Fighting alcohol abuse is an ongoing challenge

April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, and it is an excellent time to take stock of your knowledge and beliefs about alcohol use. We'd like to offer three helpful suggestions for you and your family.

First, continue to learn. What counts as a drink? Is your drinking pattern risky? What is the harm? When should I start to worry about my kids? These are questions we should all be asking ourselves, and turning to research for answers.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's “Rethinking Drinking” website, www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov, is a great resource to help you find answers.

Second, we encourage you to make a change. Learn about strategies for cutting down and reducing your risk, support for quitting altogether, or simply how to be more proactive in preventing problems in the future.

Third, act on your concern. If you are concerned about your use or someone you care about, know that you can find up-to-date, accurate information all around you. Contact us at MECCA, www.meccaia.com; or visit the websites of Alcoholics Anonymous, www.aa.org; Narcotics Anonymous, www.na.org; and Alanon/Alateen, www.al-anon.alateen.org.

We are fortunate to live in an era where there is help and hope, with so much of it right here in our community.

Ron Berg, CEO

MECCA Services

Iowa City