Overlooking alcoholism
Alcohol has been overlooked and treated like something it’s not
Most alcoholics have nights they can’t remember. They drink until they black out, becoming less and less of themselves.
As of 2013, 16.6 million adults 18 and over had an AUD(alcohol use disorder). Nearly 697,000 12-17 year olds had an AUD according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol is looked at as a key ingredient to social gatherings, parties and being an adult. The whole stigma of turning 21 is being allowed to get drunk, legally, for the first time which is pushed on by the media in movies like 21 and over and by society.
The media also inaccurately and quite commonly depicts binge drinking in very untrue ways, especially in beer commercials. It will show people with big smiles on their face, jumping up and down and having a good time, but after 12 beers it becomes a night of puke on the face, falling down and having a unmemorable night. The media also glorifies drinking in party films and portrays the negative side effects of it in humorous ways.
Drinking heavily can make people angry, aggressive and abusive. This is not true with all people, but for those that it is, it’s usually pretty bad. Alcohol inhibits people’s normal behavior and can cause them to act very irrationally. 92% of domestic abuse assailants reported use of alcohol or other substances on the day of the assault.
Alcohol is also the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing nearly 88,000 people annually, 3.3 million worldwide. Whether it be from cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol poisoning, or alcohol related murders or car incidents, it is a very dangerous substance that is commonly overlooked because of how accepted it’s become in the modern day world.
Because of its mass commercialization, occurrence in media and culture, and its role in society, alcohol has tricked the minds of many and taken control of many more. It’s caused death, torn apart families and relationships and ruined lives. It certainly needs to be reanalyzed by society and treated like the danger that it is. For many years alcohol has latched onto the world and sunk it’s claws deep into the brains of humanity, it’s time for it to end.
My name is Austin Graham and this is my third year to be on the staff of The Roar and my second year as the Assistant Editor. I love dogs more than anything...