Alcoholism Statistics

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

"According to the DMV statistical archives, one out of every 130 licensed drivers in the United States has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. One out of 130 doesn't sound like a significant number until you "do the math." If there are 130 million licensed drivers in the U.S., then one million of them have been arrested for "driving under the influence." Is there any wonder why so many alcohol and/or drug related traffic fatalities happen every year in this country?"

"Alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both, in about half of all U.S. homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes, robberies, and incidents of domestic violence, and alcohol-related problems are disproportionately found among both juvenile and adult criminal offenders."

"Excessive drinking can cause immune system problems, brain damage, harm to the fetus during pregnancy, and cirrhosis of the liver."

"According to the substance abuse research literature, at first, the individual drinks alcohol to reduce emotional or physical pain. After neuroadaptation has caused the brain to adjust to the influx of alcohol, however, the individual drinks not to reduce pain but rather to function on a daily basis. In short, abusing alcohol and drugs change the brain that in turn leads to compulsive and uncontrollable drug abuse and/or drinking."

"In one U.S. study, 56% of the students surveyed in grades 5 through 12 said that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink."

"Alcohol withdrawal symptoms rarely occur in people who only drink once in a while. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually occur in people who have been drinking heavily for weeks or months and then suddenly stop drinking."

"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. Not only this, but mixing alcohol and drugs not only compounds the drug and alcohol problems that the abuser experiences, but doing so increases the person's need for professional alcohol and drug treatment."

"Most teens are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, yet more than a few of them ignore these dangers. And many don't seem to recognize the dangers of driving after using illicit drugs such as marijuana. The point: educational efforts need to be targeted to include the dangers of driving while under the influence of drinking and or drugs."

"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 research, lower levels of educational attainment among patients in alcohol treatment before they entered treatment predicted a poorer outcome in the year following discharge from treatment."

"If you drink to an excess, you may consume more alcohol than your body can metabolize and eliminate. Under these circumstances, the body and the brain may become "overloaded" and result in alcohol poisoning. If the amount of alcohol is great enough, the body and the brain will 'shut down' and the person can die as a result."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research demonstrates the fact that if you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. Answering these questions will take only a few minutes, and will generate personalized results based on your age, gender and drinking patterns."

"Alcoholism and alcohol abuse research has shown that American children who are raised in single-family households are almost twice as likely to experience an alcohol-related problem such as alcohol abuse or alcoholism as compared with children who are raised by both parents in the same household."

"There are many symptoms related to drinking problems. Alcoholism is considered a progressive disease, meaning that the symptoms and consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism become increasingly more severe over time."

"In a study undertaken by the Silver Gate Group, it was found that on average, underage drinkers drink more beer and engage in more excessive beer drinking than adult beer drinkers. What is more, underage drinkers consume approximately 10% of all the been that is sold in the U.S. Due to the fact that most underage drinkers are teenagers, these statistics paint a dreary picture concerning alcohol abuse among teens."

"Random drug and Alcohol screening is used by many UK companies to deter the use or abuse of illegal drugs and / or Alcohol by employees within the workplace. There have been a large number of case studies to demonstrate how effective random screening is in reducing litigation, ill health, absenteeism, and accidents."

"Alcoholism research scientists have found that blackouts are experienced among social drinkers much more frequently than previously thought. As a consequence, blackouts need to be perceived as a potential result of acute drunkenness or intoxication no matter what the drinker's age or whether he or she is alcohol dependent. In other words, blackouts are an indication of serious and excessive drinking behavior and require further assessment and perhaps alcohol treatment."

"According to the alcohol addiction research literature, many, if not most, of the people who become alcohol dependent were abusive drinkers earlier in their lives. This finding shows the fragile and thin line that separates alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction."

"You have an alcohol problem if your use of alcohol interferes with your health or daily living. You develop alcoholism if you become physically or psychologically dependent on alcohol."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, school age kids with multiple reasons to drink, including reasons related to coping with life, show the heaviest and most problematic drinking behaviors."

"The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has established procedures for mandatory alcohol testing that require the employment of a standardized breathalyzer. The categories of testing that are allowed by the DOT are the following: random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident."

"According to the DMV statistical archives, one out of every 130 licensed drivers in the United States has been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics."

"It is well-documented in the alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature that alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction can not only raise havoc in families but that family members, in an effort to 'cope' with the situation, frequently contribute to the continuation of the abusive and hazardous drinking by their 'enabling' behavior."

"It is estimated that 30% of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related motor vehicle accident sometime during their lives."

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

"Besides the fact that all non-alcoholic beer contains a very small amount of alcohol, there is now evidence that supports the theory that drinking non-alcoholic beer can cause a relapse for some recovering alcoholics."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research demonstrates that low self-esteem and depression make an individual more vulnerable to excessive drinking and alcohol dependency."

"More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke."

"In a relatively wide-spread and extensive study that was undertaken in 38 States and the District of Columbia, the cities and towns with the greatest numbers of drinking establishments such as bars, nightclubs, and taverns, had the highest rates of alcoholism. What an absolute shock! Now really surprise me and tell me that the areas with the highest expenditure for alcohol advertisements also had the highest rates of alcoholism! The bottom line: higher alcohol advertising costs + more drinking establishments = higher rates of alcoholism."

"As shown by the U.S. research literature, nearly all alcoholics have a co-morbid psychiatric disorder, most commonly anxiety and mood disorders in women and drug abuse and antisocial personality disorders in men."

"Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is a group of symptoms manifested by individuals who stop drinking alcohol after a pattern of continuous and excessive consumption."

"Substance abuse research demonstrates that teens or young adults entering the workforce or college may be particularly susceptible to peer pressure due to their desire to gain acceptance and make new friendships. This peer pressure and desire for acceptance may lead to increased alcohol consumption."

"Many people only think of a 'skid-row bum' when they think of someone with an alcohol problem. This is the end stage of alcohol problems, when a person has lost his or her family, job and health because of alcohol abuse. A person doesn't reach this stage overnight."