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April is Alcohol Awareness Month: Understanding and Acting in San Diego

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April marks Alcohol Awareness Month, an annual public health observance dedicated to raising awareness about alcohol-related issues, promoting responsible choices, and encouraging individuals and families to seek help for alcohol use disorder (AUD).

In the vibrant and diverse community of San Diego, there are numerous groups, events, and ways to support people struggling with AUD right here at home.

Key Messages for Alcohol Awareness Month

This month focuses on several critical areas:

  • Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): AUD, or alcoholism, is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. It is a treatable brain disorder, not a moral failing.
  • The Impact of Binge Drinking: Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to 0.08 g/dL or higher. For men, this typically means consuming 5 or more drinks, and for women, 4 or more drinks, in about two hours. It poses significant health and safety risks.
  • Encouraging Honest Conversations: Alcohol Awareness Month is a perfect time for parents, educators, and community leaders to discuss the risks of underage drinking and the dangers of impaired driving.
  • Promoting Treatment and Recovery: Recovery is possible. The month emphasizes that help is available and encourages those struggling to reach out for professional support.
What is Bing Drinking? infographic

The Far-Reaching Impact of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is not just an individual issue. The consequences of AUD ripple outward, causing significant harm to families, loved ones, and the broader San Diego community. Understanding this collective impact underscores the urgency of supporting Alcohol Awareness Month.

Impact on Individuals

For the person struggling with AUD, the damage is severe and multi-faceted:

  • Health Deterioration: Long-term excessive drinking can lead to serious, often irreversible, health problems including liver disease (cirrhosis), reduced kidney function, heart disease, stroke, various cancers (mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast), and weakened immune function.
  • Mental Health Decline: AUD frequently co-occurs with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal ideation, creating a cycle of worsening symptoms.
  • Safety Risks: Impaired judgment drastically increases the risk of accidents, injuries, and fatalities, including drunk driving, falls, and violence.

Impact on Families and Loved Ones

The family unit is often deeply affected by a loved one’s alcohol abuse:

  • Financial Strain: Alcohol use disorder can lead to job loss, decreased productivity, and substantial financial burdens from medical bills and treatment costs.
  • Emotional Trauma: Family members, particularly children, experience chronic stress, anxiety, and emotional neglect. This often results in damaged relationships, marital conflict, and an increased risk of developing their own behavioral or mental health issues.
  • Safety and Instability: In some cases, alcohol abuse contributes to domestic violence and creates an unpredictable, unsafe home environment.

Impact on the San Diego Community

When viewed collectively, the costs of alcohol abuse to the San Diego region are staggering:

  • Public Safety: Alcohol-related incidents strain local law enforcement, emergency services, and hospitals. This includes responding to DUIs, public disturbances, and alcohol-fueled emergency room visits.
  • Economic Cost: Beyond direct healthcare expenses, the community bears the cost of lost workplace productivity, crime, and the resources required for the judicial system to process alcohol-related offenses.
  • Health Equity: The harms of alcohol addiction disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, exacerbating existing health disparities and social inequalities within the county.

Supporting Alcohol Awareness Month in San Diego is essential because the well-being of the individual, the family, and the entire community are inextricably linked. By raising awareness, promoting prevention, and supporting accessible treatment, San Diego can collectively reduce these far-reaching harms, creating a healthier, safer, and more resilient city for everyone.

Alcohol Resources in San Diego 

If you or a loved one in the San Diego area is struggling with alcohol use, several local and regional resources can provide immediate help, ongoing treatment, and support.

1. San Diego County Behavioral Health Services (BHS)

BHS is the central access point for mental health and substance use disorder services funded by the County of San Diego.

  • Access and Crisis Line: 1-888-724-7240
    • A 24/7, confidential resource for immediate support, crisis intervention, and referrals to local mental health and substance use disorder services.
  • BHS Service Locator: An online tool to find County-funded treatment programs, including residential, outpatient, and detoxification services across the county.

2. Local Treatment and Support Centers

San Diego and the surrounding Southern California area have numerous facilities offering evidence-based treatment options:

  • Windansea Recovery: Offers tailored residential and outpatient treatment programs with a focus on holistic wellness and movement.
  • Bayview Recovery: A men-only addiction treatment center offering detox and outpatient levels of care, including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs.
  • Carlsbad Beach Recovery: A dedicated outpatient provider that focuses on holistic healing and evidence-based therapeutic modalities in a serene, coastal setting.
  • Coastal Detox of Southern California: Provides comprehensive medical detox and residential inpatient services with 24/7 medical supervision, evidence-based therapies, holistic wellness activities, and a focus on individualized care.

3. Community-Based Support Groups

Connecting with peers in recovery is a cornerstone of long-term sobriety.

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): This free, self-help program utilizes the 12-Steps for recovery from alcoholism. There are hundreds of daily meetings across San Diego County, both in-person and virtual.
  • Al-Anon/Alateen: Support groups for family members and friends whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.
  • SMART Recovery: A non-12-step support group for alcoholism. SMART Recovery is a science-based program that helps people recover from addictive behaviors. 

