Nearly 14 million Americans meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol addiction is a serious disease, affecting the lives of these 14 million and the people around them. More than 100,000 U.S deaths are caused by alcohol consumption each year. This statistic account for direct death by alcohol poisoning, as well as indirect causes including impaired driving, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, falls, and strokes. Alcohol addiction is estimated to reduce ones life expectancy by 10-12 years. Awareness need to be raised about the dangers of alcohol addiction and how to avoid it.
About 90% of the U.S. population are drinkers. Although alcohol is necessary to develop alcoholism, there are other risk factors that help predict the development of addiction. The quantity, quality, and regularity of alcohol consumption all play a role in the likelihood of developing the disease. However, other risk factors include genetic predisposition, depression, mental health, social environment, ethnicity, age and gender. Alarmingly, about 40% of those who begin drinking before the age of 14, will have a problem with alcohol abuse.
Due to the nature of alcohol being a social drug, at times an addict can be hard to detect. However, there are a number of psychological signs that are highly indicative of a problem. Anti-social behavior, blaming others for one's problems, withdrawal from family and friends, anger, anxiety, depression, mood swings, loss of interest in regular activities, preoccupation with alcohol, changes in friends, and using alcohol to calm nerves or relieve a hangover, are all things that might be considered warning signs of alcoholism.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction, seek professional advice. Addicts are often defensive when confronted about their drinking and may need a formal intervention. Recovery centers and treatment groups exist all over the world to provide behavioral therapies and support to those who are fighting the disease. Although, alcohol addiction can be dangerous to the body and mind, with the right alcohol treatment, there can be a successful recovery.
