When many people think of alcohol abusers, they picture teenagers sneaking drinks before high school football games or at unsupervised parties. However, alcohol abuse is prevalent within many demographic groups in the United States. People who abuse alcohol can be:

· College students who binge drink at local bars.

· Pregnant women who drink and put their babies at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome.

· Professionals who drink after a long day of work.

· Senior citizens who drink out of loneliness.

Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse

If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, you may have a problem with alcohol:· Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?

· Does your drinking ever make you late for work?

· Does your drinking worry your family?

· Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won’t?

· Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?

· Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking?

Source: How to Cut Down on Your Drinking

In 2003, almost 23 percent (54 million) of Americans participated in binge drinking within 30 days prior to taking SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) . That same year, approximately 21.6 million adults abused alcohol or were alcohol dependent.

To recognize the serious problem of alcohol abuse, April is designated “Alcohol Awareness Month.”

If you suspect that you might have a drinking problem, or you know someone who abuses alcohol, please contact SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7.

CTCADA offers both adolescent intervention and treatment programs. Education, individual counseling, family therapy, group counseling and referral to other resources are all part of a comprehensive effort to prevent or intervene in youth alcohol and drug abuse. Call us at 254-690-4455!

SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)