April is Alcohol Awareness month and a good time to learn about the facts and fiction surrounding alcohol. Did you know one in every 12 adults suffer from either alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependency? That is equal to 17.6 million Americans! Not only does alcohol increase peoples risk of injuries, drowning, violence, diseases and cancer, but it is the cause of nearly one-third of all traffic related fatalities.
These are the facts:
- Alcohol is a depressant. This means that it can slow down brain activity if drank in excess
- Alcohol is the cause of 2.8 million deaths worldwide annually
- 40% of hospital beds in the United States are being occupied by people with alcohol related health conditions
- Teens who start drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are more likely to develop alcohol dependency at some point later on in their life
- Drinking plenty of water can help with a hangover, this is because alcohol naturally dehydrates your body, so refueling with water can help
- Over time, excessive alcohol use, both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, can lead to numerous health problems, chronic diseases, neurological impairments, and social problems
These are the fictitious facts:
- Beer makes you less drunk than other forms of alcohol – This couldn’t be less true, whatever kind of alcohol you consume, in large enough quantities, will make a person drunk.
- You can sober up if you take a cold shower – Your body has to process and metabolize alcohol, meaning no matter what a person does, they have to wait the time for it to do that.
- If you eat enough food, you wont get drunk – Food doesn’t prevent your body from being affected by alcohol. It could delay the rate your body absorbs it, but in the end if you drink enough you will still get drunk.
- Drinking alcohol before bed will help you sleep – Alcohol disrupts your sleep and can even reduce your REM time, meaning you don’t sleep as well at night
- Drinking alcohol causes weight gain – Alcohol alone does not cause excessive weight gain, a combination of poor eating and alcohol consumption misuse can lead to a person gaining weight
Download our Alcohol Awareness Infographic HERE
