Alcohol is a substance that is legal all over the country. With the only limitation being that you need to be 21 years-old to drink, it is easily accessible and found in every restaurant or event you go to. A new study showed that Americans are drinking double the amount of alcohol than usual which can increase the chances of more alcohol-related deaths.
The Study
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research showed that alcohol-related deaths more than doubled in people over the age of 16 in the past two decades. This study analyzed the death certificate data and saw that 72,558 deaths were related to alcohol in 2017. This is much higher compared to the 35,914 deaths in 1999. About 30% of deaths were from liver diseases related to alcohol consumption, overdoses, heart disease, and cancers linked to alcoholism or alcohol mixed with other drugs. Alcohol-related deaths were the highest with men from ages 45-74. The rates of chronic alcohol-related deaths occurred more with young adults between the ages of 25-34.
The Rising of Alcohol-Related Deaths
The opioid epidemic could be coming into play in that many people are combining alcohol with medications which is a lethal combination. Alcohol also tends to be related to depression which shows that more people are not getting treated for their depression and self-medicating with alcohol. The challenge with this study is that it is hard to know the extent of how much medications come into play of alcohol use.
The Impact of Too Much Drinking
Drinking too much drinking can mess with the communication pathways of the brain and can change the way it looks and operates. This can change your mood, behavior, and decision-making. Chronic drinking can also cause damage to the heart which leads to cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, strokes, and high blood pressure which can weaken the heart over time. Alcohol is also dangerous to the liver where you can develop cancer in that area as well as head, neck, esophagus, colon, and rectum. It is important to really think about all of the damage that alcohol can do to you and if it is really worth it to keep continuing drinking. Alcohol shouldn’t be used as a way to medicate mental illness. By going into treatment for alcoholism, you do not need to worry about suffering from any alcohol-related overdoses and can learn about healthier ways to take care of yourself.
At Alta Loma Transformational Living, you will meet knowledgeable, compassionate professionals that understand addiction in all its forms. Alta Loma uses an integrative and holistic approach to treat addiction and mental health issues. No treatment is one-size-fits-all, where you will have a team of experts prepared to create your customized treatment plan. We offer care for your mind, body, and spirit, so that you can heal from the inside out and look forward to a lifetime of sobriety and wellness. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us at 866-457-3843.
