How frequently have you “met up for a few drinks” with a group of friends? Does somebody on your phone who is only a “drinking buddy” exist? This is a prevalent way of life and culture for millions of men and women. For them, drinking alcohol has evolved into both a pleasure and a habit. Perhaps it began in college. maybe even before. Even though this isn’t necessarily terrible on its own, it might cause bigger issues if a fun night out with your buddies turns into something more serious.
Alcohol consumption and addiction are two of the most prevalent diseases in America. Alcohol use is largely accepted socially as a result of how it is either glamorized, made fun of, or generally discussed in the media. Even for those who are underage drinkers, alcohol is fairly simple to get because it is legal. Alcohol addiction is still on the rise and is still seen to be a distinct culture, despite repeated warnings against driving while intoxicated or other negative connotations.
Alcohol Statistics and Data
We will have a better knowledge of how hazardous alcohol use is thanks to data. Visit the website of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to learn more ominous statistics and facts.
- An alcohol addiction illness affected 14 million persons over the age of 18 in 2018.
- Unfortunately, just 8% of these people received therapy.
- Around 400,000 children and teenagers under the age of 17 also had alcohol use disorders.
- The annual death toll from alcohol-related causes is about 88,000.
- The third most common avoidable cause of mortality in the US is alcohol misuse.
- Every year, over 10,000 individuals are killed as a result of drunk driving.
- Around 40,000 persons over the age of 12 died in 2018 from liver disease brought on by alcohol addiction.
Dangerous addiction
According to a pharmacologists’ study from 2010, alcohol misuse is worse for the body than addiction to heroin or crack. It is regarded as the most harmful substance because of its links to more than 60 illnesses, the high risk of vehicular fatalities, and sexual and bodily assault and misbehavior. In these investigations, scientists examined a number of variables to assess a substance’s level of hazard. What they looked for was as follows:
- Dependence
- Survival Rate
- Mental function damage
- Damage to lifestyle (including home and work life)
- Criminal Behavior
- Injury
- Financial Strain on the Nation
Alcohol was the unlucky winner, despite the fact that hard, illegal drugs can have numerous detrimental effects on the things mentioned above. More than any other factor, abuse has a negative impact on families, individuals, and even the economy. Let’s explore how drinking impacts the faculties of life in more detail.
Alcohol’s harmful effects on the body
Alcohol circulates throughout the body after being absorbed into the bloodstream. Because it may affect almost every aspect of the body, it has maintained its position as one of the most lethal substances ingested.
While many drugs have harmful effects on the body, none are as all-encompassing as alcohol. Many various types of cancers, illnesses, and consequences, including:
- Cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus Gum disease
- decrease in frontal lobe size
- A cardiovascular condition
- Pancreatitis
- liver injury
- greater risk of pulmonary infection
- Infertility
- Diabetes Bone Thinning
- Ulcers
Even so, these are not all the problems that might result from alcohol consumption or addiction. I usually refer to the way HIV destroys the body as a whole continuity since it has such a profound impact.
These do not cover the physical risks linked to lethal or serious auto accidents, the frequent birth abnormalities brought on by alcohol misuse during pregnancy, or ongoing physical and sexual abuse. Additionally, this disregards the fact that decreased inhibition promotes risky sex and the spread of STDs.
Alcohol’s Effects on the Mind: Risks
Alcohol addiction has several negative bodily repercussions, therefore it is not surprise that it also has a long list of detrimental mental side effects. We touched on some of the violent and sexually inappropriate behaviors that can result from abuse, but there are many more that support drinking’s top ranking as a risk factor.
- Hallucinations
- Blackouts
- Addiction
- No Memory
- Loss of Concentration
- Reaction Time Confusion with Lessen
- abnormal eye movements or vision
- Muscle Coordination Loss
- Tremors
- Changes in behavior, such as aggressiveness
Relationships and Alcoholism
If you have any drinking pals or groups of people who you call on when you want to have a drink, please let us know beforehand. How many of them are happy with their partners? How frequently have you seen disputes amongst drinking partners?
It should not be surprising that alcohol’s psychological effects will change how people interact with one another in social situations. The unfortunate issue is that drunken disputes and clashes frequently receive a pass and are explained away as “things I said while I was drunk” because of how well accepted they are in our culture. These start to have a significant effect on your relationships over time.
If only one spouse regularly consumes alcohol or if there are kids involved, this is made considerably worse. Children who witness “drunken arguments”—especially if there is violence involved—can experience psychological damage. Those “drunken arguments” frequently occur.
Eliminating Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is one of the most deadly substances to stop using, as if the usage itself did not have a significant negative impact on one’s physical and mental health. Without the assistance of a qualified medical detox team, alcohol withdrawal can be fatal if you misuse alcohol frequently or for a long period of time. Alcohol withdrawal is very unpleasant. Many of the individuals we see at our medical detox centers are there for alcohol detox and addiction treatment.
Helpful Resources
Inpatient Treatment for Addiction
