March is mostly commonly associated with St. Patrick’s day. The holiday that many hear about and think of the color green. But some may hear about St. Patrick’s day and think about an alcoholic beverage. As we are approaching the holiday this week, it may be helpful to reflect about alcohol consumption before partaking in the festivities. We have put together some information on alcohol and the impact it can have on the body.
A diagnosis associated with an overindulgence is Alcohol Use Disorder or AUD. This is a condition in which a person has an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use regardless of adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. If you or someone you know may be facing challenges due to alcohol consumption there are resources such as your doctor, a mental health counselor, or substance use support groups like alcoholics anonymous (AA).
Facts and Statistics
- For teenagers the use can have repercussions on typical adolescent brain development.
- According to the CDC, excessive drinking contributes to more than 3,900 deaths among people below the age of 21 in the U.S. each year.
- The consumption of alcohol can impact your ability to operate motor vehicles and promote risky behaviors.
- Excessive use can lead to chronic diseases or other serious problems such as high blood pressure, cancer, and liver disease.
Drinking Levels
- Practice abstinence which means you do not partake in drinking.
- Moderation is limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men OR 1 drink or less in a day for women.
- Binge drinking is a pattern of consumption that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or higher. This is equivalent to about 5 or more drinks for men OR for women, 4 or more drinks in about 2 hours.
- Heavy drinking can mean about 15 drinks or more in a week for men OR women who have more than eight drinks.
Prevention Tips
- Be mindful of your alcohol consumption. You could be selective with how much you drink.
- Try taking a break and see if you can manage without drinking. You can try a mocktail instead!
- Find a support group or friends and family who can help lift you up.
- Talking with your healthcare provider or schedule a meeting with a counselor.
References
Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.aa.org/
Minimum legal drinking age of 21 saves lives | CDC. (2022, December 7). https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/minimum-legal-drinking-age.htm
Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/prevention.htm
SAMHSA’s National Helpline | SAMHSA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2023, from https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2023, from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder