DelaWELL Program -- Alcohol"Placing Delaware at the Forefront of Wellness" |
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| Fact: Approximately 38 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities in Delaware are alcohol related (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2004). Remember to always drink responsibly! |
Alcohol is the most widely used (and abused) recreational drug in our society. Problems associated with long-term, habitual use of alcohol include diseases of the nervous system, cardiovascular system, liver, and some cancers. Numerous studies have linked light-to-moderate alcohol consumption (no more than two drinks a day) with a reduced risk of coronary artery disease. Several mechanisms to explain this might include raising the "good" cholesterol and decreasing the clotting factors that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). However, alcohol consumption is not advocated as a preventive measure against heart disease because it causes more cardiovascular health risks than benefits. Alcohol contributes to high blood pressure and slightly increased heart rate.
American Heart Association (AHA) Recommendation: "If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.) Drinking more alcohol increases such dangers as alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, breast cancer, suicide and accidents. Also, it's not possible to predict in which people alcoholism will become a problem. Given these and other risks, the American Heart Association cautions people NOT to start drinking ... if they do not already drink alcohol. Consult your doctor on the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol in moderation." http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4422 |
The State of Delaware believes that a healthy employee is one of its most valuable assets. With that in mind, the state offers the services of HMS as your Employee Assistance Program (EAP). HMS can aid you in getting the help that you need in the event that problems are getting the best of you.
For more information, please visit http://www.hmsincorp.com/
Other Helpful Resources:
AL-ANON
www.al-anon.org
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
www.niaaa.nih.gov
