April marks the 25th Anniversary of Alcohol Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “One Too Many.” According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), alcohol causes:
- One too many…deaths from drunk drivers.
- One too many…children born with fetal alcohol syndrome.
- One too many…risky behaviors.
- One too many…families torn apart by alcoholism.
- One too many…teen deaths from underage drinking.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services offers these Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse. If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you may have a problem with alcohol:
- Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
- Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
- Does your drinking worry your family?
- Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won’t?
- Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?
- Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking?
The goal of the NCADD is to raise awareness of the disease of alcoholism. The organization stresses that alcoholism is a treatable disease, not a moral weakness. If you or someone you know might have a problem with alcohol, speak honestly and openly with your health care provider. A physician can help you get the help you need to recover.
