Can We Talk About Drug and Alcohol Use?

March 18-24 is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, an important health observance dedicated to encouraging conversations, promoting education and sharing resources about alcohol and drug use. 

Start a Conversation With Facts

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 14 Americans reports experiencing a substance disorder. By spreading awareness, normalizing discussions about substance use and sharing resources in regard to prevention, treatment and recovery, you can take positive steps toward reducing stigma and empowering individuals to seek help, find support and even save a life.

If you know someone who may be abusing alcohol and/or substances, use these facts provided by the CDC to help start a conversation about the serious risks they’re undertaking:

• A person increases their risk of certain cancers, stroke and liver diseases when they consume excessive amounts of alcohol over an extended period of time.
• Alcohol intoxication can impair brain function, resulting in poor judgment, reduced reaction time, loss of balance and motor skills, or slurred speech.
• Motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers kill one person every 45 minutes in the United States. That’s 32 people every day.
• Using alcohol and other substances (known as polysubstance use) together is unsafe because the effects may be stronger and more unpredictable than one drug alone.
• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that’s rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. The liver can metabolize only a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body.
• Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks on a single occasion for men or four or more drinks on a single occasion for women. It is associated with serious injuries, diseases and deaths.
• Drinkers who mix alcohol with energy drinks are more likely than drinkers who don’t to report unwanted or unprotected sex, driving drunk or riding with a driver who was intoxicated, or sustaining alcohol-related injuries.
• Substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis can be applied to the following classes of drugs: alcohol; cannabis; hallucinogens; inhalants; opioids; sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics; stimulants; tobacco (nicotine); and other (or unknown) substances.
• When people take drugs, the brain is flooded with chemicals that stimulate the reward system and can lead to strong cravings. Continued use of drugs can lead to addiction because the brain adapts. A tolerance develops, and more drugs are needed to feel the same stimulation.

What to Do Next

There’s no perfect way to start a conversation about a difficult topic. However, how you go about it depends on the person and your relationship with them. Start by setting up a time to talk. Two approaches to try:

• “I want to talk. Can we sit down tomorrow after dinner?”
• “I’d like to find time to talk with you. When are you free?”

When you do sit down to talk, have your thoughts together and remember to avoid accusatory phrases or being critical. You care about the individual, and being compassionate and loving will help set the stage for a positive outcome.

Best Care EAP Can Help 

While there are many reasons why someone may turn to substance use, including depression, help is available to start recovery. If you or someone you know is affected by drug or alcohol use, reach out to Best Care EAP and schedule a confidential appointment with a licensed counselor. Get started by filling out our Counseling Registration Form. If you have issues with the form, call Best Care EAP at (402) 354-8000 or (402) 801-4182. We’re glad to help.

IMPORTANT! Crisis and emergency services are available 24/7. If you or a loved one is experiencing extreme distress, including emotional distress or an emotional crisis, please call 911 or the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Additional Information and Resources

The Resource Hub on the Best Care EAP website features articles and webinars about addiction, as well as general mental health and well-being topics. We encourage you to take some time to look around.