Alcohol Awareness Month is an opportunity to update your knowledge about alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the adverse impact of alcohol misuse on health and society. Alcohol-related problems continue to take a heavy toll on individuals, families, and communities. Researchers estimate that each year, there are more than 178,000 alcohol-related deaths, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death in the United States. In addition, more than 200 disease and injury-related conditions are associated with alcohol misuse.
Previously, AUD has been referred to as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and, colloquially, alcoholism. It is important to note that the terms “alcohol abuse” and “alcoholism” may increase stigma, whereas using the diagnostic term “alcohol use disorder” with patients may help reduce stigma.
To talk about the risks of AUD, Jessica Porter of Denver television station KMGH (Denver 7) sat down with William Wright, MD, the chief medical officer of Colorado Access. Dr. Wright explained that alcohol use disorder is not primarily about the amount of alcohol consumed but how much alcohol use impacts a person’s life by impairing their financial situation, their job, their relationships, and their physical health. If any of these indicators are present and the individual is still unable to reduce alcohol intake, they may have AUD.
ALCOHOL AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE, ACTION!
Dr. Wright recommends a technique called the three As to open up a conversation with yourself or a loved one:
- Awareness of what is happening
- Accepting the reality of the problem
- Action through self-care or talking to friends or a provider
The first A stands for “awareness”: “I am aware that something’s going on—either with myself or with a family member,” Wright explained. “Just sit and pause for a minute and consider that and then you move into the second A, which is called “acceptance.” Stop denying. Accept the reality of it. Acceptance does not mean you are condoning it in yourself or somebody else, but rather you’re fully embracing what’s going on. And then action: after you’ve done those two steps, you might consider ‘What would I do’? ‘What would be the next steps for me to consider’?” People worried about their alcohol use could work on self-care or talk to a treatment provider. There are many options for treatment, including medications to help control cravings and group or individual therapy.
EFFECTIVE ALCOHOL USE DISORDER TREATMENT IS A FOUNDRY FRONT RANGE PRIORITY.
Most Foundry Front Range clients experience alcohol use disorder. Numerous studies and guidance from the National Institute on Alcohol Use and Alcoholism indicate high rates of co-occurrence between alcohol use disorder and other substance use disorders. It is very common to encounter clients using alcohol and other substances, including cannabis, opioids, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, and more. So-called polysubstance abuse is the norm, rather than the exception, in the experience of many treatment providers.
Many Foundry Front Range clients are adults from Western Colorado and other rural communities in which alcohol use is culturally accepted or even encouraged as a means of community belonging or dealing with pain and undiagnosed mental health conditions.
Effectively treating alcohol use disorder requires significant expertise and medical resources. Suddenly stopping long-term alcohol use can cause lethal withdrawal side effects, and medically managed detoxification is required. Alcohol use disorder can also cause organ damage, including chronic liver disease. Foundry Front Range provides medical evaluation, treatment, and monitoring to help people safely enter recovery from AUD and develop a discharge plan that includes medical checkups and screening to address any underlying problems brought on by prolonged problematic drinking. Nutritional support is also provided because living with untreated alcohol use disorder can lead to severe malnutrition. Clients often need help reestablishing a healthy relationship with food and learn how to use nutrition to support overall health.
Alcohol use disorder can affect entire families. Having a parent with alcohol (or other substance) use disorders is considered an Adverse Childhood Event (ACE), which places a child at risk of trauma and other negative life experiences. The effects of living with family members affected by alcohol use disorder create stress, anxiety, depression, and risks for injury and financial and legal problems. Foundry Front Range includes family programming that helps entire family systems learn about alcohol use disorder and how to support their loved one’s recovery.
During Alcohol Awareness Month, you can find information on the NIAAA website to learn more about NIAAA-supported research and initiatives. These efforts aim to generate and disseminate fundamental knowledge about the adverse effects of alcohol on health and well-being. Such research is critical in helping us to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems.
