April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Every April since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month. Their goal is to "increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma and encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues."

Each year, the organization chooses a theme for April to help spread information about a specific aspect of the topic. This year’s theme is "Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage'." The education and resources provided are aimed at our youth, who are struggling with alcohol use at alarming rates. There are also resources available for parents, encouraging them to have honest conversations with their kids about this difficult topic.

The NCADD site has a self-test for those who are unsure about the type of support they need, referral services, recovery stories, and much more. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol use, this is a great place to start and get the help you need.

Here in Boston, the Office of Recovery Services is a wonderful local resource for finding help. They can be reached by calling 311 or 617-635-4500.

Alcoholism is the number one public health issue in our country. Most of us have someone in our lives that is affected by this issue, and it can be overwhelming to know how to best care for them. Additional local resources are listed in our comprehensive Resource List. Treatment is available and recovery is possible.