In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month this April, we thought we would share with you some very important information.<\/p>\n
Effects of excessive alcohol consumption <\/strong><\/p>\n Did you know that alcohol consumption at high levels can cause serious safety and health risks? Alcohol dependence causes many health problems including liver damage, diabetes, cardiovascular complications and chronic disease. These side effects not only impact the people drinking the alcohol, but they affect their family, children, friends, coworkers and members of the public as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol is associated with approximately 88,000 deaths per year.<\/p>\n In 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Association (SAMHSA) found through a national survey on drug use that nearly 61 million people aged 12 years or older identified as binge alcohol users, and 26.8 percent of those people were considered heavy alcohol users. SAMHSA defines binge drinking as 5 or more alcoholic drinks for males or 4 or more alcoholic drinks for females on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the past month, and heavy alcohol use as binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month. (Source: www.SAMHSA.gov<\/a>)<\/p>\n According to the National Center for Statistics and Analysis\u2019 2015 Traffic Safety Facts, there were 10,265 alcohol impaired-driving fatalities in 2015, representing an average of one alcohol-impaired driving fatality every 51 minutes. (Source: https:\/\/crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov\/Api\/Public\/ViewPublication\/812376<\/a>)<\/p>\n Warning signs and how to get help<\/strong><\/p>\n Are you concerned that you or someone you know may be dependent upon alcohol? Here are several warning signs to look for:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n