BRENTWOOD, Tenn., April 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, American Addiction Centers, a leading provider of substance use treatment, will be hosting a discussion series called Sober Thursdays: An AAC Chat throughout the month of April. Each Thursday, beginning April 7, a panel of treatment experts and frontline workers - many of whom are in recovery - will address some of the most common questions asked about alcohol use, alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction. All episodes will air live on Facebook and LinkedIn at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Recent data has further illustrated the impact the pandemic has had on alcohol consumption nationwide. Deaths involving alcohol increased by nearly 26% from 2019 to 2020, the largest year-over-year increase in decades. In the first year of the pandemic, rates of alcohol use among all age groups increased with the largest increase seen in people aged 35 - 44. The second-largest increase in alcohol use was among those aged 25 - 34. In the end, more than 99,000 people died in 2020 from alcohol-related causes.
“Alcohol is the fourth-leading cause of preventable death in the country, and sometimes we forget that alcohol is responsible for more deaths each year than opioid overdoses,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lawrence Weinstein. “We have yet to see the results of the significant uptick in alcohol consumption during the pandemic, but numbers suggest that there are many more people who now have a problematic relationship with alcohol or perhaps an undiagnosed alcohol use disorder. This year, for Alcohol Awareness Month, we hope that these discussions among people who have either treated addiction or once struggled themselves can help others identify any worrying signs that they or a loved one may be experiencing.”
Dates and topics for the series include:
- April 7: Do I Have a Drinking Problem? – Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
- April 14: Detox, Denial and Dangers - Alcohol Reality Check
- April 21: Occupational Hazard - Alcohol in the Workplace
- April 28: Sober and Social – How to Live a Full Life in Recovery
“Rates of alcohol use are not likely to decrease though the effects of the pandemic are lessening, so this may be an issue for some time to come,” said Dr. Weinstein. “By helping people gain a better understanding of troubling alcohol use and how to address it through this month-long series, we can potentially help someone get their life back.”
About American Addiction Centers
American Addiction Centers is a leading provider of inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment services. We treat clients who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate substance abuse treatment facilities located throughout the United States. These facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and treatment solutions. For more information, please find us at AmericanAddictionCenters.org or call 866-244-1070 for help. We also offer several online resources for the public. Visit americanaddictioncenters.org/online-resources to learn more.
