As an adult child of alcoholic parents, I know first-hand the effects of alcoholism. Yes, it was tragic at times, heart wrenching, sad, and troubling. But…. I also knew that my parents had a disease and that they loved me in spite of their addictions. One of the positive effects for me was that I learned to be independent and self-sufficient. I also learned the value of hard work and perseverance. I always knew that I wanted to go to college and I became the first person in my family to attend and graduate from college. Even though both of my parents passed away in their 50s, they worked on their recovery, starting the first Alcoholics Anonymous group in Pike County. I share a bit of my story with the hopes that you will become more aware of the dangers of drinking too much.
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, I encourage you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.
Did you know?
- An estimated 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
- In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 9,967 deaths (31 percent of overall driving fatalities).
If you are drinking too much, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Are you concerned about binge drinking? Check out this Chow Line article from Ohio State University.
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.
- 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.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention has an alcohol portal with sections devoted to:
- Binge drinking
- Alcohol use in pregnancy
- Underage drinking
- Drinking and driving
If you want more information about these topics, visit the CDC website.
Remember, if you are concerned about someone’s drinking, there are ways to offer help. Check out these websites for additional information and treatment suggestions:
National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
References:
Turner, T., and Hatsu, I. Binge drinking: How much is too much? Available https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/chow-line-binge-drinking-%E2%80%94-how-much-is-too-much
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
https://healthfinder.gov/nho/AprAnnounce.aspx
https://www.cdc.gov/alcoholportal/index.html
Written by: Michelle Treber, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County, treber.1@osu.edu
Reviewed by: Marilyn Rabe, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County, rabe.9@osu.edu
Live Healthy Live Well 
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