Health And Societal Effects Of Alcohol And Alcoholism: Facts You Need To Know

Alcohol is used as a celebratory gesture in just about every culture across the globe

. Its used for New Years, Christmas, birthdays, weddings, graduations, bar mitzvahs, and to commemorate just about any special occasion. In America, its almost like an earned rite of passage, where the elders hand the younger partygoers a sipahand then its love at first sip.

Its no wonder alcoholism runs in families. Few people actually wait until the legal drinking age of 21 to drink. Sometimes, adolescents take up drinking so early on, that by the time theyve reached actual drinking age, theyve become full-blown alcoholics.

These young adults go onto college where its considered socially acceptable to get hammered every weekend, and for the week night warriors, even close out the bars on a Monday or Tuesday night! After graduation, it continues into the workforceand it never stops.

Or if it does, its already too late, as alcoholisms long-term effects have already manifested in the body, causing liver problems, a suppressed immune system, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory problems, and even brain damage.

If that isnt enough to steer you clear of that weekly drinking binge, perhaps these facts will:

1) Around 76 million people worldwide suffer from some type of alcohol-related disorders including excessive drinking and alcoholism.

2) Alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing certain cancers including lip, tongue, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast cancer. These types of cancers arent just related to alcoholism even three drinks a day can cause these cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.

3) Alcohol abuse cost the United States an estimated $220-billion in 2005, more than cancer ($196-billion) and obesity ($133-billion)

4) People who begin drinking as teenagers are four times more likely to develop alcohol-related disorders than those who wait until age 21 to consume their first drink.

5) According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 11,773 people in the U.S. died in drunk-driving accidents. Every 45 minutes, someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired driving collision.

6) Four people under the age of 21 die each day because of alcohol-related traffic incidents.

7) Children with alcoholic parents are up to 10 times more likely to abuse alcohol themselves.

8) According to suicide statistics, 15-20% of suicides involve alcohol

9) Binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more drinks at one time. Long term binge-drinking are known to cause liver disease, cancer, pancreatitis, and heart disease. These binge-drinking sessions dont need to be weekly either. Even irregular heavy drinking can cause these diseases.

10) In 2007 one-fifth of adults (20%) ages 18-25 were classified as needing alcohol abuse treatment and drug abuse treatment thats an estimated 6.9 million people!

While these facts are alarming, its important to know that there are programs out there, all across the nation that can help people get sober and defeat their alcohol addictions before its too late. Alcohol abuse recovery can be a long, difficult road, but its worth it when a person no longer seeks alcohol to fill a void in their lives that much-sought-after happiness will come from within.

by: Laine McKenna

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