Alcohol Awareness Month
With news media focused on the opioid epidemic, many don’t realize the high numbers of patients in treatment with an addiction to alcohol. We have seen an uptick in alcohol misuse among our treatment center admissions in Maryland and Delaware. Ask and many will tell you they have been fighting it as their ‘first’ addiction since adolescence, even childhood.
National Alcohol Awareness Month was established in 1987 and is a campaign to raise awareness about one of the nation’s biggest health issues, and reduce the social stigma related with alcoholism.
Despite alcohol being regulated, the availability of it and social nature of consuming it leads to the potential for abuse. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), alcohol is the most frequently used and misused substance in the United States. In fact, more than 65 million Americans report binge drinking or heavy drinking in a one-month period.
Many people may not realize they have an alcohol dependence issue because alcohol has become so intertwined with our culture in America. It’s a legal substance, and the use of it is everywhere you look: on TV, in magazine ads, in social settings, and even in religion. There are also millions of people who suffer but are afraid to talk about it for fear of being judged or perceived negatively.
It is reported that 3 million people die each year from alcohol-related deaths worldwide – 95,000 of those are from alcohol addiction in the United States. The stakes are high when it comes to alcohol use, and your health and happiness could be on the line.
If you feel that alcohol use may be impacting your quality of life, ask yourself these questions:
- Have you had times when you ended up drinking more than you intended?
- Have you wanted to cut down or stop drinking but were unable to?
- Have you ever wanted to drink so badly you couldn’t focus on anything else?
- Have you found that drinking has caused trouble in your personal relationships?
- Have you given up on activities you enjoy in order to drink?
- Have you found yourself in a dangerous situation as the result of drinking?
- Have you had to drink more than you once did to get the effect you want?
- Have you experienced withdrawal symptoms (nausea, sweating, a racing heart, trouble sleeping) when the effects of alcohol wear off?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a problem with alcohol misuse. Treatment options are available for alcohol and starting down the road to recovery can improve your physical health, mental health, happiness, and personal relationships. Recovery can start here.
Want to know more? Here are a few resources:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

About us
Hudson Behavioral Health was formed in 1980 (as Hudson Health Services, Inc.) to bring the first residential recovery program to the Eastern Shore. Today, thousands of patients later, we remain the leader in recovery programs and resources, with our staff of 100 committed to serving each patient as an individual.