The purpose of Alcohol Awareness Month is to educate the public about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of alcohol addiction and to encourage recovery for those experiencing it. Established by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), it now occurs every April.
Excessive drinking is serious business. Over time, it can lead to numerous health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and memory problems, as well as several kinds of cancers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.org).
In fact, alcohol has such harmful effects medically, that the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently taken the position there is no level of safe alcohol consumption. While most experts don’t take that position, excessive drinking remains a serious health issue.
According to current statistics posted by NCADD
• 140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year
• One of 10 Americans over the age of 12 have Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
• Over half of Americans increased their alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 lockdowns
During the first year of the pandemic, sales of alcohol spiked and alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. rose to the highest rate in decades. Experts have identified several warning signs for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
• Does my drinking make it harder for me to perform my best at work or school?
• Have friends or family members shown concern about how much I drink?
• Do I feel moody, irritable, or tired the morning after I drink?
• Do I constantly have to deal with headaches, hangovers, or other physical side effects from drinking?
• Do I have trouble stopping after having one or two drinks?
• Do I have to hide my drinking habits from friends or family?
There is some evidence, according to a recent Gallup Poll, that the incidence of drinking in young adults has been trending down over the past two decades. It even appears many members of Generation Z (mid-to-late 1990s-early 2010s) are abstaining from booze entirely, based on increased awareness of the risks associated with alcohol. However, concern remains high, since the metrics are holding steady among middle-aged adults, while trending up among older Americans.
What about Mocktails?
Mocktails and other nonalcoholic drinks are surging in popularity in the United States, and manufacturers of these products are constantly striving to make the drinks taste as close to the real thing as possible. But do they have a benefit for those with a drinking problem?
Experts say the use of nonalcoholic drinks are fine for people who aren’t using them as a strategy for sobriety. They may find them useful when they don’t want to drink alcohol because they’re pregnant, taking a certain medication, don’t like alcohol or have just decided they want to drink a little less.
But, for people who have moderate to severe AUD, or are abstaining from alcohol, these drinks are generally discouraged because they might actually create a craving for alcohol, not cut it.
“It is basically a no,” says George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “The cues created by a mocktail can trigger relapse and re-engagement in excessive drinking,” says Koob.
For those without a drinking problem, including those that drink socially and moderately, public health experts say any reduction in alcohol is a good thing. The no-alcohol alternatives allow someone to order a mocktail margarita with your chips and salsa, without waking up to a headache the next morning. And for some, drinking a nonalcoholic beer or alcohol-free glass of wine helps relieve some of the social pressure when everyone else at the party is holding a glass or cup.
“It’s wonderful for folks who don’t have alcohol use disorder,” said Tim Brennan, Chief of clinical services for the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai Health System. However, for those recovering from AUD, the smells, sounds, and behaviors associated with cracking a can of alcohol-free beer or wine may be too triggering. Brennan cautioned against drinking mocktails or other drinks that are supposed to mimic gin, bourbon, or other alcoholic beverages. He also said it’s important that people know that alcohol-free beer typically contains small amounts of alcohol.
For those with an alcohol problem, or those who suspect they have a problem, treatment for alcohol use disorder can vary, depending on one’s needs. It could be individual or group counseling, an outpatient program, or even a residential inpatient stay. The goals are the same, to stop alcohol use and improve quality of life. According to the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org), treatment for alcohol use disorder may include:
• Detox and withdrawal: Treatment may begin with a program of detoxification — withdrawal that’s medically managed. Detox is usually done at an inpatient treatment center or at a hospital.
• Oral medications: Certain physician prescribed drugs may help prevent you from drinking, by producing a physical reaction that may include nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Other meds may help you combat alcohol cravings once you stop drinking.
• Learning new skills and making a treatment plan: This process usually involves behavioral change, counseling, and follow-up care at a treatment center.
• Psychological counseling: To help you better understand your problem with alcohol. Family support can be an important part of the recovery process, since families are usually impacted by someone with a drinking problem. Additionally, alcoholism commonly occurs along with other mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Speak to your alcohol specialist for the proper path forward, be it psychotherapy, medications, or other treatment.
• Continuing support: Aftercare programs and support groups, such as AA, including a sponsor, help people prevent and manage relapses and cope with necessary lifestyle changes
• Spiritual practice and prayer: Consider some type of regular spiritual practice, meditation or prayer, as persons in recovery seem to find this avenue helpful.
Residential treatment programs
For serious alcohol use disorder, you may require a residential treatment facility. Most residential treatment programs typically include licensed alcohol and drug counselors, social workers, nurses, doctors, and other professionals dedicated to recovery.
There is some evidence that alcohol use is trending down with younger adults, those of Generation Z, for example. However, excessive use of alcohol is trending up for older Americans and remains a serious health issue for individuals and their families. Those effects include serious medical complications, as well as financial and legal consequences, such as drinking and driving. The use of Mocktails is not recommended for those with a drinking problem, although they have a place for others looking to curtail the use of alcohol, such as avoiding the lingering effects the day after.