LEWISTON — April marks Alcohol Awareness Month, a nationwide campaign created to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and take action toward a solution.

Excessive drinking is a dangerous behavior for both men and women and can lead to health-related problems like injuries, liver disease and cancer. This April, the public is encouraged to take time to learn about the dangers of drinking and make a difference by spreading the word about strategies for preventing alcohol abuse.

Some recommended strategies include but are not limited to: parents talking to their kids about alcohol usage, implementing alcohol education in schools, avoiding over-consumption of alcohol by keeping track of how much you drink and convincing loved ones to seek advice if they are suffering from a drinking problem.

Much of the attention surrounding alcohol and drugs is given to individuals who meet the clinical criteria for substance dependence or have already received a diagnosis. But recent reports have found that even when not dependent on alcohol, individuals who drink more than the recommended guidelines pose a risk to themselves and others. Unfortunately, many doctors miss drinking problems because they do not conduct an alcohol screening.

SBIRT, a technique that stands for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment, has been found by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to identify, reduce and prevent problematic use of alcohol and drugs. SBIRT is similar to preventive screenings for diseases such as cancer and diabetes as it identifies risk levels of substance use and provides intervention strategies.

The Maine office of SAMHS has provided funding through its Partnerships for Success II grant to substance abuse prevention coalitions throughout Maine to work on SBIRT initiatives. Funded coalitions will work with health care providers by offering technical assistance and training on implementing SBIRT in their medical practices. Education for health care providers will include information on using screening tools, conducting brief interventions and referring patients for assessment.

Healthy Androscoggin is being funded to conduct these trainings in Androscoggin County. To bring this training to your practice, contact Scott Gagnon, substance abuse prevention manager, by calling 795-2120 or sending an email to gagnonsc@cmhc.org.

For more information on underage drinking and alcohol abuse prevention, visit www.healthyandroscoggin.org.

Copy the Story Link