National Health Observances
National Health Observance Toolkit - April
Alcohol Awareness Month
Sponsor: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Alcohol Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of alcohol abuse and encourage people to make healthy, safe choices.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you may have a problem with alcohol:
- Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
- Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
- Does your drinking worry your family?
- Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't?
- Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?
- Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking?
Source: How to Cut Down on Your Drinking
Strategies to Cut Back or Quit Drinking
There are many strategies you can try to cut back or quit drinking. To get started:
- Keep track of your drinking and set a drinking limit.
- Try to avoid places where heavy drinking occurs.
- Ask for help from a doctor, family, or friends.
- If you keep alcohol in your home, keep only a limited supply.
Sample Announcement | Sample Tweets | E-cards | Web Badges | Get Involved | Related Tools on healthfinder.gov | Resources
Get the Word Out
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Sample Media and/or Newsletter or Listserv Announcement |
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Have some questions about alcohol? You’re not alone. @CDC_ehealth shares their answers: http://1.usa.gov/l5QQv5. For health & wellness, drink alcohol in moderation: meaning no more than 1 drink/day for women; 2 drinks/day for men. http://1.usa.gov/jMjjHj Did you know that "one drink" equals: 5oz. of wine, a 12oz. bottle of beer, OR a 1.5oz. shot? http://1.usa.gov/mAns0w FREE pub from NIAAA: Alcohol--A Women's Health Issue: http://1.usa.gov/ma8wgR Health Tip: When trying to control your alcohol intake, take a day off. Choose one day a week to abstain from alcohol. http://1.usa.gov/k2m8bo. |
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Get Involved
Take action to raise awareness of alcohol abuse.
- Partner with a local high school or youth organization to host an event about alcohol abuse prevention.
- Host an alcohol-free community block party to show how much fun can be had without drinking. Invite local restaurants and a local radio station to provide free food and music.
- On April 7, National Alcohol Screening Day, partner with a local health clinic to offer free or discounted screenings for alcohol abuse.
- Partner with your local police station and host a Family Information Night. Share free information on preventing alcohol abuse and provide demonstrations, such as using drinking goggles to see what it’s like to be impaired.
- Post information on bulletin boards at local community centers, places of worship, the library, and post office.
Adapted from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at SAMHSAInfo@samhsa.hhs.gov for more information and materials.
Related Tools on healthfinder.gov
Personal Health Tools
More Information (Health A-Z)
Quick Guide to Healthy Living
Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Alcohol Awareness Month Sponsor - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Personal Frequently Asked Questions: Alcohol and Public Health
- Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, Native Americans/Alaska Natives and Alcoholism
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, College Drinking Prevention
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Family History of Alcohol: Are You At Risk?
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Tools
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Publications and Resources
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