ARC shares helpful resources for Alcohol Awareness

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) is sharing important resources to help Kentuckians identify the warning signs of alcohol abuse and point loved ones to effective treatment options.

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study found that alcohol-related fatalities nationwide increased nearly 30 percent from 2016-17 to 2020-21 — accounting for an average of more than 178,000 excess deaths annually.

“Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious disease, but statistics show that less than 10 percent of individuals struggling with AUD receive treatment, unfortunately.” said Vanessa Keeton, ARC Vice President of Marketing. “However, the good news is that help is readily available, and our experienced treatment professionals stand ready to provide the personalized care and support needed to begin the road to recovery.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), having two or more of the following symptoms in the past year could signal an AUD:

• Drinking more alcohol or over a longer period than originally intended
• Unsuccessfully trying to cut down or control alcohol use
• Craving or a strong desire or urge to use alcohol (wanting a drink so much it’s difficult to think of anything else)
• Drinking that interferes with responsibilities at home, at work, or at school
• Continuing to use alcohol even when it causes problems with family and friends
• Giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use
• Repeatedly using alcohol in physically hazardous situations
• Developing a tolerance to alcohol (needing more alcohol to get the same effect)
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, restlessness, nausea, or sweating after stopping or reducing drinking