April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Alcoholism is a chronic disease. It’s not a weakness
Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, liver disease, and some types of cancer. April is Alcohol Awareness month and Whittier Street Health Center encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.
The use and abuse of alcohol is a serious issue that should not be ignored or minimized. If left untreated, use and abuse can develop into alcoholism. If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Here are some strategies to help you cut back or stop drinking:
- Limit your drinking to no more than 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men.
- Keep track of how much you drink.
- Choose a day each week when you will not drink.
- Don’t drink when you are upset.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at home.
- Avoid places where people drink a lot.
- Make a list of reasons not to drink.
If you are concerned about your drinking, a health professional or a behavioral health specialist can conduct a formal assessment of your symptoms to see if an alcohol use disorder is present.
Alcoholism is a chronic disease. It’s not a weakness. Like many other diseases, it has known symptoms, and is influenced by your genes and your life situation. The good news is that no matter how severe the problem may seem, most people with an alcohol use disorder can benefit from some form of treatment. Ultimately, what may work for one person may not be a good fit for someone else. There is not a one-size-fit-all treatment for alcohol use disorder, but understanding the different options can be an important first step.
Whittier’s Behavioral Health Department offers accessible, weekly support for anyone seeking help with active or recent substance abuse/dependence. The Early Support and Recovery group, Mondays from 10-11, provides peer group support, treatment, motivation, psycho-education and orientation to substance abuse and mental health counseling as well as referral to psycho-pharmacology as indicated or to detox if needed. No referral is needed to attend the group.
Additional sobriety resources include:
Alcoholics Anonymous
617-426-9444
Narcotics Anonymous
1-866-NA-HELP-U
Al-Anon/Al-Ateen
Education and support for friends and family members of individuals struggling with addiction
1-888-425-2666
Learn to Cope