If you’ve acknowledged your own alcohol-related problems – drinking too much, too fast, too often – you’ve already taken your first step toward recovery. Just know you’re not alone: nearly 28 million people in the U.S. had AUD, according to the most recent statistics; that’s 1 in 10 Americans ages 12 and over.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to reduce the stigma of AUD and increase public understanding of its health impacts. Researchers estimate that each year there are more than 178,000 alcohol-related deaths, making alcohol one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States.
If you’re ready to make a change in your life and willing to get the support you need, you have many options. And you don’t need to hit rock bottom. Resources such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (
niaaa.nih.gov) can help you find assessment, treatment plans, options for therapy and medication, and a community that supports ongoing recovery. In some cases where an inpatient residential treatment center is an option, Black Horse Health offers a team approach to addressing substance use and process addiction. Black Horse Health’s caring staff, some of whom are in their own recovery journey, know that AUD is not a choice or a personal flaw – it’s a medical condition that can happen to anyone.
The stigma surrounding addictions can make a person with AUD too embarrassed to discuss it. It’s not a character flaw; it’s not a personal failing. And it’s not something you’re likely to successfully handle alone.
If there’s a key takeaway from Alcohol Awareness Month, it’s that there is no shame in wanting help. In fact, your acknowledgment that you have a treatable medical condition is a sign of strength. Let that courage set you on your recovery journey. It can be a long and often arduous road, but it’s not impossible. And the positives are many: reduced risk for chronic diseases, improved physical and mental health, better work performance and financial stability, and rebuilding relationships that were strained or broken.
If you’re ready to make a change in your life and willing to get the support you need, there’s a world of support at your fingertips. Alcohol Awareness Month reminds us that it is never too late to seek help and turn your life around.
