"On the Rocks?" RIA to hold National Alcohol Screening Day on April 5

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Have you shown up late for work, disappointed family members or discovered you couldn't remember what happened the night before because you had too much to drink? Are you concerned that you might have a problem with alcohol? You are not alone.

One in every 13 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. Millions more drink in ways that can place themselves or others at risk. And for those who don't personally have a drinking problem, they may be directly affected by someone who does - approximately one-half of U.S. adults report a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking.

In an effort to help people recognize the signs of an alcohol problem and, in turn, seek help, the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) will offer free, anonymous screenings for alcohol use disorders on National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD) on April 5. The screenings will be held in RIA's Clinical Research Center, 1021 Main Street on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As part of the program, attendees will have the opportunity to complete a brief, written questionnaire assessing their alcohol use and talk privately with a health professional about their results and next steps. The program is free and confidential.

"National Alcohol Screening Day gives you the opportunity to look at your own drinking and how it might be affecting your life in a variety of ways including work performance, relationships and health. Through education, awareness and understanding, you can make informed decisions about your drinking behaviors," says Paul R. Stasieiwcz, Ph.D., director of RIA's Clinical Research Center, senior research scientist and research professor in UB's Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Signs that you, a friend, or a loved one may have an alcohol problem:

* Drinking to calm nerves, forget worries or boost a sad mood

* Guilt about drinking

* Unsuccessful attempts to cut down/stop drinking

* Lying about or hiding drinking habits

* Causing harm to oneself or someone else as a result of drinking

* Needing to drink increasingly greater amounts in order to achieve desired effect

* Feeling irritable, resentful or unreasonable when not drinking

* Medical, social, family or financial problems caused by drinking

Held in April as part of Alcohol Awareness Month, NASD is a program of the nonprofit Screening for Mental Health. Last year, over 100,000 people attended National Alcohol Screening events nationwide. Of those that completed a screening form, 45 percent scored in the hazardous or harmful drinking range. For more information about National Alcohol Screening Day, visit http://www.NationalAlcoholScreeningDay.org.