April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April has been designated as the annual Alcohol Awareness Month by The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. The first year celebrated for Alcohol Awareness Month was back in 1987. Since then the campaign has been used to help raise awareness on the facts, dangers and effects of alcoholism. The campaign provides information debunking myths that alcoholics can't recover and that alcoholism is a moral weakness.

Websites such as Alcohol Screening participates in Alcohol Awareness Month by providing an alcohol screening quiz to determine if your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. By answering a few questions on the quiz, you may be able to determine facts about your own drinking habits you never really thought about before.

Alcohol Awareness Month campaign over the past few years has been geared to underage drinking and the problems associated with it. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that alcohol is the number one drug of choice for our young people under 21 years of age. Every single day, 7,000 of our nations' children under the age of 16 take their first drink. These children, who are the future of our nation, need to be protected and to be made seriously aware of the dangers of alcohol. Underaged drinking costs the United States an estimated $53 billion a year.

If you would like to get involved in Alcohol Awareness Month and to help raise awareness, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website for further information.

According to the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcoholism is a disease that includes the following symptoms:

- Craving - A strong need, desire or urge to drink.

- Loss of control - Once drinking has started the alcoholic can't stop.

- Physical dependence - An alcoholic will have physical symptoms of withdrawal if they don't drink alcohol: nausea, sweating, anxiety or shakiness.

- Tolerance - An alcoholic will need to drink greater amounts in order to get the same "buzz" or "high" over time.

Alcoholism is only one type of alcohol problem, though. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are not the same. Alcohol abuse is when someone drinks too much or too often but they are not physically dependent on it. Some signs of alcohol abuse may include:

- Not being able to meet social, school or work responsibilities.

- Car crashes and drunk-driving arrests.

- Medical conditions related to drinking.

There are over 17.5 million people in the United States who are either alcoholics or abuse alcohol. More men than women are affected by alcohol dependency and abuse and alcohol problems are highest among those in the 18 - 29 year age range. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse is lower in people who are over 65. According to NIAAA, people who start drinking at the age of 14 or under are at a higher risk of developing an alcohol addiction at some point in their lives.

If you or someone you know has an alcohol addiction problem, there are plenty of resources available to help you fight to get your life back. The National Drug & Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service at 1-800-662-HELP offers a variety of resources for alcoholics. Support groups and other resources that are available include:

- Alcoholics Anonymous

- Al-Anon/Alateen

- National Association for Children of Alcoholics

- National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information