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Dear DACS Provider,
Established in 1987, Alcohol Awareness Month is an annual observance that takes place in April. It is a time to raise awareness and understanding of alcohol misuse, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and alcohol-related problems. Alcohol misuse can lead to serious social and health issues such as unemployment, depression, and premature death; in fact, excessive alcohol use is the fifth-leading cause of preventable death in the United States with more than 178,000 deaths annually. Health professionals can play a pivotal role in helping people with AUD through screening, identifying treatment options, and providing personalized care that meets individual needs. The DACS team of addiction medicine specialists can offer support and guidance to providers caring for individuals who have AUD.
This month is also National Minority Health Month, an opportunity to increase public knowledge about the health disparities that persist among racial and ethnic minority and diverse populations. It is also a time to reflect on the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic groups and reducing disparities in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Racial and ethnic minority individuals have more unmet needs for SUD treatment services and experience worse treatment outcomes compared to non-Hispanic White Americans. Research suggests that cultural humility and community engagement approaches to health services can expand access to health care and health information and eventually improve the health of racial and ethnic minority individuals. Explore the tools available on the DACS website for additional resources on health disparities, racial and ethnic minority groups, and trainings on health equity.
Sincerely,
The DACS Team
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