The Texas Association of Addiction Professionals firmly upholds values that support of our unique members and the clients they serve. TAAP will establish and sustain policies that promote understanding of the intersection of social, political, economic, and environmental practices and race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, and religion. All members are encouraged to strive for competence in understanding how these factors affect them professionally.
It is our goal to promote knowledge, awareness, and competence, not only within our organization, but throughout the state of Texas. TAAP will establish initiatives that increase the sensitivity and competence, as well as the professionalism, of our leaders and members, and build as well as sustain relationships with other professional organizations.
What is Professional Impact?
Professional Impact is anything ( race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective) that may impact your ability to work in a professional and conducive environment. The Professional Impact Committee promotes justice, impartiality and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by institutions or systems. We want every TAAP member to feel and/or know they are welcome. Inclusion outcomes are met when you, your institution, and your program are truly inviting to all, and individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes and development opportunities within an organization or group. All Addiction Professionals Must Rise to Meet This Challenge As a professional associatio,n we seek to make meaningful connections regardless of how someone may differ from us?
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA) and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), April is Alcohol Awareness Month. April is an opportunity to update your knowledge about alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the adverse impact of alcohol misuse on health and society. Alcohol-related problems continue to take a heavy toll on individuals, families, and communities. Researchers estimate that each year there are more than 178,000 alcohol-related deaths, making alcohol a leading preventable cause of death in the United States. In addition, more than 200 diseases and injury-related conditions are associated with alcohol misuse. According to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 228.4 million people ages 12 and older (79.2% in this age group) reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime. This includes:
113.7 million males ages 12 and older (80.6% in this age group)
114.7 million females ages 12 and older (77.9% in this age group)
934,000 American Indian or Alaska Native people ages 12 and older (68.5% in this age group)
11.1 million Asian people ages 12 and older (59.7% in this age group)
25.1 million Black or African American people ages 12 and older (71.1% in this age group)
145.7 million White people ages 12 and older (85.4% in this age group)
5.1 million people of two or more races ages 12 and older (79.2% in this age group)
39.6 million Hispanic or Latino people ages 12 and older (72.5% in this age group)
Estimates for Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander people ages 12 and older were not presented because they were based on a relatively small number of respondents or had a large margin of error.
Alcohol is legal and socially acceptable and still the number one killer due to auto accident fatalities, suicide, and homicide. As Addiction professionals it not only affects the people we serve and their families, but it also impacts our profession as well. Countless numbers of good counselors have left or been removed from the field because of alcohol use, abuse, or impairment in the workplace. We are our colleague’s keeper, so if you know of a counselor who is working impaired you must report it and guide them to use their peer assistance program as well as seek counseling. Be aware of the damage that alcohol can do to those we serve, but also those we serve with.
Thank you,
Submitted by Dr. Kimberly Scales for
The Professional Impact Committee (PIC)