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| Subscribe to Clinical Compass™ | VOLUME 3, ISSUE 8 - APRIL 8, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month by Anne Lambert, MS When we think of someone who may abuse alcohol or may be alcohol dependent, the image is a college beer party, teenagers getting an older friend to buy alcohol, a person down on her luck, or a “hard core” drinker. The reality may include those folks, but it also includes the busy executive who has several drinks every night after a long day or the lonely older person isolated from his friends and family. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) conducted a National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2003 and found that during the 30 days before the survey almost 23%, or 54 million Americans, were engaged in binge drinking.(1) Actually, almost 14 million Americans - one in every 13 adults - abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent and less than 25% of those who need treatment receive it in a given year.(2) Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined.(3) More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year - about 4.65 a day - as a result of alcohol-related injuries.(4) Aside from alcohol-related injuries and deaths, alcohol dependence can cause serious health problems. It can lead to increased incidence of cancers of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx, as well as liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage, and heart problems. Psychological comorbidities, such as depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders, are also adversely affected by alcohol dependence. To avoid the risks associated with alcohol, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises drinking in moderation–defined as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. To focus awareness on alcohol abuse and dependence, April has been designated as Alcohol Awareness Month. This year, April 10th marks the annual observance of National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD).* At locations across the United States, people can be anonymously screened for risky drinking, alcohol abuse, or alcohol dependence. Each site will offer educational materials and the opportunity to meet privately with a healthcare professional if desired. Last year, more than 203,000 people participated in NASD activities at more than 5,400 screening sites.(5) Alcohol Awareness Month is a good opportunity for healthcare practitioners to bring awareness of alcohol abuse and dependence into their clinical practice with increased alcohol screening. Patient educational materials are available on the National Alcohol Screening Day website at www.nationalalcoholscreeningday.org/events/nasd/index.aspx and at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA’s National Clearing House for Drug and Alcohol Information website at http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/default_upcoming.aspx#upcoming.* Alcohol awareness month can also be an opportunity for healthcare providers to hone their own knowledge and keep up-to-date on recent evidence. One way to do that is to visit the neuroscienceCME.com website for currently archived materials such as a videoconference on Advances in Clinical Care for Patients with Alcohol Dependence and a webcast on Improving the Continuum of Care in Alcohol Dependence: Latest Evidence for Counselors and Clinicians. On April 17, CME Outfitters will host a live Q & A with Dr. Susan Blank of the Caron Treatment Centers on Creating the Multidisciplinary Integrated Treatment Team: A CEO’s Perspective and on May 12, a Journal Club on Posttreatment Outcomes: Combined Pharmacotherapy and Psychosocial Intervention with Kyle Kampman, MD, and Dennis Donovan, PhD. *The mentioned websites list different dates for National Alcohol Screening Day. April 10th was confirmed by the National Alcohol Screening Day office, while the SAMHSA website lists April 5th as National Alcohol Screening Day. Do you have feedback for the author? Click here to send us an email. References
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| ©2008 CME Outfitters, LLC |
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