Alcohol Use and Its Deadly Consequences
According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), nearly 18 million people suffer from an addiction or dependence on alcohol. Commonly referred to as Alcohol Use Disorder, millions of people across the country currently live in a household where at least one family member abuses alcohol. According to their research, this includes over 7 million children who have at least one parent who has abused alcohol or is dependent on alcohol.
Alcohol is considered an addictive substance, because it is readily available and used,” alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States.” The NCADD believes that:
- Excessive alcohol use is responsible for 88,000 deaths every year.
- Long-term heavy drinking and binge drinking can result in depression, anxiety and suicide.
- Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death.
- Long-term alcohol use can increase a person’s chance of getting cancer.
- Heavy alcohol use can lead to pancreatitis and gastritis.
The statistics could fill pages. Heavy alcohol use over an extended amount of time can create instability in the home, at work and in nearly every aspect of a person’s life. The NCADD believes that “more than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism.” Unfortunately, only a small portion of people ever seek help for alcohol use disorder. Despite the number of treatment options available many people believe that addiction recovery is too expensive, too invasive or ineffective. Alcohol use disorder is a problem affecting millions of households across the country. It is time to eliminate the stigma associated with recovery and help people get the treatment they need.