Alcoholism's Effect on American Society

Alcoholism is one of the most significant public health threats facing American society today. This is because alcohol is a deeply ingrained part of our culture and has a presence in nearly every aspect of life. We drink to celebrate holidays, birthdays, special events and anniversaries. We drink while we are being entertained at restaurants, concert venues, clubs and bars. We drink at sporting events and at gambling centers. We drink when things are good and when they are bad, when our favorite team wins and when it loses, and we drink regardless of the weather. In our society it seems that it is appropriate at nearly all times to drink alcohol. Therefore, it is no surprise that the US has such a significant problem with drunk driving, alcohol related domestic violence, assault, disorderly conduct, workplace accidents and serious health issues. Alcohol is a part of American life and so are the problems that go with it. Of these, the most severe threat facing us all is the high occurrence of drunk driving. In fact, drunk driving in the US is so prevalent that the leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults is alcohol-related traffic accidents. Overall more than 10,000 people die of alcohol related crashes each year. This problem continues to occur despite significant efforts on the part of law enforcement and public health officials to curb drunk driving with a combination of education and strict regulation. Nevertheless, the drunk driving problem in the United States is probably much larger than data could presently support. This is because many people who have been convicted of drunk driving admitted that they had done so numerous times prior to being arrested. Domestic violence related to alcohol is a significant problem despite the fact that many experts believe that the use of alcohol does not implicitly cause a person to become aggressive and engage in domestic violence. While alcohol can be a contributing factor, it is difficult to determine if it is a direct cause of violence because most alcoholics are drunk a large portion of their waking hours, making the differentiation of behaviors nearly impossible. However, most victims of domestic violence report that alcohol played a large role in any attacks against them. From a public health standpoint, alcoholism is one of the most severe and deadly diseases in the country. In fact, according to Medline Plus, more than 17.6 million adults in the US suffer from alcoholism. Of these people, drunk driving and other traffic related accidents and injuries are common, but even more common are disease and conditions related to consistent alcohol use. These include cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, gout, kidney disorders, arterial sclerosis and pulmonary disorders. While some of these conditions can be reversed, prolonged severe alcoholism may result in irreversible health problems. Alcoholism also plays a huge role in sports-related violence and assaults. Most sporting events serve alcohol to a crowd that is often tense and excited with an element of rivalry as various teams face off against each other. Often this results in fights, vandalism, criminal activity and even sexual assault. The association with sports and violence and alcohol is well documented and has been a longstanding US problem. If the alcoholism of someone you love is affecting your family or community, you can get help right now. You can start with an intervention or a simple therapy session, or you can opt for more serious treatment. Whatever you decide, their life – and the lives of those around them – could literally be in your hands.

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