About one in four college students report academic consequences from drinking, such as missing class, falling behind, or doing poorly on an exam. Each month, we feature select National Health Observances (NHOs) that support our mission to improve health across the United States. In April, we’re raising awareness about minority health, alcohol laxative abuse: side effects and long-term health risks use and misuse, and celebrating public health.We’ve listed some resources below that you can use to promote these NHOs with your networks. Most adults in the United States who drink alcohol drink moderately and without complications. At the same time, alcohol-related problems are among the most significant public health issues in the country.
All Americans are encouraged to participate in Alcohol Awareness Month by reflecting on their relationship with alcohol. As a result of the ban, the illegal trade of alcohol booms, leading to the cancellation of the prohibition law.
Even if there aren’t local events, there are several ways you can participate in raising awareness. Events may aim to raise awareness or funds for rehabilitation centers in their area or to fight the stigma that often comes with addiction. 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. These educational initiatives contribute to Georgia Tech’s strategic commitment to cultivate well-being for all students.
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. The NCADD encourages people to participate by wearing red ribbons, talking with kids and teens about alcohol, hosting dry parties, having conversations with friends and family about drinking, and having an alcohol-free weekend. Its primary goal is increasing public awareness and education about alcohol and alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly known as “alcoholism”. It’s no secret that alcohol is part of the American “college experience” for many, and a student’s first college party, drinking game, or hangover could even be considered a rite of passage in some circles. While it’s important to acknowledge that these things are happening on campus for some students, it’s also critical to educate students about the risks involved in using and abusing alcohol.
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. Don’t forget, you can help promote prevention at any point throughout the year by sharing your #MyPreventionStory on social media, downloading our planning toolkit, and promoting National Prevention what are the immediate short-term effects of heroin use Week. These numbers suggest that problematic alcohol use continues to plague our society, and awareness about addiction and its harmful effects on our lives, is necessary in order to protect our loved ones and selves. NIAAA supports and conducts research on the impact of alcohol use on human health and well-being. To learn more about alcohol use and its impact on your academic success, finances, relationships, and overall well-being, check out some of the resources available through the W.E.
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. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, an opportunity to update your knowledge about the adverse effects of alcohol misuse on health and society.
- College administrations and state governments are turning to “creative prevention strategies” to address the epidemic, and Alcohol Awareness Month gives them the platform to spread the message.
- 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.
- They’re all considered classic coming-of-age stories, but they also feature (and in some cases, glorify) underage drinking and binge drinking.
- 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.
Awareness areas include alcohol use risks, AUD treatments, AUD prevention, and the effects of alcohol misuse on individuals, families, and communities. 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. With this and other National Health Observance toolkits offered on healthfinder.gov, we’ve made it easier for you to make a difference.
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. Parents and trusted adults can play a meaningful role in shaping youth’s attitudes toward drinking. In an evolving public health landscape, it is critical that we prioritize data-informed prevention strategies when responding to the misuse of drugs and alcohol. We can draw inspiration from prevention professionals, community-based organizations, and others across the country who, with the support of SAMHSA and other federal agencies, use creative, evidenced-based strategies to put prevention first.
Alcohol and Public Health
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. 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. 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.
National Alcohol Awareness Month timeline
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. In 2017, Frances M. Harding, the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, singled out the alarming rates of alcohol consumption in colleges and universities as an example of why Alcohol Awareness Month is important. Binge drinking is often thought of as a rite of passage, and many fraternities and sororities use alcohol in hazing rituals that often turn deadly.
Resources for Health Professionals
Alcohol Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the dangers of alcohol and the effects and causes of alcohol use disorder. 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. National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW), an annual health observance, connects youth with resources about drugs, alcohol, and related health topics. This month (March 21-27), the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) offers another opportunity to advance community-based prevention initiatives. 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.
In addition, the Rethinking Drinking website features interactive calculators as well as tips and strategies to cut down or quit drinking. Participate in National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) and help share facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction in your community. 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.
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. Superbad, House Party, Mean Girls, Dazed and Confused … what do all these movies have in common? They’re all considered classic coming-of-age stories, but they also feature (and in some cases, glorify) underage drinking and binge drinking. Access a suite of prevention- and mental health-focused activities to share within your community.