For the sake of the 14 million Americans diagnosed with alcoholism, and for many others who haven’t been diagnosed, April is the time for families and communities to talk about alcohol abuse.
In 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence designated April as National Alcohol Awareness Month. During this month, there are services and information available for people who suspect they or someone they know have a drinking problem.
Mac Prichard, spokesman for the Oregon Department of Human Services, said April is the time for communities to provide information on alcohol abuse to the public.
“This month is so important, because there are tens of thousands who suffer from alcohol abuse and others who put themselves at risk with their drinking behaviors,” Prichard said. “Studies have shown that families who talk about drinking have fewer problems with alcohol abuse.”
An important part of the national Alcohol Awareness campaign is alcohol screening. On April 5, 1999, the non-profit organization Screening for Mental Health Inc., established National Alcohol Screening Day, with support from several government agencies.
Screening includes filling out a confidential questionnaire and talking with health professionals to alert people to possible drinking problems. People can also fill out questionnaires to determine whether or not a family member or friend may have a drinking problem.
Katherine Cruise, spokeswoman for Screening for Mental Health Inc., said colleges across the country take part in the screening.
“Students are usually surprised by the results of their screening,” Cruise said. “They don’t realize how much they drink and how it’s changed their behavior.”
For this reason, Oregon Partnership spokesman Christopher Curtis said college students who drink responsibly or not at all can be a good example for other students.
“There are a lot of responsible students out there that can be role models for their peers when it comes to drinking,” Curtis said.
The Oregon Partnership, a non-profit organization that works toward preventing substance abuse, has begun an aggressive campaign to provide information about alcohol abuse to the public.
The Partnership is working on television and radio spots, submitting editorials to newspapers and distributing information packets to prevention professionals.
“We not only want to help those who may have alcoholism, we also want to promote prevention and encourage people to act as role models when it comes to alcohol use,” Curtis said.
The Oregon Partnership supports the statewide screening, including the screening that will be done by Lane Community College and the University on Thursday.
Because of the controversial drinking habits of college students, Cruise said it’s important for students to have a description of risky drinking behaviors so they can recognize if they have a drinking problem.
Sheryl Eyster, the University assistant dean and associate director of student life said the University’s screening is not a tool for diagnosing alcoholism, but a way for students to recognize if they have risky drinking behaviors.
On screening day, students will have the opportunity to fill out an anonymous self-assessment and talk one-on-one with a professional staff member from the Health Center, Counseling Center or the Substance Abuse Prevention Program. From there, students can receive information on resources for help.
“High-risk drinking can lead to poor academic performance, property damage, injury or even death,” Eyster said. “We’re not attempting to offer a diagnosis in any way, we just want students to be aware of any problems they may have with drinking and give them the opportunity to get help.”
Barbara Cimaglio, ODHS administrator of the Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs, said it’s important for anyone who is questioning their behaviors to take part in the screening, especially college students.
“Statistics show that 44 percent of college students reported binge drinking,” Cimaglio said. They need to be aware of their risky drinking behavior.”
Supported by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the screening programs have grown nationwide but are still in the beginning stages, Cruise said.
“We organize the screening, but it’s the screening sites, set up by the communities themselves, that conduct the screening,” Cruise said.
Screening on campus will be held Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the EMU River Rooms.