Every year, one day is set aside to raise awareness about alcohol abuse, dependence, and screening. National Alcohol Screening Day falls on Thursday of the first full week in April. In 2021, it is on April 8th. What should you know about this important day? Find out today with the help of Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston at 866.516.8356
History of National Alcohol Screening Day
This National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative to raise awareness through alcohol screening began in 1999. The ultimate goal was to let people know that alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism as some people call it, is a treatable disease. Treatment starts, though, with recognition, and screening helps to raise that necessary awareness.
What Does Alcohol Screening Mean?
An alcohol screening test helps determine when someone abuses alcohol and may benefit from detox at a center like Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston. Testing usually involves answering questions about your alcohol use honestly. It is fast but very informative.
There are various alcohol screening tests used in healthcare settings, such as The T-ACE Test and CAGE, both of which have four questions. Comprehensive screening resources like the AUDIT test can provide more accurate results. The AUDIT screening test has a 94 percent accuracy rate.
What Happens on National Alcohol Screening Day?
Screening centers are available around the country. They can be at local schools, hospitals, or healthcare centers. Some businesses sponsor them, as do many military installations and government agencies.
You can also go online and take an alcohol screening test any time of year. The screening test identifies your risk of having or developing alcohol use disorder.
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
Having alcohol use disorder means you are unable to stop drinking regardless of the consequences. Alcohol abuse can impact your personal relationships, interfere with your work or the ability to hold a job and damage your health.
Those with alcohol use disorder can experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking that are uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous. That is why they opt to check into a detox center.
Detox centers like Serenity House provide managed care while someone goes through withdrawal. Detox treatment ensures you don’t go through withdrawal alone, which is especially important for alcohol use disorder. Withdrawal side effects can include:
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion
- Anxiety
Some people experience delirium tremens (DTs), too. DTs can start 48 to 72 hours after the last drink and lead to hallucinations and delusions. They can even be life-threatening.
During detox, the medical staff can provide you with treatment that helps reduce the severity of the symptoms and, possibly, shorten the withdrawal. The staff is there to offer comfort when you need it the most and improve your chances of going forward to alcohol treatment.
A detox center allows you to go on to alcohol treatment sober and ready to find recovery. It also provides your family and those who love you peace of mind. They know that you are someplace safe getting the care you need.
Seek Treatment at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston offers a comfortable and intimate atmosphere along with a compassionate and experienced staff to be with you during one of the most challenging parts of recovery. Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston offers a range of programs, including:
It provides you with the foundation you need to enter a treatment program in a way that increases your chance of success.
Detox is the first step on your road to recovery, and we want to help. Give Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston a call at 866.516.8356 and find out more about alcohol screening and treatment. Or go online and fill out our contact form, and we will get in touch.
