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learning about alcohol

April 13, 2022  |  Addiction, Alcohol, Treatment
Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Each year, we set aside some time to consider what alcohol does and how it affects the body.

First, a few facts:

  • alcohol is a depressant. While it can produce some stimulating effects, alcohol affects a person's central nervous system and the way your brain and nerves interact.
  •  alcohol is perhaps the most widely used drug in America. The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 85.6 percent of people 18 and older reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lifetime.
  • Binge drinking is big. Nearly 26 percetn of people ages 18 and up reported that they had engaged in binge drinking durign the past month.

We also know that drinking doesn't just affect the person doing the drinking. Almost everyone around them - from family members to coworkers to neighbors - can be affected by the actions a person takes as a result of their drinking.

So, when is it a problem? Some questions to ask include:

  1. am I taking risks with alcohol?
  2. Has my drinking become a habit?
  3. Am I feeling guilty about drinking?
  4. Ever need a drink in the morning to get going?

Get more information and resources on our Resources page, and if you think you or a ioved one need help, our provider network is here for you right now.