ADAPTED FROM PHOENIX HOUSE FOUNDATION INFORMATION
Alcohol is the oldest and most widely used drug in the world. Nearly half of all Americans over the age of 12 consume alcohol. There are an estimated 10 to 15 million alcoholics or problem drinkers in the United States, with more than 100,000 deaths each year attributed to alcohol.
Among the nation’s alcoholics and problem drinkers are as many as 4.5 million adolescents. Adolescents are disproportionately involved in alcohol-related automobile accidents, the leading cause of death among Americans 15 to 24 years old.
The health consequences of alcohol abuse add enormously to national health care costs. The high level of alcohol consumption is many times greater than the level of illegal drug use. It is one of America’s most serious drug problems.
Chronic abuse of alcohol can lead to addiction or alcoholism. The behavior of abusers and the consequences of that behavior are better indicators of alcoholism than how often or how much a person may drink.
Alcohol addiction can be characterized by increased tolerance, causing the abuser to drink greater amounts to achieve the same desired effect. When an alcoholic stops drinking, he or she will typically experience the symptoms of withdrawal.
Alcohol, as well as other drugs (cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, "designer" drugs) are toxic, addictive, psychoactive substances that have significant physiological and psychological consequences for users. Perhaps even more significant and unfortunate, however, are the negative effects that substance abusers have on their families, communities, workplaces, and society.
Domestic violence and random violence are often fueled by drug addiction and alcoholism. Children are often the victims of the addicted parents and may suffer from prenatal exposure and/or parental abuse.