Alcohol Awareness Month: How to Support The Cause

Alcohol Awareness Month aims to increase public awareness about alcohol and alcohol use disorders (AUDs). As a public outreach campaign, it cultivates consciousness regarding everything from the adverse effects of alcohol and its impact on individuals and communities to alcohol use disorder prevention and treatment.

So what can you do to support Alcohol Awareness Month?

This is a great time to update your knowledge about alcohol and its adverse effects, to educate others and dispel some myths, and to begin taking ongoing steps to support sober friends, family, and even strangers. Here are a host of stats, tips, and links to get you started.

Alcohol Statistics to Share

Provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health offer myriad insights about alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorders, and treatment. Here’s a sampling of key stats from the survey:¹

• 48.7% of those 12 and older (137.4 million people) drank alcohol in the past month.
• 21.7% of those 12 and older (61.2 million people) admitted to binge drinking in the past month.
• Despite laws that limit drinking to those 21 and older, 15.1% (5.8 million people) aged 12 to 20 drank alcohol in the past month. 
• 10.5% of those aged 12 and older (29.5 million people) had an alcohol use disorder in the last year.
• 19.4% of those aged 12 and older (54.6 million people) needed some form of substance use treatment in the last year. However, among that same age group, only 4.6% (13.1 million people) received treatment.

If you want to discover even more substance use disorder stats, the 2022 NSDUH is free and available online.

Alcohol Myths vs. Facts

How much do you really know about alcohol and its effects? To test your knowledge, see if you can tell which of the following statements are myths versus facts. Then pass on your newfound myth-busting skills to your friends and family.

• Chronic alcohol misuse often leads to the development of a large bulbous nose. 
• Gout is caused by many things, but alcohol is the most important risk factor.
• Kidney stone development is closely linked to alcohol consumption.
• A clear association exists between alcohol consumption and peptic ulcers.
• You can cure alcohol addiction with proper treatment.

How many of the aforementioned statements are myths? Check your answers via this in-depth and medically reviewed article on Common Misconceptions About Alcohol. (HINT: None of the statements are true.)

Educational Links and How-To-Help Resources

American Addiction Centers offers myriad articles related to alcohol misuse, overdose, withdrawal, treatment, and more. Here’s a smattering of options to help you bone up on alcohol misuse and support Alcohol Awareness Month.

Alcohol Effects

• Alcohol Addiction and Misuse: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment.
• Alcohol and Diabetes.
• Alcohol and Pregnancy.
• Alcohol Poisoning and Overdose.
• Binge Drinking Effects and Dangers.
• Digestive System and Alcohol.
• Effects of Alcohol on the Brain.
• Insomnia and Alcohol.
• Liver Damage from Alcohol.
• Mixing Drugs and Alcohol.
• Neurological Effects of Alcohol.
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

When Alcohol Misuse Affects Someone You Love

• Effects of Alcohol Misuse on Families.
• Alcohol Use Disorders and Your Spouse.
• How to Cope with a Partner That Misuses Alcohol.
• How to Help a Father Struggling with Alcohol Addiction.
• How a Parent’s Alcohol Addiction Affects Children.

How to Help Others

• How to Talk to Someone about Alcohol Use Disorders.
• Benefits of Quitting.
• How to Help.

Programs for Children and Teens

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers numerous insights and resources. For this year’s Alcohol Awareness Month, the NIAAA focused on the following websites, which provide insights geared toward children.

• Facts About Teen Drinking. This teen-centric website provides insights about alcohol’s adverse health effects, how to identify signs of alcohol misuse, and how to get help.
• NIAAA for Middle School. Aimed at parents, caregivers, and teachers, this site provides interactive activities to reinforce key messages about peer pressure, resistance skills, and underage drinking.
• Alcohol and Your Brain: A Virtual Reality Experience. This VR experience employs informative billboards, narration, and age-appropriate messages.
• Kahoot! Aimed at providing teens with a better understanding of underage drinking, this quiz can be taken at home or in the classroom.

Learn More About Treatment 

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol misuse, help and hope are available today. American Addiction Centers offers multiple treatment facilities throughout the U.S., all of which offer evidence-based care and highly qualified and caring staff.

Reach out today at to learn more about treatment options. Admissions navigators are available 24/7 for a free and confidential conversation. Plus, they can verify your insurance benefits, or you can do so yourself online. If you don’t feel like talking, you can sign up for text communications as well.

The following links can also help you explore treatment options for yourself or your loved ones.

• Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms, Detox, and Treatment.
• Medically Managed Detox.
• Inpatient Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder.
• Outpatient Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder.
• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs). 
• Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs).
• Telehealth for Rehab.
• What to Expect During Alcohol Rehab.
• Does Insurance Cover Alcohol Rehab?