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