April is #Alcohol Addiction Month

by Dr. Margaret Aranda

Did you know: #alcohol StartEd Awareness Month in 1987 ? 
Where were you when that happened? 

Image 1 1987 Ford Mustang. Beautiful muscle car that even today, makes those mouths salivate just to take a run with the top down. Ooh! Just once! 

In 1987, AZT was first used to treat AIDS . That was HUGE at the time, as HIV-government protesters filled the sidewalks and entrances, picketing for better health care and specialty clinics devoted just for AIDS. The top selling car was the Ford Escort, at $ 6.895. Ford Mustang (my personal FAV) sold for $ 9.209. The USA stock market crashed in October, here.also & other world stock market crashes ( Reference ). 

Everyone around me seemed quiet and reflective, but I was busy studying as a pre-med undergraduate student.  So my own head was filled with Inorganic Chemistry, Chicano Studies, Intermediate expository Writing, and Independent Study where I went room-to-room teaching about the genetics of either Tay-Sachs or Sickle Cell Disease. That was my introduction to medicine, as I lived in a bubble. 

Today,  The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence  wants to rid society of the stigma associated with #alcoholism, in the hopes that people will concentrate more on getting the diagnosis, receiving therapy, heading toward recovery, and living with Quality of Life. Especially at home. Especially in front of them are children and spouses. Life is too short to live poisoned by ugly, abusive, self-inflicted, #alcoholism. 

So let us join you in encouragement! Please DO GO DRY! We are behind you! Your money can go to better things than the self-destructive to good Causes #alcohol .... .... to your own children, or to orphans who are starving and dying. For real. Because According to the CDC today, the # Occurs alcohol-related death every 51 minutes . 

You know what I'm talking about. So #alcohol? Get that away from you! You do not need it unless it's a special occasion and you are staying at home. 

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.