Alcohol is the most common addictive substance in the United States. Its prevalent use is largely due to its legality and acceptance in popular culture. However, despite its legal status, alcohol isn’t as safe or harmless as it may seem. Alcohol addiction statistics reveal the damage that alcohol abuse and addiction can cause.
Alcohol Addiction Statistics in the United States
According to a study in 2015, over 15 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder. Every year, millions of people struggle with alcoholism and never undergo the treatment they need. This adversely affects their health, careers, and also qualities of life. Some signs of alcohol addiction include:
- Failing performance at work or school
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Sudden financial strains due to alcohol consumption
- Experiencing alcohol cravings and withdrawal
- Drinking to excess, often resulting in reckless behavior or sickness
- Increasing tolerance to alcohol, requiring you to drink more and more
Failing to recognize the signs of alcoholism can lead to irreversible consequences. For example, excessive alcohol consumption can cause damage to the liver, heart, kidney, and brain. Worse, binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning and even death. Failure to recognize the signs of alcohol use disorder is why alcohol consumption is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
College Drinking Culture
Many young adults in college will find themselves surrounded by binge-drinking culture. Parties, fraternities, team sports, and other social events or organizations often encourage drinking to excess. Typically, adults turn a blind eye to this behavior and pass it off as being part of the college experience. However, alcohol addiction statistics reveal that 20% of college students meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol Addiction, Codependency, and the Family
Everyone in a family feels the effects of addiction when a loved one is struggling. Whether it’s a parent, child, sibling, or cousin, families are receptive to the changes and pains that another person is going through. For children, having a parent with an alcohol addiction can severely impact the trajectory of their lives.
Children who grow up in negligent homes due to alcohol addiction often struggle with codependency or trauma. This can lead to adverse mental health effects later in life, such as PTSD, anxiety, or a substance use disorder of their own. According to alcohol addiction statistics, 10% of children in the United States live with a parent who abuses alcohol. This means 10% of American children will also grow up having to manage the struggles, stress, and adversity of this family disease.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Crestview Recovery Center
Crestview Recovery Center offers a comprehensive alcoholism treatment that gives individuals the opportunity to turn their lives around. In addition to alcohol rehab, we also provide other substance abuse treatment programs, including:
- Benzodiazepine addiction treatment
- Fentanyl addiction rehab
- Heroin addiction rehab
- Meth addiction rehab program
Finally, don’t become part of the devastating alcohol addiction statistics and find help today. To learn more about our programs and how they can help you or someone you love, call Crestview Recovery Center today at 866.262.0531.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
