Free screening tools available during Alcohol Awareness Month
With one in every dozen adults experiencing abuse or dependence, alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the U.S.
That’s why the Ann Arbor Campus-Community Coalition (A2C3), a group made up of various campus and local stakeholders, is hosting alcohol screenings and other events as part of its annual Alcohol Awareness Month programming.
“Alcohol can do a lot more harm than people realize, and that’s why we want to raise awareness,” said Teresa Herzog Mourad, an A2C3 member and health educator with the MHealthy Alcohol Management Program. “Our goal is to shed some light on how much people can do when they start talking about the issue.”
Online and in-person alcohol screenings
Confidential, anonymous online screenings are available from the National Institutes of Health’s “Rethinking Drinking” campaign, which encourages people to reflect on their consumption patterns and evaluate whether they are at risk for developing an alcohol use disorder.
A2C3 members will also host screening events at the following dates and locations around Ann Arbor:
- Tuesday, April 24, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Weber’s Inn, 3050 Jackson Ave.
- Thursday, April 26, 6:30-8 p.m.: Downtown Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.
Group members will be on hand to give away self-screening tools and share information about community resources. They point out that the awareness month is about making healthy decisions and reducing harm, rather than complete abstinence.
Communities Talk event coming April 26
In addition to the screenings, A2C3 members will host “Communities Talk,” an open dialogue exploring alcohol impact in the U-M and Ann Arbor community. The event will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 at the Downtown Ann Arbor District Library.
The dialogue will cover a number of alcohol-related topics, including current trends, the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse, community resources and strategies for engaging youth.
A number of alcohol and mental health experts from U-M will participate in the dialogue, including Charles Graham, a social worker for U-M Addiction Treatment Services; Jonathan Morrow, assistant professor of psychiatry in the U-M Medical School; and Sarah Rollins, a clinical social worker in Michigan Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry.
The free event is open to the public and requires no prior registration.
Services for faculty, staff
MHealthy’s Alcohol Management Program (AMP) provides Michigan Medicine faculty and staff with free, one-on-one counseling for mild to moderate alcohol problems. This brief, confidential health education program helps you look at your relationship with alcohol. It’s your choice whether to cut back or quit drinking altogether.
