Facts

Facts About Alcohol Addiction

Did you know that alcohol is the most commonly used addicted substance in the US? Nearly 18 million Americans drink regularly and suffer from alcohol addiction. That’s actually one in every 12 adults who are dependent on alcohol. Alarmingly, there are millions more who take part in risky activities and behaviors as a result of their drinking.

These are just a few alcohol addiction facts that cannot be overlooked. Did you know that there are more than 7 million children who live in a household that has at least one parent who is addicted to alcohol? Pair this with the fact that children who grow up in a home that involves regular drinking by a parent are more likely to develop an addiction to alcohol when they are an adult and you can quickly see how much of a problem alcohol really is.

For many people, the facts about alcohol addiction are unclear and are often overlooked. Most don’t realize that alcohol addiction can have such an impact on the lives of the addict and all of those involved with the addict. The damage that is caused by alcohol addiction runs much deeper than simple consequences. An alcoholic suffers great consequences financially, physically, economically, socially, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually too.

Alcohol Addiction Facts

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention estimate that as many as 79,000 deaths annually are the result of excessive alcohol use. This includes DUI related crashes, fatal injury, and other complications that result from excessive alcohol use. For the nearly eighty-thousand people who die as a result of alcohol use (many of whom were not the actual ones drinking but were killed by someone who was drinking) these deaths could be prevented.

In the United States, alcohol is the third leading cause of death related to lifestyle. Most people who die from alcohol addiction do not actually die from injury or accident but rather from the physical damage that is done to the liver. Liver disease is the leading cause of alcohol related deaths and affects up to 50% or more of those who become dependent on alcohol.

It is estimated that 40% of all hospital beds in the US, with the exception of those which are being used in maternity wards and intensive care units, are being used to provide treatment and care to people who suffer from alcohol related health conditions. The hospitals are commonly treating alcohol related injury, illness or disease such as:

• dementia
• cardiovascular problems
• psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety or attempted suicide
• injuries that result from DUI, falls, or violence
• cancer of the liver, throat, mouth or esophagus
• liver disease, hepatitis and cirrhosis
• pancreatitis