April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Alcohol is a part of many of our lives. It’s used for celebrations, for comfort, to socialize, to wind down, to cope. We treat it differently than other drugs; it’s legal, socially acceptable, even encouraged. However, in the United States alone, more than 140,000 people die each year from alcohol misuse, making it one of the leading causes of preventable deaths.

This year the Cambridge Public Health Department recognizes April as National Alcohol Awareness Month. Like Dry January, the month challenges us to increase personal awareness about alcohol use by examining our relationship with alcohol. This national event aims to educate the public about the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of alcohol addiction and to reduce the barriers to recovery for those experiencing it. 

Thankfully, there are free resources available to help adults moderate their drinking or quit drinking entirely. Are you curious or concerned about your own or a loved one’s drinking habits? Try the Alcohol Screening questionnaire to get personalized feedback and supportive tools. Want to educate yourself on the effects of alcohol and the benefits of reducing your use? Take a look at the NIAAA Rethinking Drinking website. These are valuable tools for just about anyone who drinks.

So this April, take some time off from drinking, and have another go at an alcohol-free break.  It’s a great way to reassess your relationship with alcohol and have some sober fun.