Mental Health Services Auburn | Chapa-De
Did you know that drinking too much can harm your health?
Chapa-De Indian Health provides all community members in Auburn and Grass Valley with a safe environment to learn about alcohol dependency and to improve their health.
In the United States, excessive alcohol use leads to approximately 88,000 deaths per year. Alcohol actually alters brain chemistry, which can cause short-term and long-term issues. Some of these issues can be mental problems, like depression and mood swings. There is a strong relationship between alcohol abuse and mental health problems. It is important to be aware of how alcohol effects your health.
Short-Term Health Risks
- Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, and burns
- Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence
- Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels
- Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners, which 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, liver, and colon
- Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance
- Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety
- Social problems, including lost productivity, family problems, and unemployment
- Alcohol dependence, or alcoholism
By limiting how much alcohol you drink, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks.
What is a “drink”?
- 12-ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).
- 8-ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).
- 5-ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).
- 1.5-ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey)
What is excessive drinking?
Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women.
Binge drinking is the most common form of excessive drinking. In simple terms, it is drinking multiple alcoholic beverages within a couple of hours. It is also drinking more than 8 drinks in a week for women. For men, it is drinking more than 15 drinks in a week.
According to the NIH, it is considered “heavy alcohol use” if a person binge drinks more than 5 times in a month.
Most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent.
Contact us at one of our health centers in Auburn or Grass Valley if you or someone you may know is struggling. Chapa-De’s Medical Care Teams are caring, non-judgmental, and passionate about getting you back on your feet.
Call us if you need support – we are here to serve you!
Ever wonder if you “drink too much”? Take this simple and anonymous online evaluation for some insight into your own drinking habits: DRINK AWARE
PASSIONATE PEOPLE. COMPASSIONATE CARE.
Chapa-De provides medical care, dental care, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy services and much more.
Serving all American Indian, Low Income and Limited Income Community
Members
