Individuals concerned about their drinking or that of another may access free, confidential screening and research-based alcohol information at college and community health and counseling centers, hospitals, and clinics across the country. The health care professionals will discuss the clinical disorders alcohol abuse and alcoholism, as well as high-risk drinking, and help NASD participants to recognize indications of such problems.
Each site also will offer a brief, anonymous, self-administered screening test, consultation with a health professional, and referral to local resources for those in need of formal evaluation and possible treatment.
"National Alcohol Screening Day gives individuals the opportunity to explore whether alcohol is a problem and puts them in direct contact with resources that offer solutions," said Enoch Gordis, M.D., Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). "For at least one day each year, NASD also encourages our entire society to face alcohol problems head on."
NASD is a program of the nonprofit Screening for Mental Health, Inc., in partnership with the NIAAA and two components of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).
"This activity offers a great opportunity for people to assess their level of alcohol consumption and determine if they have a problem," said CSAT Director H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D. "NASD provides an excellent example of the way that CSAT regularly 'partners' with local communities to disseminate information about substance use."
"In our ongoing prevention efforts, National Alcohol Screening Day is a wonderful springboard to provide information and to educate people about alcohol problems," said CSAP Director Ruth Sanchez-Way, Ph.D.
Persons who wish to participate may call 1-800-405-9200 to determine a nearby site. The toll-free site locator line is operational 24 hours a day.
Sponsors of the 2001 event are:
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry American Academy of Physician Assistants American Council on Alcoholism American Medical Association American Osteopathic Association American Psychiatric Association American Psychological Association and its College of Professional Psychology American Society of Addiction Medicine College Parents of America Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Higher Education Center for Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention (funded by the U.S. Depart. of Education) Join Together McLean Hospital Mothers Against Drunk Driving National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors National Association for Children of Alcoholics National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems National Center for Farmworker Health National Collegiate Athletic Association National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence National Interfraternity Conference National Mental Health Association National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome National Panhellenic Conference Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
For an interview with Dr. Gordis, please contact 301-443-0595; for information about alcohol research, please contact 301-443-3860 or visit http://www.niaaa.nih.gov.
For an interview with Dr. Clark, please contact 301-443-5052. For an interview with Dr. Sanchez-Way, please contact 301-443-0383. For information about alcohol treatment and prevention services, please visit http://www.samhsa.gov
For additional information about NASD or an interview with Screening for Mental Health Executive Director Douglas G. Jacobs, M.D., contact Screening for Mental Health (781-239-0071), visit http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org, or email info@mentalhealthscreening.org.
