Despite what you may have seen on Mad Men, it’s well known by now that alcohol and pregnancy don’t mix. But what about alcohol before you’re actually pregnant? Is it safe to have your favorite cocktail while you’re trying to conceive? Ideally, it’s better safe than sorry, says Dr. Erin Higgins, clinical instructor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone …
We’re All In This Together
My name is Ericka Weynand, I’ve been sober for 8 years. Today, I’m a loving daughter, sister and Auntie, proud Mom of 3, a college graduate and a woman in love with life… but that wasn’t always the case. My early recovery was rough; I was what they call “a chronic relapser.” I can’t remember the age I had my …
OPINION: State must address alcohol problems
If you pay attention to the comings and goings of lawmakers on any level, eventually something will come along that will make you slap your head in wonder. When Senate Bill 76 — a carefully-crafted piece of legislation that amended Alaska’s alcohol laws for the first time in decades — died last week, it was one of those moments for …
How an effort by bar owners to limit sales by craft breweries and distilleries sank a widely supported overhaul of Alaska’s alcohol laws
Senate Bill 76, was written by Soldotna Republican Sen. Peter Micciche to balance the competing interests of the groups involved in the discussions: owners of bars, breweries, distilleries and stores that sell alcohol for profit, along with government and nonprofit entities that contend with Alaska’s widespread social problems caused by drinking. But in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session, the …
Sobering Center’s first months show success in alcohol treatment
The Fairbanks Sobering Center has officially been open for several months now following their soft opening in November. The goal of the center is to provide a warm, safe space for intoxicated individuals to sober up and be connected with helpful resources. Shirley Lee, an employee at the Tanana Chief’s Conference who helps run the center, said the new facility …
Warning drinkers of cancer risk could reduce consumption, survey finds
Labels warning drinkers that they risk seven different forms of cancer could make some people re-think their alcohol consumption, according to a survey. But most people will ignore other warnings on bottles and drinks about the damaging effects of alcohol on health, the survey found. The annual Global Drugs Survey, which 130,000 people in 44 countries chose to complete online this …
Alcohol Raises Cancer Risk. Does Quitting Lower It?
Alcohol is a carcinogen. As Mother Jones reported last month, alcohol-related cancers are estimated to kill about 20,000 Americans every year. That depressing news prompted some readers to announce that they would quit drinking. It led others to reach out to us with an important question: Does quitting actually help? In other words, if drinking raises your risk of cancer, does quitting—or cutting back—bring …