Study Shows Secondhand Harms of Alcohol
A study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs and released by Science Daily estimates that one in five (approximately 53 million people) are harmed because of someone else’s drinking each year. The harm experienced by others includes:
- Threats or harassment
- Ruined property
- Vandalism
- Physical aggression
- Harms related to driving
- Financial problems
- Family problems
Research was funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Many conclude that further taxation on alcohol and setting minimum prices for alcohol could help reduce the overall harm alcohol has on others.
The world has been made well aware of the secondhand harms of tobacco, but little has been said about how harmful alcohol can be to people other than the drinker. Secondhand harms of alcohol affect millions. Impaired driving alone claims over 10,000 lives each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It is not only adults that are harmed by drinking. Children, raised in homes where one or both parents are heavy drinkers, are more likely to experience neglect, be prone to addiction, and have increased conflict. Even moderate drinking can have a serious impact on a child’s overall mental and physical well-being,
If you believe that you or a loved one has a dependence on alcohol, you need to seek help immediately.
Read the full story: Alcohol causes significant harm to those other than the drinker.
Source: Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. “Alcohol causes significant harm to those other than the drinker.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 July 2019.