Michael Ngo - Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse has been a huge factor in my life ever since I was a kid. Throughout my childhood, my father has been an alcoholic. Despite this issue being resolved over the years, it has led to many incidents of unnecessary arguments, drunk driving, and health issues. My experience throughout high school has shown many instances of others, including myself drinking, whether this is at parties or just a simple night out. Furthermore, from these experiences, I have seen many of my peers drunk driving or revealing aggressive behavior towards others around. This social issue has expressed its value of importance for not only teenagers but also adults. Alcohol doesn’t just affect those who consume it, but those around them as well. Many may ask, “How can one person hurting themself also hurt those around them?” Well, despite the consumption of alcohol affecting those close to them, it could also result in terrible instances for those who are simply going on with their own life. This can be seen when drunk driving as one may uphold the potential of causing an accident or even hurting someone beyond repair. In addition, from extensive research, I have discovered that alcohol abuse does not simply end at drunk driving as there are many other effects that can be caused by alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption or abuse is the root of many problems that can range from a variety of abuses (verbal, sexual, physical, or even emotional), homelessness, impact on family, or even trouble at work.

According to an article I found by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the alcohol use of people aged 18 or older in the United States alone was reported to be 85.6 percent. In addition to that, it was reported that 69.5 percent of people drank just over the span of last year and 54.9 percent reported they drank over the span of last month. 

This holds great importance because it contributes to the fact that many people are experiencing difficulties one way or another. Furthermore, this generation is known to do what they deem to be trendy or cool and as many statistics are shown to be rising, many youngsters will follow through in the use of alcohol.

Furthermore, the statistics in 2019 from NSDUH showed that 825,000 people aged 12 to 20 established that they have consumed a hefty amount of alcohol in the past month. This is important because this represents approximately 2.2 percent of their age group. 

Overall, the consumption of alcohol has been an urgent social issue for the longest time and it has shifted its course closer to the current generation. The rate of alcohol-related deaths has been increasing and is shown to have increased by 47 percent from 2006 to 2014. There have been approximately 210,000 ED visits related to alcohol and 95,000 deaths related to alcohol consumption in the United States every year. The purpose of this is to address the potential risks of consuming alcohol.

References:

“Alcohol Facts and Statistics.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics. 

“Alcohol Abuse: A Social Problem.” Find Rehab Centers Based On Your Needs, 4 June 2021, https://www.rehabcenter.net/alcohol/social-problem/.