Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month! Alcohol Awareness Month is a national public health awareness campaign sponsored by the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a significant public health issue in our country. AUD affects about 15 million adults in the United States and 88,000 die from alcohol related causes every year. April gives us a chance to learn more about alcohol and its effects, but it also gives us a chance to share helpful resources to our communities. The goal for this month is to bring public awareness, and educate our communities about alcohol prevention and treatment.
Teens and Alcohol
Alcohol is the number one drug of choice among persons under the age of 21 in the United States. Despite the fact that drinking before age 21 is an illegal act, 20% of all alcohol consumed in the United States is attributed to people between ages 12 and 20. Unfortunately, most of that drinking is binge drinking, having more than five drinks on one occasion at least once in a month’s time.
Teenagers are still in the developmental stage and alcohol can cause damage to their developmental process. Physical and mental issues that can arise from alcohol use are:
- Memory problems
- Disruption of normal growth or sexual development
- Increased risk of suicide
- Higher risk of anxiety and depression
- Changes brain development that may have long lasting effects
- Alcohol poisoning
Preventing teen drinking is a complex issue. We have to think of the many different factors when approaching our teens. Factors that should be considered are genetics, personality, environmental factors, social factors, level of risk, and rate of maturation and development. How can we meaningfully approach our teens?
Approaches that have been successful:
- Individual-Level Interventions – This approach seeks to change the way young people think about alcohol, so they are better able to resist pressures to drink.
- School-based Interventions – These are programs that provide students with the knowledge, skills, motivation, and opportunities they need to remain alcohol-free.
- Family-based interventions – These are efforts to empower parents to set and enforce clear rules against drinking, as well as improve communication between children and parents about alcohol.
- Community-based interventions – Community-based interventions are often coordinated by local coalitions working to mitigate risk factors for alcohol misuse.
- Policy-level interventions – This approach makes alcohol harder to get-for example, by raising the price of alcohol and keeping the minimum legal drinking age at 21. Enacting zero-tolerance laws that outlaw driving after any amount of drinking for people younger than 21 also can help prevent problems.
It’s critical to screen alcohol use and use disorder in teens. Screenings can help identify issues and allow an opportunity for your child to speak to a train professional about alcohol. Screening can help with prevention and intervention when relating to alcohol use. Speak to your doctor and ask for help, they are there to help you and your family.
What can parents do to help teens understand the dangers of alcohol use? One way is to speak to teens early in their life about alcohol use. Talking about alcohol early and its consequences can curb the mystery of it. Teens will feel less inclined to explore on their own what it feels like to use alcohol.
Other great ways parents can help:
- Establish open communication. Make it easy for your teen to talk honestly with you.
- Show you care. Even though young teens may not always show it, they still need to know that they are important to their parents. Make it a point to regularly spend one-on-one time with your child—time when you can give him or her your loving, undivided attention. Some activities to share: a walk, a bike ride, a quiet dinner out, or a cookie-baking session.
- Draw the line. Set clear, realistic expectations for your child’s behavior. Establish appropriate consequences for breaking rules and consistently enforce them.
- Offer acceptance. Make sure your teen knows that you appreciate his or her efforts as well as accomplishments. Avoid hurtful teasing or criticism.
- Understand that your child is growing up. This doesn’t mean a hands-off attitude. But as you guide your child’s behavior, also make an effort to respect his or her growing need for independence and privacy.
Creating a strong parent-child relationship can help with prevention or invention of alcohol use. Building trust with your child allows them to feel more comfortable in talking to you about alcohol.
Teens and Treatment
When teens are struggling with alcohol use, it is important to meet those teens with compassion. AUD is a disease and is not a choice. Giving teens resources can help them get on the path of recovery. Fostering dialogues with teens allows them to share their questions, worries, or experience with alcohol. Creating no judgement zones are critical for teens struggling with AUD.
Notice important warning signs in your teens.
- Changes in mood, including anger and irritability
- Academic and/or behavioral problems in school
- Rebelliousness
- Changing groups of friends
- Low energy level
- Less interest in activities and/or care in appearance
- Finding alcohol among a young person’s things
- Smelling alcohol on a young person’s breath
- Problems concentrating and/or remembering
- Slurred speech
- Coordination problems
Recovery is possible for teens struggling with AUD. It is critical that they have access to recovery education, treatment, and resources.
Teen recovery resources:
- Community Fairbanks Recovery Center – Since 1982, Community Fairbanks has specialized in treating teens who struggle with substance use disorders. They focus on treating the whole child, including co-occurring issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress. To talk to an adolescent specialist, call their Adolescent Help Line at 317-691-7119 or 855-518-2501 during business hours, Monday through Friday.
