Each year, approximately 80,000 deaths in the US are caused by the excessive intake of alcohol. Considering the fact that alcohol is consumed by a vast majority of people, these numbers come as no surprise. Consuming alcohol in excess can cause many serious illnesses. These illnesses can take a heavy toll on the physical and emotional health of a person. In fact, besides smoking, alcohol consumption is the primary cause of premature deaths in the US. For this reason, it is important to focus on alcohol abuse prevention methods.
- Create Alcohol Abuse Awareness
Undoubtedly, substantial efforts have been made by the government to make people aware of the harmful effects of alcohol abuse. To an extent, these efforts have been successful. However, there is a need to educate people, particularly the young population, and create more awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol.
- Provide Alcohol Detox Facilities
Many people who’re addicted to alcohol find it difficult to get rid of the habit. The medical assistance provided by alcohol detox centers may prove to be very useful in this regard. For this reason, it is important for the government to make alcohol detox facilities easily accessible to people so that they can easily overcome their alcohol addiction.
- Treating Mental Illnesses
In various studies, it has been found that people who suffer from a mental illness are more likely to abuse alcohol. Be it depression or anxiety, people with mental illnesses are more likely to develop an alcohol addiction. Treating mental illnesses can go a long way when it comes to reducing alcohol related deaths in the US.
- Promoting Abstinence
Many people believe that consuming alcohol in moderation is not dangerous. To an extent, this may be true. However, moderate alcohol consumption may not be a very effective way to keep alcohol addiction at bay. Total abstinence can help an individual end any possibility of developing alcohol addiction and stay away from the harmful health effects of alcohol.
Alcohol addiction doesn’t just poses a serious threat to the health of an individual but it also has a very negative impact on the society as a whole. It has become important for our government to take some urgent steps to reduce the number of deaths caused by excessive alcohol consumption. From making alcohol detox facilities easily accessible to creating more awareness, there is a dire need to reduce alcohol consumption.
