April is Alcohol Awareness Month: How Do You Score?

Alcohol Awareness Month in April was founded by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) in 1987. Its aim is to promote public awareness about alcoholism, educate, and help reduce the stigma surrounding alcoholism that often acts as a barrier for people and families needing help.

The theme for this year is “Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow,” which speaks to all those who are effected by alcoholism including our youth, families and communities.

So, what do we know about alcoholism? According to the NCADD:

• More than 18 million Americans suffer with alcohol abuse. In addition are the many loved ones of these Americans who have suffered along side their friend or family member with an alcohol-related problem. It’s estimated that 25% of American kids are exposed to alcohol-related problems in their family.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that the economic cost of alcoholism is upwards of $223.5 billion. The majority of this is from workplace loss of productivity (72%), health care costs (11%), legal costs (11%), and motor vehicle accident costs (6%).
• Seventy-five percent of crimes committed are done so under the influence of alcohol. And 75% of domestic abuse cases involve the abuse of alcohol. Drunk driving is responsible for 16,000 deaths a year and countless injuries. And families that suffer with alcohol abuse problems use healthcare twice as much as families who don’t. All of this doesn’t include the emotional toll that alcohol abuse puts on a family and a community.
• And alcoholism can be heredity. Children of parents who struggle with alcohol abuse are genetically at-risk for alcoholism too. And teens that experiment with alcohol are at a much greater risk of becoming alcohol dependent as an adult than those teens who avoid alcohol. So, how do you score when it comes to alcohol abuse.

Take the NCADD’s self test and see how you do. Even if you answer ‘yes’ to only a few of the questions, you may want to consider reaching out to one of our professionals to discuss further evaluation.