Did you know that…
- In 2019, almost 26% of people ages 18 and older (almost 30% of men in this age group and 22% of women) reported they engaged in binge drinking in the past month, and 6.3% in this age group (8.3% of men and 4.5% of women) reported they engaged in heavy alcohol use in the past month, according to SAMSHA’s 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)?
- According to that same survey, nearly 15 million people ages 12 and older had alcohol use disorder (AUD). And the same survey revealed that an estimated 414,000 adolescents in 2019 had AUD?
- Also in 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration Center for Statistics and Analysis, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 10,142 deaths or 28% of overall driving fatalities?
- Again in2019, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and SAMSHA 2019 NSDUH, of the 85,688 liver disease deaths among individuals 12 and older, 43.1% involved alcohol?
- In 2018 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that alcohol contributed to more than 200 diseases and injury-related health conditions, ranging from liver diseases to violence to cancer to cardiovascular diseases to suicides to HIV/AIDS?
Our government agencies and multiple, highly respected medical entities most knowledgeable about alcohol consumption define moderate consumption of alcohol as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, one drink being 12 fluid ounces of beer, 5 of wine, and/or 1.5 of distilled spirits. They also emphasize that no one should start drinking alcohol or consume more because of potential health benefits, given the possible benefits won’t outweigh the risks enough.
Avoiding alcohol all together is imperative if you are pregnant or trying to become so. Too, if you’ve been diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol addiction, or have a strong family history of alcoholism. Stroke and heart attack victims, persons suffering from liver or pancreatic disease, and being on OTC or prescribed medication also are almost always counseled by their physician to not consume any alcohol.
A final, important fact about alcohol and alcohol consumption to know this month: eating a healthy diet and being physically active have much greater health benefits than consumption of alcohol and, as important, have been more extensively studied.
Also know that Tully Hill Outpatient services/programs remain open and functioning – call 315-696-6114 ext. 127 for information about and qualifying for that level of care
