Chances are, you know someone who suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence or engages in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependencies (NCADD), 17.6 millions people, or 1 in 12 adults, suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence.

Why are we talking about this now? Well since 1987, April has been designated national Alcohol Awareness Month by the NCADD. Alcohol awareness is important for everyone, as alcohol abuse can look different for different people. By raising awareness, we hope to encourage others to seek help if they need it or to empower others to seek health.

Unhealthy Alcohol Use

Alcohol use disorder, which includes alcoholism, is defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling your drinking, being preoccupied with alcohol, continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems, having to drink more to get the same effect, or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking.” If you or someone you know has a pattern of drinking that causes repeated distress and problems in functioning daily, it could be from alcohol use disorder.

Alcoholism is one level of alcohol use disorder. It is an uncontrollable need for alcohol, and as the NCADD says, this need “can feel as strong as the need for food or water.” The NCADD also adds that, “alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease, genetically predisposed and fatal if untreated.”

Impact of Alcohol on Your Health

Whether it’s drinking too much on a single occasion or over time, alcohol can cause health problems that include:

• Cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure, increased risk of heart failure or stroke, heart arrhythmia
• Psychiatric problems like depressions, anxiety, and suicide
• Neurological problems like numbness and pain in your hands and feet, disordered thinking, short-term memory loss, and dementia
• Increased risk for cancers such as: liver cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, larynx cancer, and esophageal cancer
• Liver diseases like fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, or cirrhosis
• Gastrointestinal problems like pancreatitis and gastritis
• Diabetes complications such as hypoglycemia

Getting Help or Guidance

If you or someone you know would benefit from talking to a professional about alcohol use, you can schedule time to talk with one of our Behavioral Health Therapists by calling (800) 321-5043.

There are also other community resources for people with alcohol use problems, such as Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, and our Behavioral Health Therapists would be happy to direct you to other local services available as well.

If you have a loved one with alcoholism, you can also find support through Al-Anon meetings, by clicking here.