National Alcohol Awareness Month in the Black Perinatal Space

National Alcohol Awareness Month, observed every April and led by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, is a time to raise awareness about the impact of alcohol use, reduce stigma, and promote prevention and treatment. In the Black perinatal space, this conversation must be culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and rooted in equity.

Why This Matters in the Black Perinatal Community

Alcohol use during pregnancy and postpartum does not exist in isolation. It is often connected to:

• Chronic stress and racial trauma

• Food and housing insecurity

• Intimate partner violence

• Untreated depression or anxiety

• Limited access to culturally competent care

• Fear of punitive systems involvement

Black birthing people face higher rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, and substance use is often framed as a moral failure rather than a public health issue. This increases stigma and decreases help-seeking.

Alcohol Use & Perinatal Mental Health

Alcohol may be used to:

• Self-medicate postpartum depression or anxiety

• Cope with grief, birth trauma, or NICU experiences

• Manage relationship stress

• Numb intergenerational trauma

However, alcohol use during pregnancy increases the risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) and can worsen maternal mental health symptoms.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that no amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy. Yet many women report not receiving clear counseling from providers.

A PMHNP Lens: Shifting the Narrative

As a perinatal mental health clinician, the goal is not shame, it is support and safety.

Instead of asking:

“Why would you drink while pregnant?”

We ask:

“What stressors are you carrying that alcohol is helping you manage?”

Trauma-Informed Approach

• Screen gently and consistently

• Normalize mental health struggles

• Offer culturally aligned referrals

• Include fathers/partners in support planning

• Address social determinants of health

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Protective Factors in the Black Community

• Faith communities

• Sister circles and maternal support groups

• Historically Black sororities and professional networks

• Culturally competent doulas and midwives

• Intergenerational wisdom

Leveraging these strengths reduces isolation and promotes recovery.

Key Messages for Community Education

1️⃣ Alcohol is not a moral issue — it’s a health issue.2️⃣ Stress reduction is prevention.3️⃣ Early screening saves lives.4️⃣ Support > Surveillance.5️⃣ Black birthing people deserve compassionate care.

Call to Action for Providers & Communities

• Integrate alcohol screening into prenatal and postpartum visits

• Advocate for non-punitive policies

• Fund community-based maternal mental health programs

• Increase Black perinatal mental health workforce representation

• Provide fathers with mental health education

  
  

Closing Reflection

National Alcohol Awareness Month is not just about reducing alcohol use.

It is about:

• Addressing systemic stressors

• Centering dignity

• Interrupting generational trauma

• Protecting Black mothers and babies

Healing in the perinatal space requires compassion, cultural humility, and structural change.

Kesha Nelson, PhD, MSN/Ed, RN, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC, ADHD-CCSP

Director of Mental Health – BLACK BERRY & JUICE

The BLACK Collaborative Inc.