A national speaker and panel of local experts discussing the “sober curious” movement and the risks of alcohol use will be part of the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s “Kicking off Sober October: Exploring Alcohol Use through Sober Curious conversations” event.
The event, featuring Marisa Silveri, PhD, is slated for Sept. 13 at noon in the Wigton Heritage Center atrium.
Dr. Silveri, director of the Neurodevelopmental Laboratory on Addictions and Mental Health at McLean Hospital and associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, will speak on the latest evidence about the risks of heavy alcohol use and will discuss the “sober curious” movement, including her own experience.
In addition to Dr. Silveri, the event’s panel will feature UNMC experts, including addiction psychiatrist Alëna Balasanova, MD, and alcohol researchers Jennifer Blackford, PhD, and Todd Wyatt, PhD. The panel will answer audience questions.
Rates of heavy alcohol use skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and alcohol-related deaths had a sharp increase. Nebraska ranks ninth nationally in binge drinking, defined as more than four drinks for women or five drinks for men on a single occasion. Even one episode of binge drinking can harm the immune system and pancreas, and repeated binge drinking contributes to liver disease and increases risk for multiple types of cancers.
The sober curious movement encourages people to consider their relationship with alcohol and be mindful of their drinking.
The event is open to UNMC faculty, staff and students who register in advance. Space is limited. It also will showcase local resources, including employee wellness, alcohol treatment options and zero-alcohol samples. These local resources will have tables open at 1 p.m. to the whole UNMC community, including those who were not registered.
To attend the talk and panel, register here.