Alcohol Statistics

"Statistics reveal that alcohol abuse accounts for approximately 67% of the total number of substance abuse complaints that American employers receive. While this alcohol fact points to the alcohol-related problems that U.S. employers face, it also points to perhaps an even more alarming statistic: if 67% of the substance abuse complaints that U.S. employers get are alcohol abuse related, then this means that the other 33% of the complaints involve substances other than alcohol. This is an alarming statistic that needs to be addressed by alcohol prevention and education programs aimed at U.S. students and employees."

"The alcoholic patient and everyone involved should fully understand that alcoholism is a disease and that the responses to this disease (such as need, craving, fear of withdrawal) are not character flaws but symptoms, just as pain or discomfort are symptoms of other illnesses. They should also realize that treatment is difficult and sometimes painful, just as are treatments for other life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, but that it is the only hope for a cure."

"This is some information about alcohol and drug testing that many people don't know about. Not only are employers implementing drug and alcohol tests for their employees, but when their workers go the hospital emergency room, if there is an indication that the person has been drinking or has taken drugs, alcohol tests and/or drug tests are administered."

"The following represents mild to moderate psychological withdrawal symptoms that usually occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink: nightmares, difficulty thinking clearly, anxiety, fatigue, rapid emotional changes, feeling nervous or jumpy, depression, or irritability."

"U.S. studies show that some individuals with drinking problems may withhold information from their health care professionals because of shame or because of the fear of stigmatization."

"According to SAMHSA's 2002 and 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual average of 4.2 million persons aged 16 to 20 reported driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs during the past year. About 169,000 of these persons (4%) reported that they had been arrested and booked for DUI/ DWI involving alcohol or drugs in the past year."

"As much as 50 percent of police work is spent addressing alcohol-related problems in the U.S. This would mean that the annual cost to law enforcement agencies is at least $7.5 billion dollars."

"Binge alcohol use" is defined as drinking five or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting on at least one day in the past 30 days. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in their 2002-2003 "National Surveys on Drug Use and Health," North Dakota had the highest rate (31.4%) in the nation for binge alcohol use by persons who were 12 years old or older while Utah had the lowest rate (15.9%)."

"The findings of the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and Addiction demonstrated that, while millions of Americans habitually drink alcohol, swallow prescription drugs, smoke pot, and snort cocaine, a number of drug users who meet or exceed the standards that indicate that they need professional treatment do not realize or accept the fact that they have a drug abuse problem."

"When a person tries drinking alcohol once or twice out of curiosity, this is called experimental alcohol use."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, both boys and girls who drank just to experiment with alcohol were also more likely to initiate drinking at a later age, compared to those who drank for other reasons."

"Research shows that up to 40% of industrial fatalities and 47% of injuries in the U.S. workplace are linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism."

"According to U.S. research, what really defines the illness of alcoholism is dependence - the fact that the patient has come to rely on alcohol physically and emotionally in his or her everyday life."

"You might think you can quit drinking at any time. Many people who have alcohol problems do quit for periods of days, weeks, or even months before they start drinking again. But unless you can consistently keep your drinking under control and not fall back into unhealthy patterns, you need help."

"Abuse in varying forms (physical, sexual, emotional, or neglect), exposure to trauma, being a child of addicted parents, or being a victim of severe life stressors can all help push people into addictions."

"According to alcohol abuse and alcoholism research, long-term alcohol use may physically affect the brain. Studies have reported less blood flow in the front lobes of the brain, which may reflect links and problems to deeper levels in the brain."

"Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the United States."

"Since alcohol blocks emotional pain, it is frequently resorted to as a cover up during times of temporary or ongoing stress or grief
such as that experienced with the loss of a loved one or relationship, unresolved family tensions, and chronic work stress."

"In some areas, part of the DUI school curriculum puts offenders face to face with victims, who tell their painful stories of how a drunk driver changed their lives forever. The idea is that personalizing the pain that drinking and driving can cause might make the offender stop and think before getting behind the wheel after drinking."

"Although the term 'addiction' is frequently used in reference to drug or alcohol addiction, it also applies to other compulsions such as, obsessive sex, uncontrollable overeating, a neurotic desire for porn, compelling Internet use, uncontrollable gambling, and an obsessive need for love."

"Drug and alcohol abuse research shows that there is an increasing need to address the fact that depression and alcoholism are problems for older adults. Clinicians need to watch so that they do not confuse these disorders with 'normal aging.'"

"Parents often assume that teens try alcohol and drugs to rebel or to 'fit in' with their peer group. However, teens with undiagnosed emotional or behavioral problems often use drugs and alcohol as a way to relieve their frustrations."

"In the United States, approximately 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year, and roughly once every week, someone dies from this preventable condition."

"In calendar year 2000, an estimated 14.0 million Americans were current illicit drug users, meaning they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to interview. This estimate represents 6.3 percent of the population 12 years old and older."