04/20/2024
APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH
Orange County, Indiana (April 19, 2024) – Alcohol is a big part of American culture, playing a role in many celebrations and social events. However, alcohol can be problematic – and even deadly – if overused or abused.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and Prosecutor Holly Hudelson wants residents to examine the role alcohol plays in their lives and consider if it could be causing problems. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence started Alcohol Awareness Month in 1987.
“Alcohol is a leading cause of preventable death,” said Hudelson. “It can have life-altering consequences if overused or abused.”
About 178,000 people die each year from excessive alcohol use, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found 13,384 people died in alcohol-related crashes in 2021.
The problem is prevalent among younger people. The CDC found excessive drinking was responsible for one in five deaths among adults ages 20 to 49.
Alcohol plays a role in at least 7.1% of all emergency room visits.
“It’s obvious alcohol abuse, binge drinking, and alcoholism cause innumerable and life-altering issues for many people,” said Hudelson.
The legal drinking age in the United States is 21. However, underage drinking is prevalent. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health examines alcohol use among various populations.
The 2022 survey found:
• 22.3 million people ages 12 and older reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lives.
• 17.7 million people ages 12 and older reported drinking in the past year.
• 13.2 million young people, ages 12-20, reported drinking at least once in their lives with slightly more females (36.3%) than males (32.3%).
Binge drinking is typically defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for a man within about two hours. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found 61.2 million people ages 12 and older reported binge drinking in the past month.
Alcohol overuse and abuse can have significant and lasting impacts.
The NHTSA said in 2021 there were a total of 13,384 deaths from alcohol-related crashes and 1,573 youth (under age 21) lost their lives in crashes involving alcohol.
Drinking can have serious health impacts. It is the fourth leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the NIAAA.
More than 200 diseases and injury-related conditions are associated with alcohol misuse. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, a weakened immune system, learning and memory problems, mental health problems and family and job problems.
“Overusing or abusing alcohol can have negative and far-reaching impacts in a person’s life,” said Hudelson. “It’s important to honestly examine the role alcohol plays in our lives and to seek help in reducing its impact, if needed.”
There are many resources to help those who need help with alcohol misuse. Alcoholics Anonymous has helped thousands of people over decades with its 12-step recovery approach. You may also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services toll-free hotline, available 24/7, at 800-662-4357.
