April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a month dedicated to helping reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism. This week we have Jacalynn Romeyn, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Program Manager of WYH’s FACTS program. The FACTS Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Services provides support and guidance to those wanting to kick their addiction and regain control of their lives.
Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April during Alcohol Awareness Month, our FACTS encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.
In one year alone, an estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol related causes, making alcohol the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States. To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse, FACTS is joining other organizations across the country to honor Alcohol Awareness Month.
If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Here are some strategies to help you cut back or stop drinking:
- Limit your drinking to no more than 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men.
- Keep track of how much you drink.
- Choose a day each week when you will not drink.
- Don’t drink when you are upset.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at home.
- Avoid places where people drink a lot.
- Make a list of reasons not to drink.
If you are concerned about your alcohol intake, FACTS Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Services offers:
- Comprehensive Assessments
- Individual and Family Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Substance Use Education
- Post Discharge Continuing Care
- Integrated Care Coordination
- Medication Assisted Treatment