ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

April is Alcohol Awareness Month In April, we observe Alcohol Awareness Month and acknowledge the adverse effects excessive alcohol use can have on health and wellness. It is also an opportunity to share strategies and resources available for addressing issues surrounding alcohol use. According to data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among the 137.4 million respondents aged 12 and older self-reporting current use of alcohol, 44.5% reported binge drinking, with the most prevalent age category being 18-25 years old (29.5%). Among people 12-20 years old, 15.1% used alcohol in the past month. Estimates of binge alcohol use and heavy alcohol use in the past month among underage people were 8.2% and 1.7%, respectively. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate about 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. each year. SAMHSA funds a range of programs that can reduce the health and social impacts of excessive alcohol use. This includes substance use prevention programs such as SAMHSA’s STOP Act program which funds local community coalitions to prevent underage drinking as well as treatment and recovery support services that help people with alcohol use disorders. SAMHSA’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics program, provides funding to support comprehensive behavioral health services and crisis care that is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. Additional funding opportunities are currently open: Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act Grant Provider’s Clinical Support System – Universities Building Communities of Recovery SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.”® campaign helps parents and caregivers, educators, and community members get informed, be prepared, and take action to prevent underage drinking and other substance use. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, you can go directly to FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357). View the Alcohol Awareness Month Toolkit