Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, Sierra Nevada Holistic Services encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.
In NV alone, between 2011 and 2015, 369 lives were lost in alcohol-related crashes. As of May 31, 2018, we have already had 122 fatalities on the highways, but 20% (approx. 25 people) of those were alcohol related (NV Dept. of Public Safety, 2018). To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse, we are joining other organizations across the country to honor Alcohol Awareness Month.
If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Here are some strategies to help you cut back or stop drinking:
- Limit your drinking to no more than 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men. This is defined as moderate drinking. One drink equals 5oz of wine OR 1oz of alcohol (like whiskey) OR 12oz of beer.
- Keep track of how much you drink.
- Choose a day each week when you will not drink.
- Don’t drink when you are upset.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at home.
- Avoid places where people drink a lot.
- Make a list of reasons not to drink.
If you are concerned about your drinking or someone else’s, don’t be afraid to ask for help. While we don’t do counseling, we can help with alcohol-deterrent medications, referrals, and support. Some available resources include: