By Adrian Zupp
If you drink, circle Thursday, April 11 in red on your calendar. National Alcohol Screening Day® (NASD) is really that important. Over the years it has been an occasion when drinkers of all levels have learned more about the dangers of alcohol, and whether their drinking is moderate or risky. To take an anonymous self assessment, go to www.DrinkingIQ.org.
With all the pressures that can come from serving in the military, from deployment, to being the family member of someone serving in the military, keeping tabs on your drinking is a smart move.
A recent phone poll of 1,000 American adults by Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (SMH) – the founders of NASD – revealed that perhaps we don’t know as much about alcohol as we may think. For example, one-fifth (19%) of Americans believe that, regardless of how much a person drinks, it is not a problem unless there are negative effects on personal relationships or work performance – and this number is higher (32%) among those who engaged in binge drinking five times or more last year.
And yet the dangers of alcohol are far more numerous and include acts of violence (including domestic violence), inappropriate social behavior, traffic accidents, fetal damage, a heightened risk of cancer, weakening of the immune system, and damage to the brain, heart, and other vital organs.
But the good news is it’s never too late to quit or cut back, and a free, anonymous screening is a great first step. And how’s this for an encouraging stat: In February, 46 percent of military personnel who screened “positive” for alcohol said they would cut back on their drinking – this percentage has been climbing steadily since last October when it was 38%. And it shows no signs of slowing. So the unintrusiveness of an SMH alcohol screening really is an educating and positive influence.
Check if your installation is doing an in-person screening event on April 11 – if they are, you’ll also be able to speak with a clinician and get advice. You can also go online 24/7/365 and take a screening. And remember, all screenings are totally free and completely anonymous.
If you’d like to read more of our blog posts on alcohol, here are some that might interest you:
- Sometimes We Laugh at Drunk People, But it’s never Funny to be “That Guy”
- Could Secondhand Drinking Be a Problem in Your Life
- What You Need to Know About Substance Abuse and TBI
Adrian Zupp is the marketing and communications writer for Screening for Mental Health, Inc.
