#702 Alcohol Use
Candid Conversation Memo
#702 Alcohol Use
Alcohol Addiction: Apparently, We Want to Pay the Full Cost and Do Nothing About It –
If alcohol isn’t right up there with the dangers of smoking, what else is? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on an annual global basis, tobacco use causes more than 8 million deaths, and alcohol is estimated to cause more than 3 million more deaths. That’s 11 million dying each year! And that doesn’t count all the destruction these drugs cause to people’s shattered lives, their families, etc. Let’s not leave out their Tunabudget Worksheet Plans either.
Shame on us for not bringing these statistical data to young children. Recently, world-wide efforts (restrictions, mandates, major disruption) were made to protect people and children from the Covid19 pandemic, where some 5 million global Covid19 related deaths were reported. These 5 million deaths, compared to the annual 11 million deaths each year, represent only <6 months’ deaths from alcohol and tobacco drug related deaths. Where is the outrage? In the past 10 years, assuming these deaths were held constant, there would have been some 110 million deaths. And, nobody is saying anything, right?
Have you heard anyone raise their hand and say: folks, we have a massive problem here and more needs to be done to help these children not use these drugs in the first place, right? And most of these are preventable deaths, if people didn’t smoke and drink, right? Are we not insane for not pushing the educating of young children to not use these destructive nicotine and alcohol drugs? Of course, the difference is Covid19 was not optional. But using alcohol and nicotine drugs is optional.
Apparently, no one cares or will speak up that some 110 million people have died from alcohol and tobacco drug use in just the past 10 years, and another 100 million plus over the next 10 years. Should we stand silently and idly by and say and do nothing? How absurd. Hopefully, you’re sick and tired too of the death and destruction caused by these two deadly drugs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (aka ‘CDC’) offers alarming facts about the health risks associated with alcohol addiction:
Liver Diseases –
o?? Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of liver diseases such as alcoholic liver disease (ALD), cirrhosis, and liver cancer. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Alcohol's Effects on the Liver)
o?? Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to fatty liver, inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis), fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis, which is characterized by irreversible scarring of the liver tissue. (Source: American Liver Foundation - Alcohol-Related Liver Disease)
o?? Alcohol-related liver diseases account for approximately 48% of liver-related deaths globally. (Source: The Lancet - Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016)
o?? The risk of developing alcoholic liver disease increases with the amount and duration of alcohol consumption. For example, heavy drinkers are at a significantly higher risk of developing cirrhosis compared to moderate or non-drinkers. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Understanding the Impact of Alcohol on Human Health and Well-Being)
o?? Liver cancer risk is elevated among individuals with alcoholic cirrhosis, with heavy drinkers having a 3-4 times higher risk of developing liver cancer compared to non-drinkers. (Source: World Cancer Research Fund - Liver Cancer Statistics)
Cardiovascular Disorders –
o?? While moderate alcohol consumption may have some cardiovascular benefits, excessive drinking increases the risk of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. (Source: American Heart Association - Alcohol and Heart Health)
o?? Heavy alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Alcohol and Cardiovascular Health)
o?? Chronic heavy drinking weakens the heart muscle, leading to cardiomyopathy, a condition that impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. (Source: Cleveland Clinic - Cardiomyopathy)
o?? Binge drinking episodes can trigger irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) such as atrial fibrillation, increasing the risk of stroke and heart failure. (Source: American College of Cardiology - Binge Drinking Tied to Heart Rhythm Disorder)
o?? Alcohol-related cardiovascular disorders are responsible for a significant proportion of alcohol-attributable deaths globally. (Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 - Alcohol Use and Burden for 195 Countries and Territories, 1990-2016)
Neurological Disorders –
o?? Prolonged alcohol abuse can cause various neurological disorders, including alcohol-induced brain damage, cognitive impairment, and neuropathy. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Alcohol's Effects on the Brain)
o?? Chronic heavy drinking can lead to shrinkage of brain tissue, impairing cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and decision-making. (Source: Alcohol Research: Current Reviews - Chronic Alcohol Consumption and its Effects on Brain Structure and Function)
o?? Alcohol-related dementia, known as alcohol-related brain impairment (ARBI), is a significant cause of cognitive decline and dementia among heavy drinkers. (Source: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy - Alcohol-Related Brain Damage in Humans)
o?? Peripheral neuropathy, characterized by numbness, tingling, and pain in the extremities, is a common neurological complication of long-term alcohol abuse. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Neuropathy)
Mental Health Disorders –
o?? Alcohol addiction is strongly associated with mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and suicidal behavior. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Alcohol and Mental Health)
