Wednesday, August 5, 2020

No Alcohol August #NoAlcoholAugust #NAA

   August is time to consider participating in No Alcohol August.

    No Alcohol August (or NAA) is a month-long alcohol-free challenge. A cleanse that provides physical and mental-health benefits, not to mention the money that is saved not spending it on alcohol. It can also help some people learn if they have a drinking problem or not.

    Alcohol abuse is a leading global cause of preventable death and disease. Alcohol is ranked #3 in worst healthy substance after smoking and bad diet. This burdens our already overloaded health care systems. By just taking one month off a year, it can help people obtain health and well being goals that otherwise seemed unattainable.

    While drinking alcohol can be a fun and social activity, for too many it’s a cause of health problems and depression. NAA is an event that is aimed at helping people and our communities get healthier.

    From the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/:

  • An estimated 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The first is tobacco, and the second is poor diet and physical inactivity.

  • In 2009, alcohol-related liver disease was the primary cause of almost 1 in 3 liver transplants in the United States.

  • More than 10 percent of U.S. children live with a parent with alcohol

  • In 2012, 3.3 million deaths were attributable to alcohol consumption.

  • In 2010, alcohol misuse cost the United States $249.0 billion.

  • In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 9,967 deaths (31 percent of overall driving fatalities).

How to do it?

  • Simple! Just don’t drink any alcohol for the 31 days of August
    • Sounds easy, but for many this challenge is far too difficult.
  •  Post progress and results on Social Media and spread the hashtags #NAA and #NoAlcoholdAugust. Examples: 
    • How much weight you have lost! 
    • How your mental health has changed. 
    • How much money you have saved! 
  • For any who struggle, please seek help from addiction counselors and speak with your doctor. 

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