04/12/2022

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

A Message from the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Foundation

 

Established in 1987, Alcohol Awareness Month is a health awareness campaign that was formerly sponsored by the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). It takes place every April with the aim of raising awareness for communities and to help understand the causes and treatment available for one of the nation’s biggest health issues. The campaign also aims to reduce the social stigma associated with alcoholism and to educate people on how the disease can be addressed, offering help and advice for families as well as direct engagement with those affected by alcohol addiction. 

Alcohol addiction and abuse claims thousands of lives across the country each year. Some notable statistics on alcohol addiction include:

• More than 65 million Americans report or heavy drinking in a one-month period, which is more than 40 percent of those who drink alcohol.
• In 2019, there were 10,142 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, totaling 28 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year. 
• Teen alcohol use kills 4,300 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined.

Click for general tips, information for parents, and information specifically about underage drinking and college drinking. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or other drug use, contact your local ADAMH Board, call the Ohio CareLine at 1.800.720.9616 to be connected to resources in your community, access the Ohio Crisis Text Line by texting the keyword 4HOPE to 741 741, or visit findtreatment.gov.