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“My husband and I are expecting a baby, and I enjoy an occasional glass of wine with dinner, will this affect my unborn child?” “I take an over the counter pain medication for my bad back, does this mean I shouldn’t drink alcohol?” “My 75-year-old father has recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure – can drinking make his hypertension worse?”

For most adults, moderate alcohol use causes few, if any, problems. But for some, any alcohol use may lead to significant health problems. Trying to figure out the risks associated with alcohol use is not easy because alcohol affects your body differently at different times. To protect yourself, it is important to figure out where you should draw the line when consuming alcohol – where do you draw the line as you get older; if you are trying to get pregnant; if you have a family history of alcohol abuse; if you develop a medical condition; or if you take certain medications.

To help determine where you should draw the line, the Alcohol & Drug Council is offering a free, anonymous education and screening program as part of National Alcohol Screening Day, Thursday, April 7. The free screenings will be held from 11 am to 4 pm at the Tompkins County Public Library. Substance use professionals will be available at this time to answer any questions regarding alcohol and drugs.

As part of the program, participants will have an opportunity to hear an educational presentation on alcohol problems, complete a written self-test, and have the opportunity to talk privately with a health professional, all for free. An educational video, pamphlets, brochures and flyers will be available, as well as referrals to local treatment and support resources for those who need further evaluation.

Although most individuals who drink do so safely, many people are unaware of the negative effects of alcohol on health. The goal of National Alcohol Screening Day is to educate the public on the potential risks associated with drinking. Through education, awareness and understanding, individuals can make informed decisions about their drinking behaviors.

National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD), held in April as part of Alcohol Awareness Month, is a program of the nonprofit organization: Screening for Mental Health, Inc. in collaboration with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Screenings will be held across the country at approximately 5,000 screening sites, including hospitals, alcohol and addiction treatment centers, primary care offices, and colleges.

For additional information about alcohol or the screening program, call the Alcohol & Drug Council at 274-6288 or visit www.NationalAlcoholScreeningDay.org.

 Sober Talk is a monthly column by the Alcohol & Drug Council and runs in the Journal on the first Thursday of each month. Stacy Cangelosi, MSW is the Director of Prevention & Education Services.