Explore the world's most socially accepted drug - alcohol. Join Evan as he uncovers the psychological and social allure of drinking, its impact on health and relationships, and the thin line between casual drinking and dependency. This episode promises to challenge perceptions and encourage a more mindful approach to alcohol consumption.
Alcohol is one of the most devastating substances on one's mind, body, and for society as a whole. Here are seven statistics that show just how dangerous alcohol can be when overused.
Alcohol is the most widely consumed substance in the world. Yet I find, as an addiction therapist, it is one of the most devastating substances on one's mind, body, and for society as a whole. So here are seven statistics that show just how dangerous alcohol can be when overused. Before I go through the statistics, I don't want to do this to scare you. If you use alcohol in moderation, it could be a great source of pleasure. However, when we binge drink and overuse, this is where these statistics come into play.
First is how alcohol impacts our sexual health. 5 x increase in STI transmission related to alcohol. Also, over one half of unwanted pregnancies can also be traced to alcohol misuse. Number two, we all probably know drinking and driving is dangerous. However, did you know that 30% of car fatalities are alcohol related? Number three is I don't think people fully grasp just how costly alcohol is to society and the burden it places. For example, in one year in the United states, alcohol has cost $250 billion.
A lot of that is due to loss of work productivity and increased healthcare costs. Number four is just how devastating overuse of alcohol is to our bodies. For example, it's associated with higher rates of things like liver disease, heart disease, many different types of cancer, lowering our immune system, bone density, and much more. And that's not to mention that alcohol is associated with 40% of violent crimes, and it also leads to 28 million years of lives lost in the United States every year.
Number five is the extreme addictive potential of alcohol. Up to 20% of people in the US qualify for a use disorder. However, more like sex. Seven to twelve have it severely and severe alcohol addiction is responsible for some of the worst consequences and the worst withdrawal symptoms, because when you get off too quickly, you can actually die from seizures. Number six is that alcohol is devastating to our relationships. For example, 50% of divorces have alcohol cited as a primary reason. Also, 40% to 50% of domestic assault cases have alcohol involved as well.
Lastly, overuse of alcohol can be devastating for our mental health. For example, it's responsible for a 50% to 80% increase in developing other mental health disorders. Further, it's devastating for our cognition and memory. It impedes our ability to form new neurons and can also lead to higher rates of dementia or other cognitive issues as you get older. So remember, these statistics are most associated with individuals who binge drink, not folks who drink in moderation. For example, if you drink one to two drinks a day, three to five days a week, you're probably not going to have this level of consequences, but it's important to know that sometimes addictions develop over time.
And with alcohol, you don't necessarily need to have a use disorder to have these negative impacts on your mind and body.
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