April is Alcohol Awareness Month, which is held every year to help raise awareness about alcohol abuse.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive alcohol use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
“Alcohol causes and is related to over 200 diseases in the body,” said Dr. Akhil Anand, an addiction psychiatrist for Cleveland Clinic. “I tell patients all the time, what do we use alcohol for? We use alcohol to clean our toilets. There’s alcohol in cleaning products because it’s so good at breaking down protein.”
Anand said when he talks to someone about the signs of alcohol abuse, he will often refer to the four Cs.
They include cravings, which is when you crave alcohol.
Compulsion, which is when you can’t stop drinking once you start.
Then consumption, which is when you drink too much.
And last is consequences, which is when alcohol causes problems for you.
Anand said if you are concerned that a friend or family member is abusing alcohol, it’s okay to talk to them, but make sure you’re being supportive.
“Addiction is a very insidious thing. It doesn’t just happen,” he said. “And sometimes the person may not react properly, but you expressing your concern in a very constructive way, it will help them in the long run.”
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that men of legal drinking age should have no more than two drinks a day, and for women, one drink a day.
However, drinking less or not at all is best for your health.