April

Alcohol Awareness Month

Sponsor: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer.

The good news? We can all do our part to prevent alcohol misuse or abuse.

Spread the word about strategies for preventing alcohol misuse or abuse and encourage communities, families, and individuals to get involved.

How can Alcohol Awareness Month make a difference?

We can use this month to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and take action to prevent it, both at home and in the community.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Encourage friends or family members to make small changes, like keeping track of their drinking and setting drinking limits.
• Share tips with parents to help them talk with their kids about the risks of alcohol use.
• Ask doctors and nurses to talk to their patients about the benefits of drinking less or quitting.

How can I help spread the word?

We’ve made it easier for you to make a difference. This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example:

• Add information about alcohol abuse to your newsletter.
• Tweet about Alcohol Awareness Month.
• Host a community event where families can learn about local addiction resources.
• Add this Web badge to your website.
• Join us in raising awareness for Alcohol Awareness Month.

• Sample Announcement
• Sample Tweets
• E-cards
• Web Badge
• Get Involved
• Share These Resources
• More Information

Get the Word Out

Get Involved

Take action to raise awareness about alcohol misuse and abuse.

1. Partner with a local high school or youth organization to host an event about alcohol abuse prevention.
2. Host an alcohol-free community block party. Invite local restaurants and a local radio station to provide free food and music.
3. Partner with a local health clinic to offer free or low-cost screenings for alcohol abuse on National Alcohol Screening Day (April 7, 2017).
4. Work with your local police station to host a Family Information Night. Share free information on preventing alcohol abuse and provide demonstrations. For example, use drinking goggles to show how drinking too much can affect vision.
5. Post information on bulletin boards at local community centers, places of worship, the library, and post office.

Adapted from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

For more information and materials, contact:

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at ncadi-info@samhsa.hhs.gov
• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at niaaaweb-r@exchange.nih.gov

Share These Resources

Find More Information

• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
  Alcohol Awareness Month Sponsor
• Alcohol & Health
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Alcohol-Related Brochures and Fact Sheets
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CDC Vital Signs Report: Alcohol Screening and Counseling
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Alcohol and Your Health: Tools
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Community Education
  The Partnership for a Drug-Free America
• A Family History of Alcoholism: Are You At Risk?
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• College Drinking [PDF - 448 KB]
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Too Smart To Start
  Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Minority Women’s Health: Alcoholism and drug abuse
  Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Alcohol Use in Older People
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging
• Using Alcohol to Relieve Your Pain: What Are the Risks? [PDF - 376 KB]
  National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism