There are those who think of its euphoric aroma as a way to unwind after a hard day at the office. There are others who associate the scents of a “cold one” with their favorite football player running down the 50 yard line. Then are those who end up at the end of a bottle in a whiff of elation and altered lucidity, yearning for the next one. No matter what category you fall into, any of these people can be at risk of serious consequences and health concerns regarding their alcohol use.

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In today’s day and age, we often hear about the deadly opioid epidemic ravaging the country, and the great works that legislature and proponents of it’s cause are doing to reduce the fatalities. Though, we often don’t hear enough about alcohol. Alcohol is the most dangerous drug. As the most widely accepted drug on the market, most still believe that alcohol isn’t considered dangerous. Those who find themselves succumbing to an addiction tend to think to themselves that it could be worse. Though, they find themselves continuing to live in a perpetual state of impairment. Consequences inevitably come their way, but ultimately, those who fall cross the line into addiction can still find themselves rationalizing their alcohol use.

“It’s legal,” they think to themselves. “I’m just going to have one,“ or “At least I’m not doing drugs.”

Make no mistake. Alcohol is a drug, and it’s incredibly deadly. Let’s take a deeper look into why:

Alcohol is Everywhere

Sit down for a moment and turn on your television. Open your social media feed. Alcohol is everywhere and it’s woven into the fabric of our society. It’s celebrated often, and promoted more than any other drug. Alcohol advertisements encourage drinking behaviors that can lead to dependence and encourage the idea that alcohol is a requirement to relax or have a good time. According to a 2017 study from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, alcohol consumption is more common than the use of tobacco or any illicit drugs, including marijuana. About a quarter of Americans end up trying alcohol before age 18, and more than three quarters of adults try alcohol by the age of 25.

Alcohol Kills More Than Any Other Drug

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 88,000 deaths per year are caused by alcohol, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. These can account for alcohol-impaired driving crashes, cancer related to alcohol, crime while under the influence. In a 2010 CNN article entitled Alcohol ‘Most Harmful Drug’ followed by Crack and Heroin, it noted that alcohol is a major problem to both the person taking the drug and the community in general. Professor David Nutt, chair of the ISCD panels, said, “It is intriguing to note that the two legal drugs assessed — alcohol and tobacco — score in the upper segment of the ranking scale, indicating that legal drugs cause at least as much harm as do illegal substances.”

Alcohol Has The Most Fatal Health Effects

Alcohol is the most widely available of addictive substances, and when used responsibly, the risks are low. However, when individuals are unable or unwilling to drink responsibly, serious and fatal consequences can occur. For those with alcohol addiction, it impacts every facet of their lives. From the mental and physical consequences, to financial and familial issues, alcoholism can cause strained relationships, depression, anxiety, and shame. With the label of the most fatal health effects alcohol has dire short-term and long-term health effects combined of any other drug. The short-term effects may include driving under the influence to long-term effects such as cirrhosis of the liver and cancer. In fact, alcohol has been linked to more than 60 diseases. A 2016 report by Addiction noted that there is strong evidence in alcohol causing cancer at seven sites in the body, and these alcohol-attributable cancers make up 5.8% of all cancer deaths world-wide.

Rethinking Alcohol

With the proposed studies and imposed health risks noting the detrimental life-altering risks, is it possible that society as a whole needs to begin to reconsider the effects that alcohol has on individuals globally? Compared to the glaring opioid crisis plaguing the nation, the shocking studies are a clear representation that as a society we’ve normalized alcohol-related incidents as much as we’ve normalized “the most interesting man in the world,” being the most recognizable drug dealer. Hopefully, one day, lawmakers and legislature can begin to rethink alcohol rehab make decisions based on a reexamination of the way alcohol affects the globe.

At Lumiere Healing Centers, we have the experience needed to treat the deadly effects of alcoholism. We have a staff of professional experts which provides best alcohol rehab services in Cincinnati and Ohio.  For a free and confidential assessment, give us a call today at: 513-854-2197