April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Established in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), this annual campaign encourages community organizations to host events that increase public awareness and educate people about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism.

The monthlong campaign kicks off with Alcohol-Free Weekend to raise public awareness about the use of alcohol and how it may be affecting individuals, families, businesses and communities. April 7 was National Alcohol Screening Day. Alcohol Awareness Month also encourages organizations and communities to reach out to the public with information about alcohol use and alcoholism as a preventable disease and encourages people who are already addicted to seek treatment.

NCADD has several helpful resources on its website. OhioMHAS also has messaging resources and screening tools on its Alcohol Misuse Campaign webpage. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) underage drinking prevention campaign, "Talk. They Hear You," has talking points and tools for coalitions, parents and caregivers so they can start talking to their children early—as early as 9 years old—about the dangers of alcohol. In addition, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has several resources to help coalitions educate the community about the dangers of excessive and underage drinking and to help reduce alcohol outlet density:

Teens and Alcohol: A Bad Mix – youtube.com/watch?v=_MPtzTeE4f4

Regulating Alcohol Outlet Density: An Action Guide – cadca.org/resources/strategizer-55-regulating-alcohol-outlet-density-action-guide

College and Drinking: A Risky Curriculum Video – youtube.com/watch?v=HRRrqkwniXw