April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a timely reminder that alcohol-related issues remain a major public health concern nationwide, particularly in Wisconsin, which consistently ranks among the states with the highest rates of binge-drinking.
In a culture with significant binge-drinking, people can have a skewed sense of understanding what is considered “too much” when it comes to alcohol.
Consuming alcohol in excess can contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder and elevate the risk of various organ-related diseases, most notably affecting the liver, heart, and brain. While these health implications are widely understood, many people don’t realize that excessive alcohol consumption can also increase the likelihood of certain types of cancer.
What are the health benefits of reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption?
Limiting or avoiding alcohol can reduce risks to overall health. Excessive drinking, including patterns like binge drinking, can contribute to:
- The development of Alcohol use disorder
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It encompasses alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol addiction, and the colloquial term, alcoholism.
- An increased risk of organ-related diseases affecting the liver, heart and brain.
- Excessive alcohol consumption can also increase the likelihood of certain types of cancer such as breast, colorectal and liver, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
What constitutes “a drink” and what qualifies as binge drinking?
- Binge drinking is a pattern of consuming alcohol that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 percent or higher over a two-hour period.
- For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks (male), or four or more drinks (female).
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) describes heavy drinking as:
- For men – consuming more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week
- For women – consuming more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks per week
No amount of alcohol is considered “safe,” however, limiting your alcohol intake and following NIAAA guidelines can lower your risk of the health impacts of the substance.
The importance of pre-employment, post-offer and post-accident drug and alcohol testing
Creating a safe, productive and compliant workplace is a priority for any organization. Pre-employment and post-offer drug and alcohol testing are essential to ensure you are hiring individuals that meet your requirements. These evaluations help employers identify potential substance abuse issues among employees, mitigating workplace risks, preventing work-related injuries and promoting a safe and productive environment.
Ascension Wisconsin Employer Solutions can help your organization with the testing you need, including post-accident and reasonable suspicion testing 24/7. Reach out to us via e-mail at [email protected] to learn more.
Pre-employment and post-offer testing is only part of the equation. Stress and anxiety related to work can lead to substance abuse.
“Around 75% of the workforce admits to experimenting at some time or other with a substance, either alcohol or another substance, legal or illegal, to manage stress and anxiety related to work,” Director, Ascension Wisconsin Employee Assistance Program RaeAnn Thomas said. “The best outcomes in any kind of treatment can be attained with early intervention. Employee assistance programs offer early intervention and support for employees and leadership who care about them and work to retain valued employees through these difficulties.”
Asking for help Experiencing substance use or other addiction can make daily life and relationships difficult and should not be ignored. Care teams at Ascension Wisconsin sites of care help treat addiction and substance use disorders and deliver therapies that focus on patients’ needs of any age. Reaching out for support for addiction is an important step that takes courage. Ascension Wisconsin has dedicated treatment programs for adolescents and adults. You can also call or text 988, the crisis hotline, for help.