Taking Action This April

There are plenty of ways, both large and small, to make an impact this Alcohol Awareness Month. Whether you struggle with alcohol use yourself, or have alcoholism in your family or friend group, or want to support members of your larger community in a meaningful way, there are numerous options to get involved.

  • Host an Event: Organize a sober social gathering or informational session in your neighborhood, workplace, or place of worship.
  • Plan Sober Activities: Have a friend or family member in recovery? This is a great excuse to grab a coffee, visit a museum, go for a hike (the wildflowers are in bloom!), or ride bikes along the boardwalk. 
  • Check-in with Loved Ones: Use this month as an opportunity to have an open, non-judgmental conversation with a friend or family member about their drinking habits.
  • Review Your Own Habits: Take the “Rethinking Drinking” assessment tool provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to understand your own relationship with alcohol.
  • Support Local Efforts: Volunteer or donate to a local San Diego non-profit focused on prevention or recovery, like We See You San Diego, which hosts weekly dinners and community gatherings for people who are currently unhoused. 
Alcohol Awareness Month, SAMHSA Treatment Locator

Let us use Alcohol Awareness Month to foster a culture of health, support, and informed decision-making across San Diego. If you need help, please remember that you are not alone, and resources are readily available.

For more information, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or call their national helpline at 1-800-662-4357(HELP). 

To start your same-day admissions process, check your insurance, or learn more about treatment options at Coastal Detox of Southern California, call our admissions team at 858-333-7396.

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Meet Our Team

Coastal Detox of Southern California is composed of an entire team of highly trained substance abuse professionals in recovery.
phil castagnola surdrc program director

Phil Castagnola, SUDRC

Program Director

kay saffe lpcc clinical director

Kay Saffe, LPCC

Clinical Director

jeff swem sudrc director of operations

Jeff Swem, SUDRC

Director of Operations

View All Team

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month: Understanding and Acting in San Diego

Phil Castagnola

Case Manager

Philip was born and raised in San Diego. He grew up with parents who were functioning alcoholics /addicts. This led to adopting a faulty belief system from a very early age that using drugs and alcohol was an acceptable way to live. The belief system made it normal for him to begin using substances at the age of 15.
Philip has been a surfer his entire life and competed professionally for a few years in his 20’s. He has primarily worked in the surf industry. He eventually opened his own surf shop (Select Surf Shop) in the early 2000’s. His addiction eventually got the better of him and after losing his business and his family in 2006 he spent the next 3 years in and out of rehabs trying to recover. His substance abuse issues eventually landed him in federal prison. He used his time wisely and started working the steps of alcoholics anonymous and completing an 18-month treatment program. 
Philip was the primary caregiver for his mom who was permanently bedridden for the last 4 years. When covid hit he decided to pursue one of his goals and began going to school to become a substance abuse counselor.

After struggling with substance abuse issues for over 20 years philip now has 1 years of continuous sobriety and works a program of recovery givi4ng back to other addicts and alcoholics through sponsorship in the program of AA.

Philip studied AODS at San Diego City College and he is now completing his internship here at Coastal Detox of Southern California.

Philip’s main passion is sharing his experience, strength and hope with others who struggle with substance abuse issues. Helping others through their journey of getting and remaining free of their bondage of addiction.

Kay Saffe LPCC

Clinical Director

Kay Saffe grew up in Miami, Florida and is a first generation American with Argentinian roots. She struggled with drinking and substances, especially throughout her youth. Today, she has been in recovery for years and strives to prioritize her spiritual, mental, and physical health.

A lifelong athlete and ocean lover, she moved to San Diego to pursue a Master’s degree in counseling at the University of San Diego and progress her surfing. She has spent years working as a surf instructor and therapist, working with local non-profits that treat at risk individuals and families in English and Spanish. She incorporates a mindful and holistic approach to therapy. She is passionate about positive psychology and helping others through their recovery journey.

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Jeff Swem, SUDRC

Director of Operations

Jeff was born and raised in San Diego, and spent much of his youth living blocks from where our residential housing is located.  He spent his teenage years skateboarding up and down the surrounding streets, and enjoying the Pacific Beach life in the 80’s/early 90’s. 

Jeff got to know the darker side of addiction early in life, with three near-death experiences in a row happening within a year.  He “settled down” into alcohol, and later in life became a professional brewer, but that too proved to be too cunning, baffling, and powerful a draw.  During Covid, he felt no choice but to surrender, and made the decision to get sober.  He attended a similar program to our own, and after completing the 30 days inpatient and attending IOP aftercare, he was able to forge a strong foundation of sobriety.  He has not found a reason to pick up a drink since the day that he checked into that detox.  After quitting the brewing gig (because of course, he had little choice there), he enrolled in the AODS program at City College with his sights on a new career of helping others.  Having completed the requirements involved, he went on to earn his certification in California for Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor.

Jeff is married to his wife of nearly 25 years with a 21 year old daughter and 18 year old son, and thanks to the 12 steps, surrounding himself with a caring and supportive sober community, and coming to terms with his alcoholism, is able to lead others struggling with addiction through example and personal experience.