April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and alcohol is the most used substance. According to SAMSHA, among people aged 12 or older in 2020, 58.7 percent used tobacco, alcohol, or an illicit drug in the past month, including 50.0 percent who drank alcohol, 18.7 percent who used a tobacco product, and 13.5 percent who used an illicit drug.

A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to a person’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs. This addiction negatively impacts their relationships, education, employment, life responsibilities and self-care. Put simply it impacts their ability to live, laugh, love and learn. It can lead to death.

In 2020, 40.3 million people aged 12 or older (or 14.5 percent) had an substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 28.3 million who had alcohol use disorder, 18.4 million who had an illicit drug use disorder, and 6.5 million people who had both alcohol use disorder and an illicit drug use disorder.

Commonly used drugs are Alcohol, Tobacco including vape products (nicotine, leading cause of preventable death, disability, and disease in US), Marijuana including edibles and vape products, Prescription Stimulants (like Ritalin), Opioids, Methamphetamines, Prescription Pain Medication and Caffeine.

If you wonder if there is a problem, ask the following questions:

Does the substance…

• Interfere with or disrupt your/their work, family, or relationships?
• Have a negative effect on your/their physical, mental, or emotional health?
• Pose a safety, health, or financial risk?
• Cause anxiety, discomfort, irritability, or illness when stopped?
• Result in arguments?
• Pose difficulties when limiting or stopping?
• Does use continue even in the face of negative consequences?

If the answer was yes to any of these questions, you/they would benefit by seeking help.

Resources

For individuals suffering from a substance use disorder, there is help available.

S.E.E. Center

710 U.S. Ave, Culpeper, VA 22701, (540) 825-3366

The S.E.E. Recovery Center offers an array of FREE recovery-oriented groups, meetings, and the opportunity to speak with someone about mental health or substance use recovery. A staff member is available Monday through Friday from 8am-9pm, Saturday 9am-3pm, and Sunday 4-8pm to assist with attending appropriate groups or other services.

Spiritworks

62 Culpeper Street, Warrenton, VA 20186, (540) 428-5415

Spiritworks is led primarily by people who live in recovery from addiction. They deliver FREE peer to peer programs and services for children, youth, and adults living in recovery from the disease of addiction. Their programs and services build resilience in children, inspire youth to live drug free, and support, educate and empower adults who live in recovery.

Sex, Drugs and God

15191 Montanus Drive PMB #139, Culpeper, Virginia 22701 (540) 779-0088

SDG is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals struggling with addiction. Through regular meetings, accountability reviews, and consistent behavioral modeling, they help others learn the necessary skills to effectively transition to life beyond addiction. They offer FREE Peer Recovery Coaching and Services to individuals in Culpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Madison, and Orange counties. They are a fully volunteer run organization and our services are solely funded through grants, donations and community support.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous is an international peer-led mutual aid fellowship meeting online and in-person dedicated to abstinence-based recovery from alcoholism through its spiritually-inclined Twelve Step program. This site will help find a local meeting.

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

The SAMHSA offers a great deal of information on its website about substance abuse. They operate the National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) which is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

APA (American Psychiatry Association)

The APA offers valuable and easy to understand information on why individuals use, recognizing substance misuse, effective treatment options, and suggestions on how to help someone who is using.  There is also a video that explains addiction.