Memorandum
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Number and Name
Instructor’s Name
Assignment Due Date
Memorandum
TO: Workplace Supervisor
FROM: Public Health Specialist
DATE: May 1, 2020
SUBJECT: Alcohol Use Disorder
The challenge of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a national and as well as state calamity that is often under looked. Apart from being a public health issue, it can as well be associated with a national pandemic that has affected the entire population as well as the country’s workforce. From one of the public health systems resources, it has been recorded that New Hampshire has been a hotspot for the condition, yet most cases often go unreported. New Hampshire DHHS, along with other agencies, has been working hard to find mechanisms and strategies to deal with the challenges of AUD. However, most of the strategies have either gone unrecorded or ineffective as the condition is still vibrant. AUD is one of the unique conditions that affect the brain and mental activity of the affected persons. The condition is here with us, and our staff has similarly been affected.
AUD data has been recorded, especially for a population of 18 years and older (Alcohol Use Disorder, n.d.). Most of the data has doubled that of the nation, which presents a threat to the workforce. New Hampshire has been a hotspot for the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) data as it has never lacked any respondents in regards to alcohol consumption. Data since 2001 has shown increasing trends of alcohol consumption for all types of beverages except beer (Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Adults, 2004). For instance, it has been recorded that New Hampshire is the leading consumer of wine and spirits with third national rank. The residents take at least 1.88 gallons per capita (National Data Ranks, 2017). The numbers are threatening as any increase will lead to loss of job opportunities for our workforce.
Data from years back have shown a threatening trend. For instance, 4.65 gallons of ethanol were consumed in the year 2012 (Tedesco, 2014: Alcohol Consumption Problem, 2016). The research, which was the latest carried out by NIAAA, revealed that the number was twice that of the nationwide data. The U.S. consumed only 2.33 gallons of ethanol content in alcoholic drinks (Tedesco, 2014). Presently, there are multiple deaths being recorded in the state, and the numbers are at 9.7 deaths per 100,000 (Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Adults, 2004). This is a threat to the health and well-being of the country, the state, as well as the residents of New Hampshire. AUD is an addictive disease that affects one’s mentality and emotions and creates a weakness in that one could not stop taking alcohol despite the negative influences it could bring with it. More specifically, the condition is a chronic relapsing brain disease that has affected the greatest population and also a leading contributor to fatalities compared to other conditions caused by influences such as tobacco.
In connection with the increasing numbers and severity of the condition, there has been a need to engage in interagency collaboration to assist in curbing the condition or reducing the numbers. Agencies and families could come together to independently solve the challenge that affects almost the entire population. Our collaboration with the NIAAA as well as other organizations that focus on reducing the impact of AUD could present positive outcomes for our firm. Joint efforts, decision-making, and resources could contribute positively more than individual involvement and mitigation of the issue. I hope that you take the pandemic with keen interest before it develops into being a chronic condition that would later be deemed unstoppable and make the organization lose important skills and talents out of fatalities from the condition.
References
Alcohol Consumption Problem in N.H., Not Just Heroin. (2016). Just Believe Recovery. https://justbelieverecoverypa.com/alcohol-consumption-nh/
Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Adults: New Hampshire, 1991-2003. (2004). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 53(8). https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/472043
Alcohol Use Disorder. (n.d.) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-use-disorders
National Data Ranks NH, VT in Top 10 States for Alcohol Consumption. (2017). CTN. https://www.ctnnortheastnode.org/national-data-ranks-nh-vt-top-10-states-alcohol-consumption/
Tedesco, A. (2014). New Hampshire’s Per Capita Alcohol Consumption is Near Twice the National Average. Boston News. https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2014/05/28/new-hampshires-per-capita-alcohol-consumption-is-nearly-twice-the-national-average