By Bradley Madsen, Recovery Clinical Coordinator
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), one in every four adults report they have engaged in binge drinking in the past month. And almost 100,000 Americans die from alcohol related causes each year. It’s likely that many people know someone who has been affected by alcohol abuse in some way, and while alcohol is legal and socially acceptable, it is not a safe option when abused.
If those facts alone aren’t compelling enough of an argument to quit drinking, here are several more statistics that may surprise you:
- 75% of esophageal cancers are attributable to chronic excessive alcohol use.
- 50% of cancers of the mouth, pharynx/larynx are associated with heavy drinking.
- Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with a 10% increase in women’s risk of breast cancer.
- Heavy, chronic drinking contributes to nearly 65% of all cases of pancreatitis.
- Among ER patients admitted for injuries, 47% tested positive for alcohol and 35% were overtly intoxicated. 75% of those intoxicated showed signs of chronic alcoholism.
- There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the United States from substance abuse than any other cause.
- As many as 35% of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis.
- Nearly 36% of primary liver cancer cases are linked to heavy chronic drinking.
- Alcoholics are ten times more likely to develop carcinoma than the general population.
- Accidents related to alcohol use are among the leading causes of preventable deaths for teenagers.
- In 2018, there were 10,511 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, totaling 29% of all traffic fatalities for the year. *Source: US Center for Disease Control.
Alcohol Awareness Month is a national public health awareness campaign sponsored by the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) that takes place every April. It was developed to increase awareness and understanding of the causes and treatment of one of our nation’s top public health problems: alcoholism.
Unfortunately, of the 14.5 million Americans with a drug or alcohol use disorder, less than 10% receive formal treatment. If you or someone you care about has problems with alcohol (or other substances), help is available. The sooner a person can get help, the better the long-term chance for recovery. Alcoholism is a disease, not a moral failing, a choice, or weakness.
If you feel that you need help or guidance, reach out to your physician, or contact the Recovery Center at (712) 655-2300.
The Recovery Center at MRHC is a 16-bed, co-ed chemical dependency facility located in Manning. Services include detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient treatment and consultations or evaluations. Recovery Center staff have adapted treatments to meet the most pressing or newly emergent addiction issues, from alcoholism to the influx of meth to the abuse of prescription painkillers. For nearly four decades, staff have consistently helped clients take their first step toward healthy, drug and alcohol-free lifestyles.
Click here for more information about the Recovery Center.