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It's the end of the week, a blizzard has targeted the Sioux Empire and upper Plains with dangerous wind chills. Not much going on while some of us will enjoy a 3-day weekend. With that said, Happy Hour will take on an entirely new meaning.

Does that mean overindulging will be in your path? Too much alcohol can be a killer. As we see in a study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the numbers are a sad reminder.

Making a Top Ten list usually means a good thing. Not this time.

The Kaiser study found that South Dakota ranks second in the number of alcohol related deaths (42.8) per 100,000 people, just behind New Mexico (50). The national average is 14.4.

A recent publication from the American Heart Association states deaths from cardiovascular disease were falling over the first two decades of this century, those involving substance use rose an average of 4% per year, according to new research.

Remember during the pandemic, alcohol consumption spiked. Why? We didn't go anywhere. For many, sheltered-in-placed was a turning point that led to more pours.

HELP

If you believe you need help with your struggles of drugs and alcohol, take the right step. This is where you can start.