- Francis Center Dyer – This center is an adolescent residential treatment program offering 24-hour nursing for male and female youths, ages 12 through 18. It is their belief that success is often dependent on family involvement. Therefore, families are encouraged to take an active role in the treatment with routinely scheduled family sessions.
- Crown Counseling – Located in Crown Point, and Hammond. Recovery from addiction isn’t a quick process. Long-term sobriety requires ongoing treatment and a strong support network. Crown Counseling’s Outpatient Substance Abuse Program provides that continued care and support through intensive therapeutic intervention and education. Their program helps their clients develop the skills and relationships needed to sustain recovery from alcohol and substance abuse.
- Emberwood Center – Emberwood Center offers specialized treatment to adolescents (11-17 years old) that are misusing substances. At this age, experimentation with substances can start and use can develop in a way that it is difficult to stop despite of negative consequences like school suspension, behavioral or relationship issues, or even legal issues. Their program is delivered through individual or group sessions and they utilize evidenced based techniques such as Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. They involve the family in treatment as needed, and they encourage participation in peer support groups
Adults and Alcohol
This month is about prevention and treatment for both youth and adults. It is important to notice our own drinking patterns and how alcohol is impacting our lives. Alcohol is listed as a depressant drug, which slows down the messages traveling between the brain and the body. This depressant drug can cause many physical and mental issues for adults, including:
- Depression
- Poor memory and brain damage
- Difficulty having children
- Liver disease
- Cancer
- High blood pressure and heart disease
- Blackouts
- Dependency
- Mood swings
- Confusion
- Alcohol poisoning
- Death
This month, notice patterns with your own drinking. How many drinks do you have a day? Do you deal with hangovers often? Do you feel your drinking gets in the way of your daily activities? These are a few questions to ask ourselves when thinking of our drinking. Change can be difficult, but give yourself a moment this month to rethink your drinking.
Adults and Treatment
AUD is a difficult disorder to manage alone, it is important to reach out. Look into local resources, lean on friends and families, and be kind to yourself. Recovery is not an easy feat, allow yourself to take it day by day.
Recovery resources:
- Community Fairbanks Recovery Center – Community offers the complete realm of behavioral care for adults – from inpatient and partial hospitalization options to outpatient treatment and senior adult care – to treat those with addiction or other mental health issues.
- Crown Counseling – Located in Crown Point, and Hammond. Recovery from addiction isn’t a quick process. Long-term sobriety requires ongoing treatment and a strong support network. Crown Counseling’s Outpatient Substance Abuse Program provides that continued care and support through intensive therapeutic intervention and education. Their program helps their clients develop the skills and relationships needed to sustain recovery from alcohol and substance abuse.
- Gary Harm Reduction – This social service offers low barrier Narcan training and distribution, referrals, and giving resources related to substance use.
- Clean Slate – Addiction treatment specialists treat alcohol dependence with medication and a variety of evidence-based psychological and social treatments, including counseling time with providers. They coordinate care with community partners to address all barriers to their patients’ recovery.
- Edgewater – Addiction Services at Turning Point offers a variety of services to adults 18 and older who are suffering from addiction. Their programs provide support to the client and their families to promote recovery and the best possible outcomes.
More Resources
- Alcoholics Anonymous (Spanish Version)
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Spanish Version)
April Recommendations
Please, be wary that this month’s recommendations deal with topics that can be triggering. The topics can vary from overdose to drug and alcohol abuse. It is important to bring awareness to these topics, but it is also important to know one’s limitations and boundaries. Please, be safe and take caution in reading and watching these materials.
The Spectacular Now
By Tim Tharp
Trigger Warnings: Mentions of sex, language, alcoholism, substance use, and mentions of statutory rape.
The novel follows protagonist Sutter Keely, a warm-hearted young man with a hedonistic outlook on life. Sutter appears to be a shallow social butterfly, travelling between circles of friends, always the life of the party. He enjoys making other people feel good and making them laugh, and he has had a string of girlfriends, all of whom remain friends with him after their relationships inevitably fizzle out. But Sutter’s carefree ways barely cover for the alcoholism he suffers from, his feelings of inadequacy, and the downward trajectory of his life. When he tries to ‘save’ teenaged Aimee from her difficult family life and low self-esteem, Sutter is really trying to save himself
Flight
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
Trigger Warnings: Drug and alcohol abuse, language and nudity
Based on real-life events, the film covers the brave actions of Captain Whip, who avoided an accident that would have been fatal for all of his passengers. As the investigation into the incident develops, his struggles with drugs and alcohol surface. Whip is faced with two choices: to own up to the truth, or to carry on with the lies.
