Alcoholism and health journalist, author Scott Stevens, is launching a series of educational video vignettes to increase awareness of the health consequences of the drug, alcohol. View the :30 teaser. The 26 videos, called The A-Files, will appear daily throughout Alcohol Awareness Month. (related article)
Each April since 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month. The goals of the annual observance are to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma, and encourage local communities to focus on alcohol-related issues. Stevens, author of three alcoholism recovery books, has been participating in Alcohol Awareness Month activities since 2010, through various web campaigns, media appearances and public seminars.
Each of the two-minute videos will post daily, except Sundays, at 8 a.m., CDT, on YouTube, Alcohologist.com, AddictedMinds.com, Examiner.com, and on the Alcohology Books Facebook page, as well as Scott Stevens' LinkedIn page. The schedule for the videos:
4/1 Acetaldehyde
4/2 Breast Cancer
4/4 Cancer
4/5 Dementia & Brain Health
4/6 Economic Loss
4/7 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
4/8 Genetics
4/9 Heart Health
4/11 Immune System
4/12 Judgment and Reaction Time
4/13 Kidney Function
4/14 Life expectancy
4/15 Mood Disorders
4/16 Nutrition
4/18 Overdose/Drug Interaction
4/19 Prediabetes/Type 2 Diabetes
4/20 Quitting Protects the Liver
4/21 Relapse
4/22 Skin Conditions
4/23 Tiredness and Sleep Issues
4/25 Underage Drinking
4/26 Vitamin Deficiency
4/27 Weight Loss
4/28 X and Y Chromosomes (differences between genders)
4/29 Younger Stroke Victims
4/30 Zero Health Benefits
The entire 26 episode HD series is available on disc, along with fact sheets, for helping professions. See the preorder special at tr.im/AFiles
Beyond the disease of alcoholism, alcohol use leads to or worsens more than 50 other diseases and kills 89,000 people in the U.S. every year. It's the third-leading cause of preventable illness and death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2015. "You cannot take the relaxation value of alcohol without the side effects," according to Stevens. "Do you know why insurers probe about your drinking history? Because people die from alcohol, even social use. It shortens life expectancy by 10-12 years. People who don’t die sooner from wrecks, home accidents or poisoning still have a statistically significant rate or illness risk, even long after abstaining because alcohol is a toxin, and alcohol is listed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a known carcinogen. ." Stevens notes as more Americans recognize these two traits of alcohol in the coming decade, the alcohol industry's 'Drink Responsibly' catchphrase loses its practicality. "It's a leap of logic to believe one can responsibly or moderately consume a toxin and known carcinogen."
Visit alcohologist.com for a replay of CBS Sports' Power Up Your Health featuring Scott Stevens. Host Ed Forteau led a discussion on risky myths of about "healthy" drinking. Lucy Pireel's "All That's Written" included a feature on Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud called "When alcohol doesn't work for you anymore." Details on the third literary award for Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud and the first for Adding Fire to the Fuel also can be found on www.alcohologist.com. Download the FREE Alcohology app in the Google PlayStore today. Stevens also is the public relations officer with AddictedMinds.com
