April is Alcohol Awareness Month, an opportunity to increase your awareness about alcohol misuse and take action to prevent it.
Whether you choose to reduce your alcohol use or abstain altogether, you are not alone. Below are programs and resources to help you or your loved ones manage alcohol and your mental and emotional well-being.
What Is Gray Area Drinking?
As in any gray area of life, gray area drinking isn’t clearly defined; it’s a zone with fuzzy boundaries that sits between moderate drinking and severe alcohol use. This article from Forbes Health looks at gray area drinking, who might be at risk and what you can do about it.
In this short video, Kelley Kitley, LCSW, NBC News Daily Expert Contributor, shines a light on "gray area" drinking and discusses how to recognize problem drinking. Video courtesy of NBC News and Kelley Kitley.
Support and resources are available year-round to help faculty, staff and their adult dependents manage alcohol consumption.
Anyone wanting help with cutting back on drinking alcohol or quitting altogether can get brief, confidential health education and one-on-one counseling through the Alcohol Management Program.
The MHealthy Portal, powered by Asset Health, includes the Path to Wellness: Substance Abuse program, focused on alcohol or other drug use. This is a self-guided program designed to lead participants through a series of learning modules that includes articles, online courses and wrap-ups (short quizzes). Available to benefits-eligible faculty, staff and their U-M health plan enrolled spouses/OQAs. For the best experience, log into the MHealth Portal using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Make a small change, like keeping track of your alcohol use (use an app like Saying When), set limits, or drink water in between alcoholic drinks.
Who needs a cocktail when you can have a mocktail? Try one of these delicious, non-alcoholic infused waters – you’ll find you might drink less alcohol, or none at all:
Feeling stress, fear and anxiety or dealing with loss can all be reasons why someone turns to alcohol. Instead of using alcohol to cope, these services and resources may help you cope with how you’re feeling: