Welcome!
April is Alcohol Awareness month. We can use this month to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and take action to prevent it. Per the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, drinking too much alcohol increases people's risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. Here are some of their tips to help drink in moderation: *Keep track of how much you drink (count and measure), *Set goals (how many days you want to drink and how many drinks/day, good idea to have some days where you don't drink at all), *Find alternatives (develop new and healthy activities and relationships), *Avoid "triggers" (certain people, places, activities), *Create a plan to handle urges (remind yourself of your reasons for changing), *Talk with someone you trust, *Get involved with healthy distractions and activities (exercise, etc.), *Know your "No"- have a "no thanks" response ready if someone offers a drink at times you don't want one; the faster you say "no" to these offers the less likely you are to give in,*Talk with doctors and nurses about the benefits of drinking less or quitting, *Encourage friends and family members to make small changes, like keeping track of their drinking and setting drinking limits, *Encourage parents to talk with their kids about the risks of alcohol use.
April is also Autism Awareness month. According to autism-society.org Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability; signs typically appear during early childhood and affect a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum condition" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increasing awareness and early diagnosis/ intervention and access to appropriate services/supports lead to significantly improved outcomes. Some of the behaviors associated with autism include delayed learning of language, difficulty making eye contact or holding a conversation, narrow intense interests, poor motor skills and sensory sensitivities.                                 In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 59 births in the USA.                                         For more information visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html .

Wishing you health in mind, body and spirit - and a joyous Easter & warm spring!
~Lyn Florio, RN