Alcohol Awareness Month and the Dangers of Polysubstance Use
April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol and polysubstance use and offers resources and support for individuals, families and loved ones affected by it.
According to data from SAMHSA’s 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among the 137.4 million respondents aged 12 and older self-reporting current use of alcohol, 44.5% (61.2 million) reported binge drinking, 11.7% (16.1 million) were heavy alcohol users and 10.5% (29.5 million) had a past year alcohol use disorder (AUD). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. each year.
Additionally, 8 million people also reported having a co-occurring drug use disorder.
Source: 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Polysubstance use can have dire consequences if not detected and treated. Using alcohol combined with other substances, especially depressants like opioids or benzodiazepines, significantly increases the risk of overdose and death. Drinking alcohol with medications can also cause health problems or death. It is important to not only understand the dangers of alcohol use and substance use alone but also how harmful it can be to mix substances.
Help is available and recovery is possible. SAMHSA’s National Helpline 800-662-HELP (4357) is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Call 9-1-1 immediately if you think someone is overdosing.
Navis Clinical Laboratories focuses on a whole-person approach to laboratory testing, offering solutions for providers to help patients get the right treatment at the right time. Contact us to learn more about our testing options.