BeeHealthy
Timely Hints for a Healthy Lifestyle
UB hosts anonymous

screenings

for alcohol abuse

Have you shown up late for work, disappointed family members or discovered you couldn't remember what happened the night before because you had too much to drink?

Are you concerned that you might have a problem with alcohol? You are not alone.

One in every 13 adults suffers from alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence.

Millions more drink in ways that can place themselves or others at risk.

And for those who don't personally have a drinking problem, they may be directly affected by someone who does. Approximately half of U.S. adults report a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking.

In an effort to help people recognize the signs of an alcohol problem and, in turn, seek help, the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions will offer free, anonymous screenings for alcohol use disorders from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 5, National Alcohol Screening Day.

The screenings will be held at RIA's Clinical Research Center, 1021 Main St., on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

As part of the program, attendees will have the opportunity to complete a brief, written questionnaire assessing their alcohol use and talk privately with a health professional about their results and next steps. The program is free and confidential.

National Alcohol Screening Day gives you the opportunity to look at your own drinking and how it might be affecting your life in a variety of ways, including work performance, relationships and health.

"Through education, awareness and understanding, you can make informed decisions about your drinking behaviors," says Paul R. Stasieiwcz, director of RIA's Clinical Research Center, senior research scientist and research professor in UB's Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

The following are signs that you, a friend or a loved one may have an alcohol problem:

+Drinking to calm nerves, forget worries or boost a sad mood.

+Guilt about drinking. +Unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop drinking.

+Lying about or hiding drinking habits.

+Causing harm to oneself or someone else as a result of drinking.

+Needing to drink increasingly greater amounts in order to achieve desired effect.

+Feeling irritable, resentful or unreasonable when not drinking

+Medical, social, family or financial problems caused by drinking.

The Arthritis Foundation

offers tai chi Classes

The Arthritis Foundation is sponsoring a tai chi class from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday nights at Slim and Tone, 55 CrossPoint Parkway, Getzville.

The class is a beginner-level program to expose students to the slow, graceful movements of tai chi-style exercises.

Classes will continue through May 8. The class is free, but registration is required. Call 636-5300.

The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is a nationally certified, gentle exercise program especially designed for people with arthritis.

It includes exercises for range of motion, endurance, strength building and flexibility set in an enjoyable format.

Exercises can be done either sitting or standing, and participants are encouraged to exercise at their own pace.