Martin's Point Offers Free Alcohol Awareness Screenings April 6

Part of National Alcohol Screening Day

Martin's Point Health Care will be offering free, anonymous alcohol screenings as part of its annual National Alcohol Screening Day next Thursday, April 6. The free screenings will be held at 10 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m. at Martin's Point Health Education Center at 331Veranda Street in Portland. For additional information, call the Health Education Center at 828-2497.

The program is designed to call attention to alcohol problems and to educate the public about the symptoms of and effective treatments for problems with alcohol. Participants in the Martin's Point Health Care screenings will hear an educational presentation on alcohol problems, have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with a health professional and take a self-evaluation test á all for free. Names and phone numbers of local treatment and support services will also be available.

National Alcohol Screening Day is being held April 6 as part of National Alcohol Awareness Month. The program is sponsored by the National Mental Illness
Screening Project in partnership with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, which is a part of the National Institutes of Health. It is being held across the country at 2,000 screening sites, such as other health centers, hospitals, alcohol and addiction treatment centers and colleges.

"This annual National Alcohol Screening Day will help to increase public understanding of alcohol abuse and alcoholism as clinical disorders that can be treated," said Dr. Jan Wnek, medical director at Martin's Point Health Care. "One of America's most profound and persistent health problems, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, cost society $185 billion each year. Nearly 14 million people in the United States á one in every 13 adults á have an alcohol disorder."

Established in 1981, Martin's Point Health Care employs 290 healthcare professionals who serve 44,000 patients at clinics in Portland, Windham, Brunswick and Newington, N.H. Headquartered in Portland at 331 Veranda Street, Martin's Point accepts all major health plans and insurance, including but not limited to HealthSource, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Harvard Community Health Plan, Maine Partners, Champus, Tricare, Aetna, Cigna and NYLCare Plans.

For more information on Martin's Point Health Care, its physicians or program offerings, visit the Martin's Point website at www.martinspoint.org.

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