Becoming Alcohol Aware

Another Alcohol Awareness Month has come and gone in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) encouraged all residents of the state to use this time to learn more about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

While thinking about what alcohol has been known to do, the words of Brad Paisley’s song “Alcohol” came to mind. In it he speaks as if he “is” alcohol and comments that he can make people feel pretty, believe lies, and attempt to be courageous by picking fights with guys that are bigger. He takes credit for causing breakups and births and for getting people fired. He talks about how people have gotten themselves embarrassed, too, and mentions that all of this makes a lot of money for the bars and the breweries and vineyards. At the end, he has a clever refrain that ends with,

"You had some of the best times you’ll never remember with me: Alcohol."

It’s meant to be clever and funny, but it also gives some pretty good examples of how alcohol affects peoples’ brains. However, since it’s meant to be humorous, it doesn’t get into either the problems of driving under the influence of alcohol, or the health problems that are caused by drinking.

Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is the Director of IDPH. She explained that “Alcohol abuse affects individuals and families in all Iowa communities. Alcoholism can be fatal, but treatment is available and it is effective.” Some of the problems that come from too much alcohol are alcohol poisoning, hangovers, and an increased risk of heart disease. Statistics show that 25% of 11th graders in Idaho who were surveyed admitted that they had been binge drinking in the past month. While the national average is 42%, this is still an incredibly high number of young people who are starting their addiction and their problems illegally at the age of 16 or 17.

If you drink, it would be wise for you to keep track of how much you actually consume in a day, and in a week. You might be surprised to find out that it’s substantially more than you realized. If you drink alone when you are angry or sad, or if your drinking makes you late for work, you may have a problem.