Alcohol and Drug Addiction

Drug and alcohol abuse is more prevalent in today’s society
than ever before. According to the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, 21.6 million people in the United States admitted
that they had tried cocaine at some point during their lives.
An astounding 20 percent of individuals surveyed stated that
they were currently using cocaine on a regular basis. Current
estimates state that at least one thousand people die each year
from using heroin, and approximately one third of new
AIDS cases are a result of IV drug use. 

Alcohol is also a drug, and it is one that deserves significant
recognition and attention. A survey involving 20,000 adults
concluded that more than 13 percent met the criteria for
alcoholism. Alcoholic individuals are 2.5 times more likely
to die than someone who uses alcohol sparingly or not at all.
The impact of alcohol extends largely beyond the individual
consuming the substance. Many cases of domestic violence
involve alcohol. 

Drug and alcohol abuse are a societal problem that affects
everyone. Families are torn apart by alcoholism as spouses
must struggle to see their loved ones held back by the power
of addiction. Children become confused as they see someone
they once knew in a different and negative light due to poor
decision and judgment making skills. Society as a whole
should be concerned with the abundance of alcohol and
drug use. It contributes to problems in the workplace,
increased arrests and more frequent crime. Alcoholism
alone contributes to 117 billion dollars a year in law
enforcement, workplace-related and other costs. Cocaine
use and abuse costs the country close to 35 billion
dollars each and every year. 

The reasons that people use and abuse drugs and alcohol
range from the desire to feel a sense of euphoria to an
attempt to escape from the stressors and struggles they deal
with on a daily basis in real life. The result is a temporary
sense of feeling good without thoughts about the consequences
that occur after consuming the substance. The temporary effects
are not worth the long-time results that plague the individual and
those they interact with on a regular basis. The benefits of taking
drugs and alcohol may seem to outweigh the costs at first, but
casual use quickly becomes regular and the consequences quickly
consume the user. 

Treatment is the first step to helping someone with a drug or
alcohol addiction. Many individuals benefit from attending meetings
on their own, such as AA or NA, but treatment can also be on
an in-patient basis for addicts that need more structure and help than
they can obtain on their own. Treatment for addiction involves support,
counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy and the desire to get and
remain drug and alcohol free. These programs can last anywhere
from a few weeks to a few months. It’s essential for an addict to
seek assistance not only with getting clean, but also with preventing
relapse by utilizing the tools and support available from family and
addiction organizations. 



Alex Kerwin writes articles to to help raise awareness of the dangers 
of drug and alcohol addiction.