment for alcohol problems. 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. Whether you are looking for counseling, peer support groups, accountability, or recovery tools you can pull up on your phone, you have options.
What month is Alcohol Awareness Month?
She was one of the early members of Alcoholics Anonymous and the first woman to have successfully gone through a 12-step group. She founded NCADD to help people like her get counseled and treated for alcoholism and dedicated this group to key medical and scientific research for the community. This year, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will be hosting the 10th annual National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) from March 30 through April 5, 2020. 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. 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.
With its relatable message, the campaign strikes a chord with its target audience, promoting responsible drinking in a way that resonates. Since its inception in 1987, National Alcohol Awareness Month has saved many lives from alcohol-related deaths. Some of the ways the NCADD has made it possible to fight alcoholism is by launching personalized campaigns every year, Alcohol-Free-Weekend encouraging abstinence, and seeking help for someone if they are unable to. The D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and Know Your Limits campaigns have also instilled much-needed information about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption in children from an early age. Marty Mann founded the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD).
The Importance of Alcohol Awareness Month
It signposts support to those affected by alcoholism, providing valuable resources and guidance for navigating their challenges. 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. Individuals, organizations, and communities can all get involved by hosting events, sharing information, and supporting local initiatives. By increasing public awareness and diminishing the stigma surrounding alcoholism, we pave the way for a supportive and empathetic environment for those afflicted. Each of these is designed to raise awareness of the importance of early interventions and prevention strategies in curbing alcohol abuse. A social movement to brand alcohol consumption as a public health concern begins.
- Its significance extends beyond the potential to save lives; it nurtures a healthier, more responsible drinking culture in our society.
- It aims to foster responsible attitudes by designating a month of candid discussions and information sharing, while reaching out to the American public via community-sponsored awareness activities and campaigns designed to prevent alcoholism.
- Some of the ways the NCADD has made it possible to fight alcoholism is by launching personalized campaigns every year, Alcohol-Free-Weekend encouraging abstinence, and seeking help for someone if they are unable to.
- NIAAA’s Rethinking Drinking can help you assess your drinking habits and provides information to help you cut back or stop drinking.
- 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.
Events may aim to raise awareness or funds for rehabilitation centers in their area or to fight the stigma that often comes with addiction. Spring, a season of renewal and transformation, symbolically resonates with the journey of recovery many individuals embark upon. You will be subject to the destination website’s privacy policy when you follow the link. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by ODPHP or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
Alcohol Awareness Month is a public health program organized by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence as a way of increasing outreach and education regarding the dangers of alcoholism and issues related to alcohol. The program was started in April 1987 with the intention of targeting college-aged students who might be drinking too much as part of their newfound freedom. 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. This Alcohol Awareness Month is a great opportunity to update your knowledge about alcohol, alcohol use disorder, and their impacts on health and society.
News & Events
The toolkits provide resources for organizations like schools, health care practices, and health departments to raise awareness about critical public health issues, like the health risks of drinking too much alcohol. In conclusion, Alcohol Awareness Month addresses the widespread issue of alcohol abuse and addiction. Its significance extends beyond the potential to save lives; it nurtures a healthier, more responsible drinking culture in our society. With this and other National Health Observance toolkits offered on healthfinder.gov, we’ve made it easier for you to make a difference.
Across the globe, countless efforts and initiatives tackle the pressing issue of alcohol misuse. Take, for example, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. The strategy not only raises awareness but also bolsters national responses and nurtures international cooperation, all in a bid to alleviate the negative consequences of alcohol consumption. The stigma surrounding alcoholism and addiction often impedes people from seeking help.
How To Observe National Alcohol Awareness Month
In April, we’re raising awareness about minority health, alcohol awareness, and celebrating public health. 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. Contribution of excessive alcohol consumption to deaths and years of potential life lost in the United States. Local alcohol treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, or organizations, such as the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), often welcome helping hands.
Read books, sift through articles, and analyze research studies to become well-versed in the dangers of excessive alcohol use, alcohol addiction, recovery, and preventative measures. As international organizations, governments, nonprofits, and local initiatives join forces, Alcohol Awareness Month paves the way for communities worldwide to confront and conquer the challenges posed by alcohol-related harm. Over the intervening years, this campaign has broadened its focus to address not only alcoholism but also underage drinking and prevention efforts. This expansion came in response to a growing body of research highlighting early intervention’s advantages in preventing alcohol-related issues later in life1. Each month we highlight National Health Observances (NHOs) that align with our mission to improve health in the United States.