Substance Abuse Makes You Sick

Photo by Steven - Monika, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16223472

Everyone knows – or should know – that substance abuse can lead to major complications.  For instance alcohol has a damaging effect on every organ system.  Taken regularly in large doses, alcohol can cause the permanent loss of memory, gastritis, esophagitis, ulcers, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, high blood pressure, weakened heart muscles, and fetal alcohol syndrome – for starters.

But did you know that substance abusers just get sick more often than those who don’t abuse substances?  You may be asking:  What is substance abuse?  Abuse in this context is the continued use of alcohol or other drugs in spite of negative consequences.  Let’s say a person drinks too much at a bar one night and is arrested for DUI on the way home.  A week later, instead of drinking less or calling a cab, that same person makes the choice to repeat the conduct that led to the DUI.  That would be abuse.

Abuse differs from addiction or dependence, which is the compulsive use of alcohol or drugs regardless of the consequences.  The person doesn’t make the choice to continue drinking, the person is compelled to drink.

How does abuse make you sick?  Well, alcohol abuse can lower your immunity to infection.  Substance Abusers also tend to neglect proper nutrition and exercise.  So substance abusers are just more susceptible to catching colds and illnesses.

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Help the Economy - Stop Alcohol Abuse!

 

What is third leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the United States?  According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is excessive alcohol use. 

The CDC reports that alcohol abuse attributes to about 80,000 deaths each year in this country.  In 2006, there were more than 1.2 million emergency room visits and 2.7 million physician office visits due to excessive drinking. 

The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in 2006 were estimated at $223.5 billion.  Imagine what it is now with today's rising health costs. 

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Alcohol Abuse v. Alcoholism

Lawyers - or anyone else for that matter - with a drinking problem may fall into the category of alcohol abusers, or alcoholics.  What is the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse? 

Alcoholism is when the person drinking is physically addicted to alcohol.  An alcoholic will continue to drink even though he or she has physical health or mental health problems; or drinking interferes with social, family, or job responsibilities.  Alcohol may control a person's life and relationships, because drinking may be all that person thinks about. 

Alcohol abuse is when a person's drinking leads to problems, but not physical addiction.  What kind of problems?  Well, someone may have too much to drink and get into a fight.  An isolated DUI may be another problem.  A person who begins to have many of these problems may be in danger of suffering from addiction.  When I was in the Marine Corps we used to keep track of a Marine's "alcohol related incidents" such as those mentioned above.  Whenever a Marine started to rack up more that two or three of these incidents that Marine would receive education in alcohol abuse prevention.   

To read more about alcoholism and alcohol abuse read here.



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