LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Alcoholism is among the most prevalent and urgent public health problems in the United States.
Alcohol-induced death has markedly increased among both men and women and across demographic groups in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Each April, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, or NCADD, sponsors National Alcohol Awareness month, with the goal of encouraging public education surrounding alcohol use disorder.
Data collected by the California Highway Patrol shows that in 2021, 252 people were cited with a misdemeanor in Lake County for driving under the influence (DUI, 0.08% or greater Blood Alcohol Concentration). Of these DUI arrests, 123 involved traffic collisions. Tragically, 15 of these resulted in fatalities. In one of these fatal incidents, both drivers involved were intoxicated.
Hope Rising Lake County’s Community Health Dashboard shows that 15% of Lake County adults binge drink. Though our community is not immune from this public health crisis, community, resources and education can help combat this issue.
MedlinePlus, a resource maintained by the National Institutes of Health, notes alcohol use disorder is marked by intense cravings to drink, loss of control to manage consumption intake, and a low and irritable emotional state when not consuming alcohol.
Alcoholism can be treated with Naltrexone or Acamprosate, both of which reduce cravings. This information and more can be found in the Medication Assisted Treatment Toolkit for DUI Programs, a resource created by Harbage Consulting with support from the Department of Health Care Services.
Along with learning about the prevalence of alcohol use disorder in the community and available treatment options, another integral focus of Alcohol Awareness Month is checking in on our own dependence.
This April, designate an alcohol-free weekend
To do this, the NCADD recommends choosing a weekend in April to go entirely alcohol-free, from Friday through Monday.
Afterward, take some time to gauge the impacts the weekend had on your body and mind. Note any sweating, nausea, headaches, and/or trouble sleeping as these could indicate an unconscious dependence on alcohol and may require a closer look.
The line between casual consumption and alcohol dependence can blur when we are too close to it; an alcohol-free weekend allows for objective, honest self-reflection.
Lake County Behavioral Health Services is concerned that alcohol use disorder keeps many Lake County residents from reaching their full potential.
Help is available.
As the data demonstrate, harms can extend well beyond the personal; in many cases, taking care of ourselves is taking care of others.
For more information, please contact us at 707-994-7090 or 707-274-9101.