Happy April! Hoping these rain days here in the Midwest will bring us a beautiful, lush May!
Did you know that April is Alcohol Awareness Month? According to the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependance(NCADD), Alcohol Use Disorder affects nearly 16 million people in the US and continues to be the DOC for teens in America.
The NCADD was founded by Marty Mann, one of the early members of Alcoholic Anonymous and the first woman to have successfully gone through a 12 step program.
In 1987 NCADD identified April as the month to bring about a nationwide change and to cultivate awareness about binge drinking and alcohol abuse. Some of the ways that NCADD encourages the fight against alcohol abuse is through increased awareness through social media, promotion of the Alcohol Free Weekend campaign and encouraging others to seek help for those that cannot. The Know Your Limits and What You Can’t See campaigns educate on the affects of long term drinking and stresses the importance of knowing when enough is enough.
I wanted to share this since this month holds a special place in my heart. Alcohol is my DOC, it is the demon on my shoulder hissing in my ear, and it could have led to my demise if I didn’t take action. I have lost family members to alcohol related medical issues, and have experienced friends who have lost their lives due to one stupid decision while under the influence. Thinking back to their situations, I doubt any of them really were aware of how harmful alcohol abuse is. I am not sure if they would have changed their decisions if they were aware but I can hope that if they did, the would still be here today.
thanks for posting.