Life Articles

How many people get injured or lose their lives in alcohol related traffic accidents every year? On an annual basis, how many alcoholics fail to get the professional alcohol treatment they require? 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 DWI conviction? How many junior high, high school, and college students lose their lives every year due to an alcohol overdose? How many people's lives are cut short due to unhealthy and hazardous drinking? How many individuals lose their lives every year because of drinking problems? How many children are born each year with fetal alcohol syndrome? How many individuals lose their lives each year from a condition that is one hundred percent preventable, such as alcohol poisoning?

So what is the main reason for asking these questions? Mainly to emphasize the devastating and destructive nature of abusive and careless drinking. Indeed, and based on the above questions, it is a wonder why anyone would choose to drink in an abusive and irresponsible manner.

Stated a different way, with the host of financial difficulties, employment issues, legal proceedings, health problems, and relationship dilemmas that are interrelated with alcohol dependency and chronic alcohol abuse, why would any individual with any sense at all want to drink in an irresponsible and excessive manner? In fact when some of the above topics are examined more closely, hazardous and careless drinking makes even less sense and becomes more illogical.

Wouldn't you believe that heavy drinkers would be able to see some of the alcoholism symptoms that they display? In a similar way, doesn't it seem feasible to think that many more chronic alcohol abusers would be able to perceive some of the alcoholism signs that they manifest? Not only this but wouldn't you think that people who are addicted to alcohol would attempt to learn more about their alcoholic symptoms by reading about some basic alcohol-related information, statistics, and facts?

After reviewing the alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse research findings, the point is so critical that it needs to be reiterated: With all of the dangerous and disastrous consequences that are even remotely correlated with continuous and repetitive alcohol abuse and alcoholism, why would any individual want to engage in abusive drinking?

What can be done about the pervasive nature of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency in our country? First, society needs to get the message to more people about the destructive and damaging outcomes of abusive drinking. Second, people who are alcohol addicts or alcohol abusers need to look in the mirror and ask why they are not receiving the quality alcohol counseling they need.

Third, our students need more relevant and more meaningful preventative and educational methods and approaches so that more students at all grade levels, including those at college, are "reached". And fourth, our students need to learn how to become problem solvers in life instead of getting easily drawn to the "quick fix" and the "instant gratification" of a drug or alcohol abuse "buzz" or "high".

There's a lot of room for hope and optimism if people can start drinking responsibly and those who engage in excessive and hazardous drinking can become persuaded to get the alcohol rehab they require. Indeed, why put your loved ones through suffering, pain, and turmoil because of your hazardous and abusive drinking when you have the power to control your life by drinking responsibly or even abstaining from drinking if you cannot control your drinking behavior?