Alcohol Awareness Month

OSUS highlights the importance of early conversations and community efforts to prevent alcohol misuse

Alcohol Awareness Month, recognized each April, serves as a reminder that alcohol misuse is widespread and frequently overlooked, especially among young people. The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Substance Use Services (OSUS) encourages individuals, families and communities to start conversations early and recognize the signs of alcohol misuse before it leads to long-term harm.

Alcohol misuse exists on a spectrum, ranging from occasional risky behavior to more serious patterns that can impact a person’s health, relationships and daily life. Because alcohol use can look different from person to person, it is important to recognize when changes in behavior may signal a concern. Early, honest conversations can help people better understand their relationship with alcohol and identify when support may be needed.

“Alcohol misuse does not always fit a single definition, and it can affect people in different ways,” said Sara Goldsby, director of OSUS. “Starting conversations early can help reduce stigma and make it easier for individuals to recognize when they or someone they care about might need support. In addition, the OSUS website includes an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, which is a powerful tool for starting a conversation with yourself about your relationship with alcohol and identifying the line between problem drinking and an alcohol use disorder.”

The CDC reports that, in South Carolina, more than 3,550 deaths each year are linked to excessive drinking. According to state traffic crash surveillance data, impaired drivers under the age of 21 were involved in an average of 398 alcohol-impaired traffic crashes per year from 2006 through 2024, including fatal, injury, and property-damage-only crashes, underscoring the continued public safety risks associated with underage alcohol use. These statistics reinforce the need for early awareness and open conversations to help prevent long-term harm.

“This time of year brings an increase in incidences of underage drinking in conjunction with prom and graduation festivities,” states the proclamation of Alcohol Awareness Month in South Carolina by Governor Henry McMaster. “Coordinated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Out of Their Hands campaign during April will help raise awareness of the dangers of underage alcohol use and increase law enforcement efforts to limit access to alcohol by young people.”

For more information about prevention, treatment and recovery resources related to alcohol use, visit daodas.sc.gov and scoutoftheirhands.org.