Treatment for alcoholism could hardly be argued as anything other than beneficial, especially in light of the Center for Disease Control's new study which revealed that heavy drinking costs the United States $223.5 billion dollars annually, almost half of which is endured by the federal, state and local governments. Over 70 percent of the costs were a result of lost productivity, 11 percent as a result of health care expenses including treatment for alcoholism, 9 percent related to criminal justice costs and the final 8 percent to the effects of associate disorders like fetal alcohol syndrome for example. The study also revealed that alcohol use is responsible for more than twice as many fatalities as drug use, even though it garners much less media attention.
Since 79,000 Americans are killed every year as a result of alcohol related causes, why aren't more citizens opening themselves up to treatment for alcoholism and problem drinking? There are a few different thought processes here. For starters, excessive drinking in many instances has become an accepted part of American culture. Excessive drinking as defined by the CDC includes underage drinking, drinking during pregnancy, heavy drinking and binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined for women as consuming more than 4 drinks on a single occasion, and 5 drinks for men. By that standard, a great majority of Americans have likely engaged in excessive drinking at least once in their life, but likely more often than that. Since so many Americans engage in this harmful behavior, it's hard for the masses to understand the dangerousness of their behavior.
Costs of Treatment for Alcoholism
While treatment for alcoholism falls into the health care expenses 11 percent portion, in actuality, treatment only accounts for 10 billion dollars annually, or 4 percent of the total. A much larger portion of the costs can be chalked up to financial damage individuals suffered as a result of binge drinking as well as costs linked to underage drinking and criminal justice, prosecution and court related costs.
Alcohol is now the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States the CDC found, only falling behind smoking tobacco and obesity. Once you've started drinking heavily and regularly, it can be incredibly difficult to stop. Treatment for alcoholism and those with tendencies towards alcohol abuse has been proven effective time and time again at curbing problem drinking and increasing these individual's chances for living healthier lives. We all know the growing list of health complications associated with alcohol abuse and alcoholism. That said there is a vast network of support systems and treatment centers available to help you change your life and determine your own future when you're ready to seek it.
Ben Brafman, LMHC, CAP is the President and CEO of Destination Hope, a licensed dual diagnosis substance abuse treatment center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ben has more than 20 years of experience in the addiction and mental health fields, which led him to develop a combination of innovative treatment protocols at Destination Hope. He has been published on various topics including dual diagnosis and chemical dependency, and gives back to the community by educating other addiction counselors at his Academy for Addiction Professionals. If you or a loved one is currently experiencing troubles in your life as a result of alcohol, please contact the admissions counselors at Destination Hope today at 1-877-380-9777. Don't let yourself become another statistic.
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