Action Week Alcohol? Less is better

action week „Alcohol? Less is better!“ informs about health risks

05/23/2013

Alcohol is still a natural part of everyday life in Germany and has been consumed at a consistently high level for many years - but in many cases at a much too high level, because „around 9.5 million people drink too much alcohol, of which 1.3 million are alcohol dependent“, so the information of the Caritas office Cochem. In international comparison, this would mean fifth place for Germany - but despite the serious problems behind it, according to the Caritas „the associated health risks [.] are little known or ignored“.

Action Week wants the topic „alcohol“ more publicly
This is where the initiative initiated by the German Center for Addiction Issues (DHS) „Action Week Alcohol“ because, under the motto „Alcohol? Less is better!“ will be critical from May 25 to June 2, 2013 nationwide with the topic „alcohol“ dealt with - with a clear goal: „All who drink alcohol - that is, 90 percent of the population - should be encouraged to assess their drinking behavior and to check whether their own consumption of beer, wine and schnapps is healthy“, so the DHS on the accompanying website http://www.aktionswoche-alkohol.de/.

Thousands of volunteers organize campaigns nationwide
On the weekend it starts, then according to DHS information thousands of committed people over nine days nationwide organize numerous actions to reach as many people as possible: „Whether at the workplace, in the church, in the doctor's office or in the pharmacy, on the sports field or in shopping arcades: members of self-help groups, staff from counseling centers and specialized clinics as well as specialists for addiction prevention provide impulses for discussions, inform, argue and generate attention“, so the DHS.

The planned actions should appeal to the entire population, because alcohol plays in principle in every area of ​​life a role: Whether the private birthday party, the company Christmas party, shopping or after a successful football game - hardly a situation in everyday life, in the alcohol is present. Accordingly, it goes to the organizers of the week of action alcohol to enlighten and inform - without instructively raise the index finger. For many people would not know, according to the Caritas office Cochem, with what many risks associated with frequent alcohol consumption, because „Not infrequently spread charlatans from science and industry, alcohol is even healthy.“ Instead, be „The transition from low-risk to risky and dangerous consumption [.] is fluent and often goes unnoticed for a long time to sufferers and relatives“, Caritas continues.

Even habitual drinking often has far-reaching consequences
Already the habitual consumption of alcohol has severe consequences that go far beyond the life-threatening damage to the liver, heart and brain - including the risks of accidents in the home and on the road, violent crime, loss of control over one's own body and the personal Behavior and relationship problems increase in the context of regular alcohol consumption.

Caritas counseling center as a hub of addiction
An example of work in the fight against alcohol is provided by the addiction counseling center of the Caritas MEH e. V. in Cochem, where the graduate social worker Marietta Lönarz and the social worker Werner Erdel are confronted daily with the consequences of risky or dependent alcohol consumption. According to Caritas, people from very different age groups would find their way here: „The Caritas counseling center is then not only the first point of contact, but also a pivotal point of addiction aid and the central location for anyone who wants to seek professional help“, so Marietta Lönarz. In a first - of course absolutely confidential - interview with those affected, it first clarifies what type of help is needed, such as the question of whether outpatient or inpatient treatment would be more useful. In addition, the addiction counseling center would also suggest contact with the Kreuzbund groups in the Cochem-Zell district, „who see themselves as a self-help and helper community“, so Marietta Lönarz and Werner Erdel on. In this context, volunteers of the Kreuzbund now want to be active in the context of the action week alcohol - together with the addiction center of the Caritas Association, these would therefore, according to Caritas information „on May 26th at the big event „Happy Moselle“ with a small action on the responsible use of alcohol point out“. (Ag)