On an annual basis, how many alcoholics fail to get the professional alcohol treatment they require? How many people die each year from a condition that is 100% preventable, such as alcohol poisoning? How many individuals are the victims of alcohol related crime or violence each and every year? How many individuals get injured or lose their lives in alcohol related traffic accidents every year? How many people face serious consequences in their lives because they received a “drunk driving” conviction? How many junior high, high school, and college students lose their lives every year due to an alcohol overdose? How many children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome? How many people’s lives are cut short due to hazardous and irresponsible drinking? How many individuals lose their lives every year because of drinking problems?
Why Would Anyone Want to Drink in an Abusive and Hazardous Manner?
So what’s the point in asking these questions? Basically to highlight the destructive and devastating nature of unhealthy and excessive drinking. Indeed, and based on the above questions, I wonder why anyone would choose to drink in an irresponsible and abusive manner.
Stated another way, with the host of legal proceedings, relationship dilemmas, health problems, employment difficulties, and financial issues that are associated with chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism, why would any individual with good problem solving skills want to drink in an excessive and hazardous manner? In fact when some of the above topics are looked at more closely, hazardous and careless drinking makes even less sense and becomes more illogical.
Wouldn’t you think that heavy drinkers would be able to see some of the alcohol symptoms that they display? In a similar way doesn’t it seem feasible to think that many more families would involve themselves in an alcohol intervention for the person in the household who is an alcohol abuser or an alcoholic? What is more, wouldn’t you think that individuals who drink irresponsibly would try to learn more about their drinking behavior by reading about various alcohol related statistics?
After reviewing the medical research literature, the point is so important that it needs to be repeated: With all of the destructive and unhealthy outcomes that are directly or indirectly correlated with continuous and repetitive alcoholism and alcohol abuse, why would any person want to engage in excessive drinking?
What Can be Done About the Widespread Nature of Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependency in Our Country?
So what can be done about the extensive nature of alcoholism and alcohol abuse in the United States?
- Our students need more meaningful and more relevant preventative and educational approaches and methods so that more students at all grade levels, including those at college, are “reached.
- With a similar line of reasoning, our students need to learn how to become problem solvers in life rather than getting easily drawn to the “instant gratification” and the “quick fix” of a drug or alcohol abuse ”high” or “buzz”.
- People who are alcohol abusers or alcohol dependent need to look look at themselves candidly and ask why they are not getting the professional alcohol therapy they require.
- Society needs to get the message to more people about the unhealthy and dangerous outcomes of abusive and careless drinking.
There’s Room For Optimism if Those Who Engage in Careless and Excessive Drinking Can Become Motivated to Get the Alcohol Treatment They Require
There’s room for optimism and hope if people can start drinking responsibly and those who engage in excessive and abusive drinkingcan become motivated to get the alcohol rehabilitation they need. Indeed, why put your loved ones through suffering, pain, and turmoil because of your abusive and excessive drinking when you have the power to control your life by drinking responsibly or even stopping drinking if you cannot control your drinking?