April is National Alcohol Awareness Month

Alcohol Awareness Month is celebrated in April

The month of April is dedicated to raising awareness to an important cause in order to make a difference in the lives of people that struggle with alcohol addiction. April has been designated as Alcohol Awareness Month so that we can focus on prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery from alcohol-related issues. The more people are educated and able to discuss alcoholism the more we will be able to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and encourage others to get the help they need.

Alcohol Awareness Month was founded by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence in 1987 to help communities reach out to the public with information about alcohol, alcoholism and recovery. The goal behind alcohol awareness is to reduce the stigma and negativity that is often associated with being called an alcoholic. When more people understand the struggle and pain of alcoholism they will be less likely to name-call or blame a person who is facing this terrible disease.

Each April gives the the country a chance to address issues of alcoholism and offer people support and help so that they can recover. The NCADD and other supporting organizations are using this month of awareness to address alcoholism as a public health problem through various media strategies, campaigns, programs and events throughout local communities. Making an effort to communicate with others about alcoholism can help spread more awareness and bring people together for this important cause.

As part of the awareness campaign the NCADD suggests an alcohol-free weekend in the month of April to bring more attention to the use of alcohol and how it may be affecting individuals, families businesses and communities. The organization encourages anyone who experiences discomfort or difficulty with three days of sobriety to contact a treatment center or an AA program for help.