April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Please join the Yuma Proving Ground Army Substance Abuse Program in observing Alcohol Awareness Month in April. Alcohol Awareness month was established in 1987 with the goal of raising awareness in the community and to help understand the causes and treatment available for one of the nation’s biggest health issues. The campaign also aims to reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism and how to educate people on how to find assistance for this deadly disease.
The research shows that most adults who consume alcohol do so responsibly, and without negative effects to components of their lives. However, it is estimated that about 15 million U.S. adults are affected by an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and over 88,000 people die annually from alcohol-related causes, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death.
AUD is a medical diagnosis, with severity based on clinical criteria. Alcohol becomes a problem when it impacts a person’s life in a negative way. Examples provided by the National Institute of Health include, “is your personal or work life deteriorating because of your drinking? Have you had times when you drank more, or longer, than you intended? Are you drinking to feel better? Are you drinking to cope with stress or other problems? Do you feel anxious or irritable without a drink?”
The Journal of the American Medical Association finds, alcoholrelated deaths increased 25 percent in 2020, significantly higher than in previous years. Researchers believe several factors have affected this rise, including increase in drinking to cope with stress, higher rates of binge drinking, more emergency room visits due to alcohol withdrawal, and delays in receiving treatment.
Alcohol misuse and abuse is an issue that affects us all. The effects can be felt in the home, the workplace, our social lives, and our health. To reduce the risk of negative outcomes of alcohol misuse the Army Substance Abuse Program will be providing a variety of informational programming and events throughout the month of April.
The Army Substance Abuse Program also offers training, and educational programming to recognize and prevent substance abuse issues. Contact Scott Zaehler at scott.r.zaehler.civ@army.mil for more information. No-cost resources for substance use as well as a variety of issues service members face are also available at militaryonesource.mil for eligible users.