Alcohol Abuse Awareness

Picture from my personal Instagram.

This month's blog post is about Alcohol Abuse Awareness. 

In the United States 1 in every 12 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or dependence. That comes out to 17.6 million adults in the United States is suffering from alcohol abuse or depending on alcohol on a regular basis. 88,000 people die each year due to excessive alcohol abuse.

I have personally been affected by alcohol abuse or dependency, and I have seen how it has affected people I love. 

At 8:30 in the morning, on the 101 freeway at Tampa Ave, on August 10, 2011, my dad was traveling to work when he was side swiped into the center divider by a drunk driver. When people hear this story they are shocked by two things, one that it happened at 8:30 in the morning, and second that the man who side swiped him was on his way to check himself into rehab (as he told the police). Getting the call that my dad was in a car accident and was being taken to the hospital, was the scariest call I have ever received. 

I remember growing up hearing stories of my grandmother (my father's mother). From what I understand she was a great mother, who always wanted the best for her children and pushed them to reach their fullest potential. But then I was always told about how she was an alcoholic. When I think of her the first thing I usually think about is how she was an alcoholic. 

Pura Vida Alcohol Abuse Awareness Bracelet.

I purchased two bracelets from Pura Vida for this months post. The bracelets are $5 each, and $1 from each bracelet is donated to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). 

I chose Pura Vida for two reasons. One because it was started by two college graduates who took a graduation trip to Costa Rica. They fell in love with Costa Rica. While there they crossed paths with two bracelet peddlers, and had them make 400 bracelets to take back home with them, they sold them at a local boutique; within days the bracelets were sold out! Thats when the developed the idea of Pura Vida (Pure Life in Spanish). Now the two bracelet peddlers and 100 of their friends have full time jobs making bracelets for Pura Vida. Second because the money is donated to NCADD. Each donation is used to help provide support services for individuals and families suffering from alcohol abuse and dependency.

Results of my Am I Alcoholic Self Test on NCADD Website. 

The NCADD website has a self test that you can take and see if you are an alcoholic, at risk, or not at all. Based on my family history and how I answered the questions I am considered to be at risk. With this information I know that I am at risk and will work to make myself aware of situations to try and prevent myself from becoming an alcoholic or dependent on alcohol. You can take the self test at https://www.ncadd.org/get-help/take-the-test/am-i-alcoholic-self-test 

You can help by purchasing a Pura Vida bracelet at http://www.puravidabracelets.com/products/alcohol-abuse-awareness, or by making a donation directly to https://www.ncadd.org/get-involved/make-a-donation

Sources:

https://www.ncadd.org

http://www.puravidabracelets.com/products/alcohol-abuse-awareness