Human consumption of alcohol dates back to ancient civilizations. The appeal of alcohol relates to its effects on the brain, which typically invoke sedating, pleasurable feelings. Despite the wide acceptance of alcohol consumption in society, excessive alcohol intake remains a significant cause of illness and death.
Alcohol Consumption in the United States Increasing
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that, on average, Americans age 14 and older consume 2.3 gallons of alcohol per year. According to NIAAA, yearly alcohol consumption among Americans increased steadily from 1999 through 2007. NIAAA estimates 65 percent of adults in the United States consume alcohol. Five to 7 percent of adult Americans abuse alcohol or have developed alcohol dependence.
Alcohol Contributes to Traffic Fatalities
According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol is a contributing factor in 40 percent of all traffic deaths and 36 percent of traffic deaths among 16- to 20-year-olds. An estimated 70 percent of people involved in alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents are alcohol dependent. NIAAA reports 16,919 alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurred in the United States in 2004, with approximately 26 percent of deaths occurring among persons ages 16 to 24.
Alcohol Causes Preventable Deaths
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" that excessive alcohol intake ranks third among the leading causes of preventable deaths in the United States. Common causes of alcohol-attributable deaths include cirrhosis of the liver, hemorrhagic stroke, injuries and cancer. CDC notes that alcohol-attributable deaths of Americans in 2001 resulted in approximately 2.3 million years of potential life lost.
Alcohol Contributes to Cancer Risk
The American Cancer Society (ACS) advises alcohol consumption increases the risk for development of several types of cancer including cancers of the liver, throat, esophagus, breast and mouth. Risk further increases among those who drink alcohol and smoke. The risk of mouth cancers among people who consume alcohol is approximately six-times greater than that of people who abstain from alcohol, reports ACS. Alcohol consumption is also a primary factor in the development of liver cancer. ACS recommends that men who choose to drink alcohol should limit their intake to two drinks daily, and women should have no more than one alcoholic drink per day.
Alcohol Causes Physical and Developmental Disabilities
Alcohol use during pregnancy can result in abnormal growth and development of the unborn baby leading to life-long physical and mental disabilities. These conditions are collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The CDC cites a variety of abnormalities that may occur with these disorders including low IQ, learning disabilities, facial deformities and small head size, speech and language delays, hearing and vision problems, hyperactivity, decreased memory, judgment and reasoning skills and kidney, heart and bone defects. Data collected by the CDC indicate that approximately 12 percent of pregnant women in the United States drink alcohol, including approximately 2 percent who report binge drinking. The CDC emphasizes that there is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy.
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Apparent Per Capita Alcohol Consumption: National, State, and Regional Trends, 1977--2007
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: State of the Science Report on the Effects of Moderate Drinking
- National Institutes of Health: Alcohol-Related Traffic Deaths Fact Sheet
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities According to Age Groups, United States, 1982--2004
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR: Alcohol-Attributable Deaths and Years of Potential Life Lost--United States, 2001
