Adult Overconsumption

Excessive alcohol use is responsible for approximately 95,000 deaths in
the United States each year.

What is Excessive Drinking?

  • Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women or people younger than age 21.
  • Binge drinking is defined as consuming 4 or more drinks during a single occasion for women, and 5 or more drinks for men.
  • Heavy drinking is defined as 8 or more drinks per week for women, and 15 or more drinks per week for men.

Short-Term Health Risks

Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions, including:

  • Injuries, such as car accidents, falls, drownings, and burns.
  • Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
  • Alcohol poisoning.
  • Risky sexual behaviors that can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Miscarriage, stillbirth, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders among pregnant women.

Long-Term Health Risks

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:

  • High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
  • Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
  • Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.
  • Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
  • Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
  • Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.
  • Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.

Source: CDC.gov

Everyone Can Contribute to the Prevention of Excessive Alcohol Use.

  • Choose not to drink too much yourself and help others not to do it.
  • If you choose to drink alcohol, follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans on moderate alcohol consumption (no more than one drink per day for women and no more than 2 drinks per day for men).
  • Support effective community strategies to prevent excessive alcohol use, such as those being implemented by our Community Prevention Coalition.
  • Do not serve or provide alcohol to those who should not be drinking, including people under the age of 21 or those who have already drank too much.
  • Talk with your healthcare provider about your drinking behavior and request counseling if you drink too much.

Community Strategies and Resources:

  • TiPS Training
    TiPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) is a dynamic, skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, drunk driving, and underage drinking. The training gives those serving alcohol the knowledge and confidence they need to recognize potential alcohol-related problems and intervene to prevent alcohol-related tragedies. TiPS training is available free of charge through our local Police Department. Contact us for more information or to schedule a TiPS Training.

  • Community Events Toolkit
    Our Community Event Toolkit includes ID scanners, wristbands, signs, and information on best practices to keep our community safe. The kit is available to check out to use at any local community event where alcohol is being served. Help keep our community events fun and safe for everyone!

  • Enhanced enforcement of impaired driving and drinking laws
    Due to our community’s high number of events that sell alcohol, and our data showing high BAC levels of individuals arrested for public intoxication, our coalition supports having law enforcement present at our community events, as well as to provide extra enforcement of impaired driving on high-risk nights.

  • SBIRT
    Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol. Primary care centers, hospital emergency rooms, trauma centers, and other community settings provide opportunities for early intervention with at-risk substance users before more severe consequences occur.
    It is our goal to continue to strengthen our relationships with our hospital community, and to encourage the use of SBIRT as part of our community efforts to prevent adult overconsumption of alcohol. 

Contact Us:
Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition
415 Springview / Thermopolis, WY 82443
(307) 864-6520 / jcheney@hotsprings1.orgContact Us

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