4 Major Reasons Alcohol Addiction Is Still Such a Big Thing
In recent years, there has been a lot of buzz and reporting in the news about the opioid epidemic that plagues the U.S., and for good reason – opioid addiction is rampant and dangerous. However, alcohol addiction continues to cause more deaths nationwide than opioids or any other drugs. Yet, we don’t hear nearly as much about it. The fact is, alcohol addiction is still a huge deal and most people who suffer from it have to get professional help by attending a detox program, inpatient or outpatient treatment, and aftercare, to be able to stop drinking alcohol.
Why Alcohol Addiction Is a Big Deal
The following are four of the major reasons that addiction to alcohol is still a huge concern for Americans even though it isn’t talked about nearly enough in these days of the drug epidemic.
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Alcohol Is the Most Used Substance and It’s Legal and Accessible
Anyone over the age of 21 can legally buy alcohol in the U.S., and the majority of American households currently have some form of alcohol in the home, making it accessible to those who are younger than the legal drinking age. It is often the first substance that is experimented with, and it has continued to be the most-used substance in the U.S. since the end of prohibition.
Because alcohol is legal and accessible, there is a common misconception that it is safe to use. While that is true for some individuals, for those who become addicted to it, that is not the case at all. In fact, statistics from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) show that approximately 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes each year, which makes it the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S. behind tobacco and poor diet and physical inactivity. That’s nearly 20 percent more deaths from alcohol than all other drug deaths combined.
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Alcohol Withdrawal Can Lead to Death
People who are addicted to alcohol can be in serious danger when they attempt to stop drinking on their own. Withdrawal from alcohol can be life-threatening. Most people who begin detoxing from alcohol suffer some withdrawal symptoms, ranging from feeling hungover to the severe shaking of delirium tremens to seizure, coma, and even death. While only about a quarter of alcoholics have the most severe symptoms, which require constant medical supervision in a detox program, it’s hard to know when individuals fall into that category. That’s why it’s crucial for those who are addicted to alcohol to seek professional help in a hospital or an alcohol detox center to get through the withdrawal period. While there, patients may be given alcohol detox medication to help alleviate the worst symptoms of withdrawal.
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Alcohol Addiction Can Cause Short- and Long-Term Health Problems
Short-term health risks include:
- Injuries including car accidents, drownings, falls, and burns
- Violence including sexual assault, homicide, suicide, and domestic violence
- Alcohol poisoning
- Miscarriage or stillbirth or fetal alcohol syndrome
- Dangerous sexual behaviors resulting in unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases
Long-term health risks include:
- Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression
- Relational problems with friends, family, and coworkers
- Cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, and colon
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Digestive tract issues
- Problems with memory including dementia
- Alcoholism
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Alcohol Addiction Requires More Than Just Detox
Attending an alcohol detox program rids the body of alcohol, but it isn’t enough for people addicted to alcohol to obtain long-term sobriety. For the best outcome, it’s important to have a program of recovery that begins with a detox program and continues with additional treatment like inpatient or outpatient treatment. The same applies to those who are addicted to alcohol along with other drugs, attending a drug detox center should only be the beginning of treatment for the best possible outcome.
Final Thoughts About Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol use is ubiquitous because it’s legal and easily accessible. However, it presents significant health risks when an individual becomes addicted to it, as well as when someone tries to stop using it. It’s important for those who are addicted to alcohol to seek professional help beginning at an alcohol detox center where alcohol detox medication will help lessen withdrawal symptoms and provide a safe environment and then continuing on for additional treatment and aftercare. Addiction education, therapy, and support are the cornerstones that lay the foundation for successful recovery from alcohol addiction.