Alcohol Abuse Statistics

"In the United States, approximately 40% of adults will use an illegal drug at some time during their lives. This does not include the use of alcohol or prescription medications. Many people abuse more than one illegal substance at a time."

"If drinking alcohol can possibly interfere with your ability to have children and if drinking alcohol can lead to damaging health consequences to you and also to your unborn child, why not refrain from drinking alcohol while you are attempting to have a child, while the child is growing inside of you, and while you are breast feeding your child?"

"According to U.S. substance abuse researchers, alcoholism is a heritable disease and is frequently accompanied by other substance abuse disorders (particularly nicotine), anxiety and mood disorders, and antisocial personality disorder."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, kids who drink to help them deal with anger or frustration issues are not likely to benefit from a prevention program developed for kids who are just experimenting with alcohol."

"In the U.S., alcohol withdrawal is treated by oral or IV hydration along with medications that reverse the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal."

"According to criminal demographics and statistics, alcohol is a factor in nearly half of the accidental deaths, murders, and suicides in the United States.Question. How many of these deaths could have been prevented with professional alcoholism help, alcoholism counseling, or alcoholism treatment. How many of these deaths could have been prevented if the current alcohol and drug education and prevention efforts in the U.S. were to become significantly updated, upgraded, and made more "user friendly" and relevant to today's youth?"

"Some of the behavioral and physiological factors that converge to increase or decrease a person's risk for alcohol problems, including tolerance to alcohol's effects, may be directly linked to genetics."

"Alcohol is perhaps the most sinister of drugs, one that draws a thin, often imperceptible line between social use and addictive use. Alcohol dependent individuals rely on alcohol as an essential facet of their personality. That is, without their alcohol, they simply cannot 'be themselves.'"

"In the U.S., a clear relationship exists between alcohol use and grade point average among college students. Students with grade point averages of D or F drink three times as much as those who earn As."

"Studies have shown that inpatient detoxification programs are more effective and longer lasting than outpatient detox programs. The important issue here, however, is the following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs should be used."

"Research indicates that U.S. children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics."

"According to the substance abuse research literature, in the United States, 500 million work days are lost each year to alcoholism."

"Every addictive substance, including alcohol, elicits pleasant states or relieves anxiety and stress. Repeated use of the addictive substance induces adaptive changes in the brain that lead to physical dependence, uncontrollable craving, tolerance, and, all too frequently, relapse."

"A Dutch study has demonstrated that young people who are very friendly are more sensitive to the influence of their peers on how much they drink themselves as compared with adolescents who are not as friendly."

"Studies have shown that inpatient detoxification programs are more effective and longer lasting than outpatient detox programs. The important issue here, however, is the following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detox programs should be used."

"Alcohol treatment programs need to be carefully monitored every step of the way, sometimes involving friends and family members, from the initial assessment phase through continued follow-up after the intervention program is completed."

"An increasing number of studies show that treatment is effective for adolescents with alcohol and drug-related problems, but there are unique challenges to assessing, diagnosing, and treating alcohol problems in young people."

"According to alcoholism researchers, if you have a family member or friend who has a drinking problem, you should let the individual suffer the consequences of his or her drinking behavior. Stop making excuses for the drinking. Don't take over the individual's responsibilities or cover up for him or her."

"Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn't mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol."

"According to one U.S. research study, sixty-seven percent of American eighth graders and 83 percent of tenth graders surveyed believe that alcohol is readily available to them for consumption."

"Alcoholism and medical research have discovered that drinking alcohol can be hazardous in smaller amounts if it is consumed along with the following drugs: street drugs such as heroin and opium; sedatives such as tranquilizers and barbiturates; anti-seizure medications such as phenobarbital; and narcotic pain medications such as Codeine, Codeine derivatives, and Darvocet."

"In the United States, lost productivity from alcohol-related absenteeism, illness and premature exiting of the workplace, due to death and forced retirement, amounts to more than $70 billion each year."

"According to the demographics about alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse, when you are experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, ALWAYS see your healthcare provider or your doctor immediately so that he or she can evaluate the severity of your situation and recommend the best option for treatment."