BPL Hosting Alcohol Abuse Panel Discussion April 20 at the Central Library
In observance of Alcohol Awareness Month, the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) is partnering with Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers, Inc., to present Alcohol Free: The Way to Be in 2023.
This special event will take place on the first floor of the Central Library downtown this Thursday, April 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Alcohol Free: The Way to Be in 2023 will feature an in-depth panel discussion on alcohol abuse and the problems it presents to our community. Starting at 11:30 a.m., Dr. Mark Wilson (Jefferson County Health Department), Danny Carr (Jefferson County District Attorney), Tom Flanagan (Alkermes, Inc.), and Aileen Hopkins-Murphy (Clinical Director, Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers, Inc.) will engage in a forum addressing America’s most serious health problem, which claims the lives of 90,000 people every year.
For the duration of the event, a group of local organizations will be on hand to share information and resources about on a variety of topics, including prevention, mental health, legal assistance, financial literacy, health insurance, community volunteer opportunities, and re-entry programs.
Olivia’s House Prevention, Impact Family Counseling, Legal Services Alabama, Oak Street Health, Positive Maturity, the Lovelady Center, Archwell Health, and AIDS Alabama are some of the organizations that will host tables and answer questions from guests.
Attendees will also be treated to complimentary boxed lunches provided by Tom Flanagan of Alkermes, Inc. Drinks will be provided by Jefferson County Commissioner (District 2) Sheila Tyson.
Alcohol dependence is America’s #1 health problem. Alcohol Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and dependency before it is fatal. In 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month.
Its mission was to create a public health outreach program to spread awareness about the risks associated with the misuse of alcohol. The program originally focused on educating college students about the risks of alcohol use but has since become a national movement to help people of all ages understand the dangers inherent in alcohol use.
By Margaret Splane|Library Assistant III, BPL Development Office
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