Alcohol is The #1 Health Issue Facing America

The Most Accessible Substance

Alcohol abuse across the United States is a growing problem, as the substance is legal and easily accessible; a bad combination for those with substance abuse issues. The misuse of alcohol can quickly turn into dependence and addiction if it is not properly taken care of. Those who are predisposed to the disease of addiction are at an increased risk of developing an addiction to alcohol. If you are consuming large quantities of alcohol on a daily basis, you may want to consider seeking help.

Recent studies have suggested that nearly 20 million adults in the U.S. struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD); a huge increase from just a decade ago. In addition, an increasing amount of individuals engage in binge drinking and risky-drinking behaviors which put them at an increased risk of developing an addiction to alcohol. Not only this, high-risk behavior while under the influence of alcohol can lead to a very dangerous lifestyle that can be life-threatening.

The Damaging Outcomes of Alcohol Abuse

Prolonged and continuous patterns of excessive drinking can be detrimental to your health and can take a serious toll on many facets of your life. Let’s take a look at how different parts of your body are negatively affected by alcohol.

• The Brain

When you drink excessive quantities of alcohol, the alcohol begins to interfere with the way that the brain operates. Over time, the brain will not be able to function at full capacity if the individual is continuously abusing alcohol. This can inherently interfere with the individual’s mood as well as their behavior; their behavior may become more violent in nature. Additionally, abusive drinking will not allow the individual to think clearly and their motor skills will be affected as well

• The Heart

Alcohol abuse and drinking excessively over the course of time can cause extreme damage to your heart. Some of the issues that long-term drinking can cause are a stroke, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and sagging heart muscles. Oftentimes, the effects of overdrinking are not repairable.

• The Liver

This organ is at high risk of toxicity in those who drink a lot. Drinking takes an immense toll on the livers ability to function normally and can lead to severe inflammation and complications. Some of the effects on the liver that are caused by overdrinking are steatosis, cirrhosis, and alcohol hepatitis, to name a few. We only have one liver and in the U.S. alone there are more than 15,000 people waiting for a liver transplant.

Getting Help

Aside from smoking and obesity, alcohol is one of the leading causes of preventable death due to the fact that it causes high blood pressure which can be life-threatening. If you or someone you know is struggling with an alcohol abuse issue, treatment is available. Getting the right, timely help is imperative to the life of an alcoholic as continuing down the dangerous road of alcohol abuse can cost you your life. This is the reality of alcohol addiction.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.

About the Author

Mark is a proud alumni member of WhiteSands Treatment. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. He is serious about his recovery along with helping others. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives.