Alcoholism:
Excerpts taken from : www.learn-about-alcoholism.com
Addictive, problem drinking is not a character flaw or life choice. It is a debilitating disease that affects millions of people around the world – men, women and children. As the disease advances, it takes over the body and destroys the physical and mental health of the drinker, and may lead to pre-mature death. It is important to note that the American Psychiatric Association has two separate diagnoses for problem drinking:
Alcohol Abuse: a condition whereby the drinker refuses to stop even when relationships and work responsibilities are compromised. Abuse leads to dependence or addiction without proper treatment.
Alcohol Dependence: an addictive and potentially fatal disease whereby the individual’s behavior has devastating consequences on work and family because of an insatiable, uncontrollable need to consume greater quantities of the drug.
Statistics: Annually, more than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. alone are caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
Nearly half of all fatal car crashes are alcohol-related.
The average person age 14 and older drinks 2.18 gallons of alcohol a year. (Obviously some drink less or none at all, and others drink much more).
The more education a person has, the more likely they are to drink.
The wealthier a person is, the more likely they are to drink. Every day an average of 11,318 teens try alcohol for the first time.
Alcoholism costs the U.S. between 40 and 60 billion dollars per year.
Some Facts About Alcohol Use and Abuse
- Americans spend about $197 million each day on alcohol.
- The average person age 14 and older drinks 2.18 gallons of alcohol a year.
- All told, alcoholism costs about $60 billion each year - counting cost for traffic accidents, health care, social services, etc.
- Someone is killed in an alcohol-related car accident every half hour.
- Each year, more than 100,000 deaths are caused by alcohol use and abuse in the U.S. alone.
- Fifteen percent of all people who drink heavily for a decade or more develop cirrhosis of the liver - a disease that is only treatable by a liver transplant.
Some Statistics on Alcohol Abuse Among Teens
- Each day an average of 11,318 teens try alcohol for the first time.
- Two-fifths of all fifth graders have tried alcohol.
- Americans drink the heaviest in their teens to mid-twenties. Alcohol use declines after that.
- Teen drinkers account for nearly 12% of all alcohol consumed in the U.S.
- Sixty percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol related.
- Teens who drink alcohol are much more likely than their non-drinking peers to use drugs - for instance, they are 50 times more likely to use cocaine.
Treatment Suggestions: statistics tell us a few things about treating alcoholism. From the alcohol facts, we know that:
- Effective treatment programs last at least 21 – 28 days and have an aftercare component.
- Effective treatment programs include individual therapy, group therapy, and medical care when appropriate.
- Effective treatment programs also include a family component.
Excerpts taken from : www.learn-about-alcoholism.com
Addictive, problem drinking is not a character flaw or life choice. It is a debilitating disease that affects millions of people around the world – men, women and children.
Alcohol Abuse: a condition whereby the drinker refuses to stop even when relationships and work responsibilities are compromised. Abuse leads to dependence or addiction without proper treatment.
Alcohol Dependence: an addictive and potentially fatal disease whereby the individual’s behavior has devastating consequences on work and family because of an insatiable, uncontrollable need to consume greater quantities of the drug.
Statistics:
Some Facts About Alcohol Use and Abuse
- Americans spend about $197 million each day on alcohol.
- The average person age 14 and older drinks 2.18 gallons of alcohol a year.
- All told, alcoholism costs about $60 billion each year - counting cost for traffic accidents, health care, social services, etc.
- Someone is killed in an alcohol-related car accident every half hour.
- Each year, more than 100,000 deaths are caused by alcohol use and abuse in the U.S. alone.
- Fifteen percent of all people who drink heavily for a decade or more develop cirrhosis of the liver - a disease that is only treatable by a liver transplant.
Some Statistics on Alcohol Abuse Among Teens
- Each day an average of 11,318 teens try alcohol for the first time.
- Two-fifths of all fifth graders have tried alcohol.
- Americans drink the heaviest in their teens to mid-twenties. Alcohol use declines after that.
- Teen drinkers account for nearly 12% of all alcohol consumed in the U.S.
- Sixty percent of all teen deaths in car accidents are alcohol related.
- Teens who drink alcohol are much more likely than their non-drinking peers to use drugs - for instance, they are 50 times more likely to use cocaine.
Treatment Suggestions:
statistics tell us a few things about treating alcoholism. From the alcohol facts, we know that:
- Effective treatment programs last at least 21 – 28 days and have an aftercare component.
- Effective treatment programs include individual therapy, group therapy, and medical care when appropriate.
- Effective treatment programs also include a family component.
