AMA Healthier Life Steps™

Information and resources for patients

Resources for reducing risky drinking

Links below will take you off the AMA Web site. The AMA is not responsible for the content of other Web sites.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
This division of the National Institutes of Health offers extensive resources on alcohol and its impact on health, on reducing risky drinking behaviors, and on alcohol abuse, including:

• How to cut down on your drinking
  An online brochure with tips about cutting down and forms to help you track your drinking
• Additional pamphlets about alcohol problems, cutting down, alcoholism in the family, alcohol and pregnancy, and which medicines are harmful to mix with alcohol (in English and Spanish)

Join Together
A project of the Boston University School of Public Health offers a free alcohol consumption assessment tool to help you determine if your drinking is likely to be harmful and to decide what to do.

For local help for you or a family member

• Check the Yellow Pages under “alcoholism” for treatment programs and self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). You can also receive more information on the AA Web site.
• Contact local health and social service departments for help in finding assistance.
• Check the national Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
• The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has a toll free help line you can contact for assistance: (800) NCA-CALL, (800) 822-2255, or visit their Web site.
• Al-Anon is a self-help organization that offers help and support for all people affected by the alcoholism of a loved one or friend. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
An additional source of information about the effects of alcohol, the impacts of excessive drinking, and national statistics.