Alcohol Awareness

Each April since 1987, the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage local communities to focus on alcohol-related issues.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA), researchers estimate that each year there are almost 200,000 alcohol-related deaths, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death in the United States. In addition to negatively impacting a person’s physical health, heavy alcohol consumption can adversely affect mental health too.

People drink to celebrate, socialize, commiserate, or “drown their sorrows.” Some drink to feel more relaxed, courageous, or confident. The effects of alcohol are temporary.

Alcohol is a depressant, which disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in your brain and affects feelings, thoughts, and behavior. The chemical changes in the brain can lead to more negative emotions, such as anger, depression, or anxiety, regardless of a person’s mood.

Research shows that people who drink alcohol are more likely to develop mental health problems. Those with severe mental illness are more likely to have alcohol problems because they ‘self-medicate’ and drink to deal with the difficult feelings or symptoms.

• Depression - regular consumption of alcohol is linked to symptoms of depression. Those with depression often feel better within a few weeks of removing alcohol. Alcohol is not recommended for those taking antidepressants because it exacerbates depression and can increase the side effects of some antidepressants.
• Anxiety - alcohol can give those with anxiety a brief feeling of relaxation, but it is short-lived. Those who rely on alcohol to cope with their anxiety could find themselves dependent on it.
• Psychosis - heavy consumption OR heavy consumption followed by a sudden halt of drinking can bring on psychosis.
• Suicide and Self-Harm - alcohol can reduce a person’s inhibitions and cause them to react more impulsively and this could lead to self-harm. Heavy drinking is also linked to suicidal thoughts and behavior.
  

There are many resources and options available for help.

• Avoid situations and environments that promote drinking. Engage in other activities with friends.
• Consume nonalcoholic mocktails.
• Talk to those you trust about your plans to change and lean on them for support.
• Talk to your GP or therapist.
• Contact AA or other support groups.