Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, Peace Parish Nurse encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much.In Texas alone, there have been 987 people lost their lives to drunk driving accidents in 2016. Of the 17,434 DUI crashes in Texas, Austin is one of the top five cities with 1,432 accidents. To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse, I am offering some ways you can improve your health by limiting your intake or quitting if you drink too much. Here are some strategies to help you cut back or stop drinking:
- Limit your drinking to no more than 1 drink a day for women or 2 drinks a day for men.
- Keep track of how much you drink.
- Choose a day each week when you will not drink.
- Don’t drink when you are upset.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at home.
- Avoid places where people drink a lot.
- Make a list of reasons not to drink.
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s drinking, here are some places to find help:
The Right Step 844-768-0086 – can help you find a program
SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish. They deal with alcohol and mental health issues.