o?? Heavy alcohol consumption can exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety, leading to a vicious cycle of drinking to cope with mental distress. (Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - Behavioral Health Trends in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
o?? Alcohol abuse is a significant risk factor for suicide, with individuals with alcohol use disorder having a much higher risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. (Source: Alcohol Research: Current Reviews - Alcohol Use and Suicide: A Deadly Combination)
o?? Co-occurring alcohol use disorder and mental health disorders require integrated treatment approaches for optimal outcomes. (Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse - Co-occurring Disorders)
Social and Economic Consequences –
o?? Alcohol addiction can have profound social and economic consequences, including impaired relationships, decreased productivity, financial hardship, and legal problems. (Source: World Health Organization - Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018)
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o?? Alcohol-related absenteeism and reduced productivity in the workplace cost employers billions of dollars annually. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Alcohol and the Workplace)
o?? Heavy drinking contributes to family conflicts, domestic violence, child neglect, and divorce, impacting the well-being of individuals and families. (Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - Alcohol and the Family)
o?? Alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents and injuries impose significant healthcare costs and burdens on emergency services and healthcare systems. (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Impaired Driving: Get the Facts)
o?? Alcohol-related crime, including violence, assault, and public disturbances, strains law enforcement resources and contributes to societal harm and disorder. (Source: Alcohol Research: Current Reviews - Alcohol and Crime)
Prevalence of Lifetime Drinking –
What’s interesting is that people, maybe you too, don’t seem to really care all that much about their bodies. It’s almost as though they have lost something precious, perhaps a special knowledge like ‘who they are.’ It’s almost as of they’ve lost hope or something. They don’t care if using alcohol will destroy their bodies or not. On the other side of this, are those who would protect their bodies at all costs. They don’t want pain, and they don’t want to suffer.
They completely know that to use drugs like alcohol will likely ultimately result in self-destruction, sickness, premature death, etc. With the prevalent use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other destructive drugs, this will soon result in a large segment of society, the world over, that is sick. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shows striking facts that should be of a serious concern to all reasonable people:
People Ages 12 and Older –
According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 221.3 million people ages 12 and older (78.5% in this age group) reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime. This includes:
o?? 110.2?million males ages 12 and older (79.7% in this age group)
o?? 111.1?million females ages 12 and older (77.3% in this age group)
·?????? Youth Ages 12 to 17 – According to the 2022 NSDUH, 5.7 million youth ages 12 to 17 (22.3% in this age group) reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime. This includes:
o?? 2.7 million boys ages 12 to 17 (20.2% in this age group)
o?? 3.1?million girls ages 12 to 17 (24.5% in this age group)
·?????? Adults Ages 18 and Older – According to the 2022 NSDUH, 215.6 million adults ages 18 and older (84.1% in this age group) reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime.?This includes:
o?? 107.5 million men ages 18 and older (86.2% in this age group)
o?? 108.1?million women ages 18 and older (81.9% in this age group)
Emerging Trend—High-Intensity Drinking –
The CDC defines “high-intensity drinking as a pattern of alcohol consumption involving the consumption of alcohol at levels that significantly exceed binge drinking thresholds. This pattern of drinking is associated with an increased risk of alcohol-related harms, including injuries, accidents, and alcohol poisoning.” As was mentioned, people don’t care or have much if any hope in life to intentionally destroy themselves. Hopefully you are not in this camp.
Of course, on a very positive note, there is a solution for every problem. You will get what you want, or become the sum of your individual daily decisions. If you want to get past using drugs like alcohol, you will. There is always help, and there is always hope. Let the desire spark within turn into a raging flame of strength. If you want to kick alcohol use, you can and you will, with whatever help it takes to get there. This high-intensity drinking nonsense is just plain nuts. Don’t ever go there.
CANDID QUESTIONS
o?? Should young elementary children not be taught the harmful effects of using alcohol and nicotine drugs?
o?? Should they not be shown pictures showing how these drugs destroy the body, share the number of annual deaths and issues, and be encouraged to never start using these drugs?
o?? Is there anyone in your life that you could possibly reach out to, and humbly approach for guidance, love, and hope?
o?? Is there an organization that helps at a cost that you can afford to get help?
o?? How far and at what cost have your addictions taken you?
o?? What have you already lost, and what do you stand to lose?
o?? Are you earnestly seeking and desiring to get your addictions behind you once and for all?
o?? What are you willing to give to sacrifice to change, and how best should that change take place?
o?? Do you really know what you need to do, but are just too chained to the addiction?
o?? Are you addicted to the alcohol drug?