As moms, we jokingly post memes on social media that “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere”. But all jokes aside, alcohol can affect our lives, and many times without realizing the staggering statistics we ought to know for ourselves and our families.
Alcoholism is responsible for nearly 88,000 deaths every year in the United States. It profoundly affects the vital body organs such as the heart, brain, liver, pancreas, mouth, and immune system. Despite its harmful and nearly fatal impacts, many Americans still consume alcohol daily. Getting to know the impacts it’s causing on youths and society can help you to make conducive choices.
A Glimpse At Common Alcohol Statistics
- Nearly, 4700 folks die annually due to teen alcohol usage.
- It has been estimated that less than 10 % of the 15 million struggling abusers get any treatment.
- Drunk driving costs the nation nearly $199 billion annually.
Alcohol And Men
- Alcohol abuse might cause cancers of the throat, mouth, liver, colon, and esophagus in men.
- Nearly 8.4 % of men suffered from alcohol dependency last year.
- Heavy drinking can lead to rising aggression and assaults.
- Men are better at binge drinking than women.
- Heavy alcohol usage can lead to sexual assaults, rising cases of unprotected sex, and other unusual fantasies, which can cause a rise in sexually transmitted diseases(STDs)
- Alcohol influence can cause more suicides in men as compared to women.
- Generally, drunk men are more responsible for road fatalities as compared to drunk women.
Alcohol And Women
- Heavy drinking can lead to increased sexual assaults on women.
- Death due to liver cirrhosis has been noticed growing from the year 2000 to 2013.
- Drinking in pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome causing physical and mental birth defects.
- Binge drinking women always welcome unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases due to unprotected sex.
- Heavy drinking can mess with your menstrual cycle, leading to infertility.
- According to NIAAA, Nearly 5.3 million females (18 or older) have alcohol-related disorders.
- A 2017 study by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) states that there has been an 83.7 % increase in alcohol-related disorders in women from 2002 to 2013.
Signs And Symptoms Of Alcohol Abuse
Before seeking proper medical support at a reputable alcohol treatment in California, it’s convenient to get to know more about the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse, you might save a loved one struggling with the same issue. Some warning signs are mentioned below which might help you to take immediate actions before it gets too late.
- Issues at school or job due to alcohol abuse
- Engaging in thrilling or fatal activities like drunk driving.
- Blackouts and being unable to remember from past events when drunk.
- Legal issues like assaults (verbal or physical) or getting arrested for inappropriate activities.
- Despite the health issues (like diabetes, heart diseases, or liver disease), if someone is binge drinking heavily, it’s time to be serious and seek immediate help.
Disorders Related To Alcohol Use
According to the survey conducted in 2019, around 14.5 million people (aged 12 and older) suffer from alcohol use disorder (AUD). The total number includes 5.5 million women and around 9 million men.
As far as adolescents are concerned, around 414,000 people aged between 12 to 17 were suffering from AUD in 2019. Out of which, 251,000 are women and 163,000 are men.
Treatment Stats of AUD
The United States Food and Drug Administration approved prescription medicine for around 4% of patients suffering from AUD. Most AUD patients rely on a primary care physician to treat their issues with alcohol use.
The stats say that around 7.3% of AUD patients (aged 18 and older) got treated for their problems with AUD in 2019. Out of which, 7.9% were women and 6.9% were men.
Facts About Alcohol And Teens
According to the data from The Center For Disease Control And Prevention, teens in the United States consume around 12% of alcohol. Even though underage drinking in the country is very common, the number of underage drinkers is lesser than in the last decade.
Health care experts believe that there is a significant decrease in the use of alcohol in recent years and the rates of binge drinking in teens are the lowest. Let us take a look at some facts:
- Around 33% of 12th graders drank alcohol in the last month.
- Around 56% of 12th graders drank alcohol in the last year.
- Around 61% of 12th graders drank alcohol in their lifetime.
Medical experts clarify that alcohol abuse is one of the most dangerous and common problems with adolescents in the US. However, looking at the recent numbers, they are happy that the situation is improving a bit.
Stats And Facts About College Drinking
Even though the numbers are improved lately, unhealthy alcohol consumption is one of the biggest problems on college campuses. According to the data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, around 1825 college students aged from 18 to 25 die of injuries related to alcohol.
Fortunately, many colleges have come forward to educate their students about the disadvantages of binge drinking and other unhealthy alcohol drinking forms. While some colleges have banned alcohol on their campuses to fight alcohol abuse, some colleges guide students to understand how causal drinking and alcohol abuse are significantly different from each other.
Alcohol And The Economy
A survey conducted in 2010 estimated that around $249 billion were spent on alcohol misuse in the United States. Around 75% of the total cost of alcohol misuse is linked to binge drinking. Talking globally, around 3 million people died in 2016 because of alcohol-related issues. Alcohol misuse was the 7th leading factor that led to premature death or disability in the same year. In 2018, The World Health Organization caused over 200 injuries and diseases such as tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, violence, road injuries, liver diseases, suicides, and more.
Final Words
Going through alcohol addiction can cause much misery in our life as well as our loved ones. Instead of keeping your friends and family worried, it’s appropriate to get to know something about this alcohol addiction and make oneself more self-aware. Always be a helping hand for someone suffering. With proper love, care, and medical support you can easily tackle this issue. Stay strong and don’t lose hope.
