April is Alcohol Awareness Month

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  • 436th Medical Operations Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Alcohol awareness month, held every April, has been sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. since 1987. The goal of Alcohol Awareness month is to increase public awareness and understanding of the personal harmful physical effects of excessive alcohol use and the social and economic impact that alcohol related problems have on society at large. Additionally, Alcohol Awareness month seeks to reduce the stigma associated with problem drinking and alcoholism that too often prevents individuals and families from seeking help.

When it comes to alcohol consumption, there can definitely be too much of a good thing. According to the Center for Disease Control, binge drinking is the most common pattern of excessive alcohol use in the United States. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person's blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 grams percent or above. This typically happens when men consume 5 or more drinks, and when women consume 4 or more drinks, in about 2 hours.

CDC reports that according to national surveys:

· One in six US adults binge drinks about four times a month, consuming about eight drinks per binge.
· While binge drinking is more common among young adults aged 18-34 years, binge drinkers aged 65 years and older report binge drinking more often--an average of five to six times a month.
· Approximately 92% of US adults who drink excessively report binge drinking in the past 30 days.
· Although college age young adults commonly binge drink, 70% of binge drinking episodes involve adults age 26 years and older.
· The prevalence of binge drinking among men is twice the prevalence among women.
· Binge drinkers are 14 times more likely to report alcohol-impaired driving than non-binge drinkers.
· About 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.
· More than half of the alcohol consumed by adults in the United States is in the form of binge drinks.

Studies suggest that more than 38 million US adults binge drink, about 4 times a month, consuming an average of 6-8 drinks per binge. Drinking too much has caused approximately 80,000 deaths in the US each year and contributed over 10,322 alcohol related crashes in 2012, according to the National Traffic Safety Administration. Binge drinking cost the US in excess of $225 billion a year from loss productivity, health care cost, impact on crime and other related expenses. 
 
Risk factors of binge drinking: Men-vs-Women

· Men average 12.5 binge drinking episodes per year, while women average about 2.7 episodes per year.
· It is estimated that 17% of men and 8% of women will meet the clinical criteria for an alcohol use disorder diagnosis in their lives.
· Men are more likely to commit suicide and likely to have been drinking prior to committing suicide.
· Excessive alcohol use can interfere with testicular functions and hormone production, resulting in impotence and infertility. 
· Women may experience disruptive menstrual cycle, infertility, miscarriage and stillbirth or premature delivery.
· Men and women increase their risk for having unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, and unintended pregnancy and contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
· Both men and women increase their risk for personal injury, domestic violence and sexual assault.
· Men and women increased their risk for multiple types of cancer, high blood pressure, liver and heart disease, and damaging effects to the brain.

There are multiple resources available to help assess if you have concerns about your pattern of drinking.

www.DrinkingIQ.org; www.AlcoholScreening.org; www.mentalhealthscreening.org.

If you think you may be drinking too much, you can decrease your risk and improve your health by implementing a few simple changes in behavior:

· Limit your drinking to one drink per day for women and two drinks for men.
· Keep track of how much you drink and keep a limited supply at home.
· Don't drink when you are upset.
· Avoid places where people binge drink.
· Make a list of reasons not to drink.
· Set new goals that are not compatible with drinking.

Alcohol Awareness month is about raising the awareness about alcohol use and lifestyle choices. It is a time to reflect on high risk behaviors and to begin to make safe and healthy choices.

If you think you need assistance with a drinking habit, you are encouraged to discuss it with your health care provider, chaplain or a mental health professional. For active duty members, contact the Dover AFB Mental Health clinic at (302) 677-2674; or for active duty, dependents and retirees contact Military Family Life Consultant at (302) 379-6411 or Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647 or www.MilitaryOneSource.mil.