The 411 on Alcoholism

April is Alcohol Awareness Month.

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April Is Alcohol Awareness Month - April is National Alcohol Awareness Month and this year’s theme is "Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow." Read more about alcohol abuse, how it impacts African-Americans and treatment options. —(@kelleent) Kellee Terrell (Photo: Jacom Stephens/Getty Images)

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What Is Alcoholism? - It is a chronic and progressive disease that can include the following: an obsession and preoccupation with alcohol; continuing to drink liquor despite the negative consequences; having withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking; and having to drink more to get the same effect from drinking.  (Photo: Rob Carr/AP Photo)

Photo By Rob Carr/AP Photo

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Problem Drinking vs. Alcoholism - Problem drinking is not the same as being an alcoholic. Problem drinking is when someone drinks too much for a certain period of years, but then stops. For most Americans, problem drinking occurs in college, and when they graduate or leave, that drinking goes back to a healthy amount. If problem drinking goes unchecked, it can turn into alcoholism.  (Photo: Cultura/DUEL/Getty Images)

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The Short-Term Risks of Alcohol Abuse - Having a dependence on liquor can cause the following short -term issues: injuries (falls, traffic accidents, burns, drowning, etc.), violence, partner violence, child abuse, risky sexual behavior, alcohol poisoning and miscarriages and stillbirths. (Photo: Daniel Arsenault/Getty Images)

The 411 on Hep - In general, hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver — the organ that detoxifies your body and helps with digestion. In the U.S., the most common forms of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Hepatitis can clear itself in a few months or leave long-lasting liver damage, require a liver transplant and even cause death.  (Photo: Purestock/Getty Images)

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The Long-Term Risks of Alcohol Abuse - Years of abusing alcohol can cause some serious long-term health effects, including cirrhosis of the liver; neurological problems, heart disease; mental health issues including depression; unemployment and homelessness; and may increase your risk of mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast cancers.  (Photo: Purestock/Getty Images)

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Understanding Binge Drinking - Binge drinking is the most popular form of alcohol abuse. For men, it’s consuming five or more drinks and when women consume four or more drinks in about two hours. Binge drinking can lead to some of the same health problems as alcoholism.  (Photo: BSIP/UIG via Getty Images)

Blacks Worry About Privacy With Genetic Testing for Alcoholism - While 85 percent of Blacks are interested in genetic testing to predict their risk for alcoholism, many won't get tested, says a recent study. Researchers found that a genetic test can help identify which African-Americans are at higher risk for alcohol dependency, but that we have concerns with privacy and testing methods, says Health Canal. —Kellee Terrell (Photo: Chris Schmidt/Getty Images)

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Alcohol Abuse and African-Americans - Alcoholism doesn’t discriminate. Past data shows that one in seven (14.2 percent) African-Americans should be in alcohol treatment each year — this rate is lower than whites. Yet, Blacks who drink tend to have more serious consequences, a 2014 study suggests. (Photo: Chris Schmidt/Getty Images)

The Dangers of Binge Drinking - It typically takes one hour for the human body to metabolize one drink. With binge drinking, people are consuming multiple drinks per hour, which can catch up with them later.(Photo: David Young-Wolff/Getty Images)

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African-American Teens Drink Less Than Whites - Past studies about American youth and drinking liquor have found that African-American teens drink less often, consume less alcohol and are least likely to binge drink than their white counterparts. However, a 2013 study found that Black female teens who do drink are more likely to drink liquor while their white counterparts drink both liquor and beer. (Photo: David Young-Wolff/Getty Images)

'Man up.' - This implies that he is acting like less than a man. He will 100 percent of the time revert to a boy if you say this. (Photo: Nicholas Monu/Getty Images)

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What Puts You at Risk? - Anyone can become dependent on alcohol, but there are risk factors that can increase someone’s risk: History of mental health issues and depression; having a family history of alcoholism; victim of physical and sexual abuse; drinking at a younger age; and peer pressure are a few. (Photo: Nicholas Monu/Getty Images)

Is There a Cure? - No, but there is treatment: Detox (getting the alcohol out of your body’s system), medication, therapy and psychiatric help (to help get to the root of why you are drinking), and help recognizing the everyday triggers that pressure you to drink. Yet, even those who go through these treatments can still relapse.  (Photo: Alina Solovyova-Vincent/Getty Images)

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Is There a Cure? - No, but there is treatment: Detox (getting the alcohol out of your body’s system), medication, therapy and psychiatric help (to help get to the root of why you are drinking), and help recognizing the everyday triggers that pressure you to drink. Yet, even those who go through these treatments can still relapse.  (Photo: Alina Solovyova-Vincent/Getty Images)

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Why You Need Support - No one can beat alcoholism all by their lonesome. Whether it’s family support or attending support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), depending and trusting others is crucial to the recovery process. (Photo: Jack Louth/Getty Images)

Why Early Prevention Matters - Since people who start drinking at an earlier age have increased risk of abusing alcohol down the road, teen prevention is key to save lives. This is particularly important given that liquor ads are disproportionately geared for Black youth. (Photo: Glenn Asakawa/the Denver Post/Landov)

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Why Early Prevention Matters - Since people who start drinking at an earlier age have increased risk of abusing alcohol down the road, teen prevention is key to save lives. This is particularly important given that liquor ads are disproportionately geared for Black youth. (Photo: Glenn Asakawa/the Denver Post/Landov)