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The Five Main Dangers of Alcohol

Alcohol abuse is a serious problem in the United States. According to the Drug Rehabs.org, more than 15 million Americans are dependent on alcohol. The impact of alcohol abuse and alcoholism affects virtually every area of modern life.

  1. Health Consequences

    • Consuming alcohol has an immediate effect in the body. Although a person who drinks may seem stimulated, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. The reason a person who drinks alcohol seems stimulated is because the activity of certain parts of the brain become depressed, thereby allowing other areas of the brain to take over.

      Alcohol is not metabolized like food or other beverages. Instead, 20 percent of the alcohol is directly absorbed into the bloodstream, causing immediate effects. The initial effects of alcohol include slurred speech, hazy thinking, slowed reaction time, dulled hearing, impaired vision, weakened muscles and fogged memory. If you continue to abuse alcohol, you're more likely to develop liver and kidney problems, diabetes and memory problems.

    Social Impact

    • Alcohol also impacts social relationships. According to Drug Rehabs.org, 43 percent of Americans have been exposed to alcoholism in their families. Families where alcohol abuse occurs suffer more domestic violence, impaired communication and greater levels of divorce. In addition, children of alcohol abusers are more likely to become alcohol abusers themselves.

    Economic Impact

    • It's virtually impossible to estimate the economic damage caused by alcohol abuse, according to the World Health Organization. This is because the effects infiltrate many different cost categories. The direct costs of alcohol abuse include medical costs, crime-related costs, motor vehicle crashes, costs of alcohol and legal fees. Indirect costs include homelessness, income lost due to premature death and divorce.

    Women's Issues

    • Alcohol abuse is particularly dangerous for women. Women tend to have problems with alcohol earlier because they tend to weigh less than men do.

      Alcohol consumption is associated with greater levels of unprotected sexual behavior. This can result in unintended pregnancies, venereal diseases and fetal alcohol syndrome.

      Women who drink have a greater likelihood of developing breast cancer, according to the National Institute of Health. Women who consume about one drink per day have a 10 percent higher chance of developing breast cancer than women who do not drink at all.

    Drinking and Driving

    • Perhaps the greatest danger of alcohol consumption is drinking and driving. Alcohol is involved in 50 percent of all driving fatalities, according to Drug Rehabs.org. Every 30 minutes in the United States, someone is killed in an alcohol-related traffic accident. in 2001, one in 10 Americans reported driving under the influence of alcohol. Among young adults ages 18 to 25 years, almost 23 percent drove under the influence of alcohol.

      Overall, alcohol abuse is a dangerous problem in the United States. If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol, consult a medical professional for help.

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