How many of you know April is Alcohol Awareness Month? Some may snicker and joke about their own drinking habits. Others may see a vivid image of a parent or loved one who struggles with alcohol abuse. You may even take a second and ask what is a month of Alcohol Awareness all about? Well, let me tell you.There are more than 14 million Americans with an alcohol use disorder. Nearly 30 percent of those individuals binge drink. Approximately, 88,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes. The United States spends $249 billion on alcohol-related costs. Having an entire month to focus on alcohol awareness is needed.
Let’s take a quick look at what effects alcohol has on the body after drinking too much just once, or over time.
Brain-Alcohol interrupts communication paths in the brain and can also cause mood changes and behaviors.
Heart-Alcohol can stretch heart muscles, cause irregular heartbeat, and lead to stroke.
Liver-Alcohol can inflame the liver and lead to problems such as a fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis.
Pancreas-Alcohol forces the pancreas to produce toxins that cause inflammation of the blood vessels in the pancreas.
Cancer: Research has linked alcohol consumption to numerous cancers.
Immune system: Alcohol can weaken the immune system, allowing for the body to be less resistant to disease and infection.
It’s important to know what counts as one drink. It is not the amount of liquid in the bottle.
One standard drink in the United States contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. This means each of the following is considered a standard drink:
A 12 ounce beer
5 ounces of wine
1.5 ounces of distilled spirits
Does this surprise you? Now consider how much alcohol you consume daily, weekly, monthly? Maybe you binge drink?
Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that raises the blood alcohol level to 0.08 g/dL, which most often occurs after 5 drinks for men and 4 drinks for women in a two hour time frame. Moderate drinking is considered 1 drink for women and 2 drinks for men daily.
One of my favorite pamphlets from Alcoholics Anonymous offers a 20-question test to see if you are an alcoholic. If any of you reading here question whether or not you drink too much, or know someone who you believe has an alcohol problem go to the following link and take this quick quiz. It has really opened the eyes of many over the years.
There is so much that can be discussed in this blog but let’s keep it simple. If you want further information on alcohol abuse please go to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Alcoholics Anonymous, to start.
One day at a time. –An Alcoholics Anonymous Mantra
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