There are a variety of factors that cause people to become addicted to drugs and alcohol: family history, mental health disorders, peer pressure, lack of family involvement, and early use. Codependency often exists in relationships where one person enables the destructive behavior of another.
This is Part 3 of a brief series on addiction. You may want to read Part 1 and Part 2 if you missed them.
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Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, I watched the counterculture unfold, shifting away from the more conservative 1950s.
This involved rejecting formerly held social norms, embracing alternative lifestyles, and intense political protests against the unpopular Vietnam War.
Individualistic values such as the women’s movement, growing environmental awareness, and a distrust in government (thanks to Watergate) became the order of the day.
This period marked a more permissive and rebellious societal attitude with a rise in cocaine and psychedelic drug use. Newly dubbed ‘hippies’ promoted marijuana and LSD use, both hallucinogenic drugs, as a way to expand one’s consciousness.
I know my parents didn’t partake in any illegal drugs, but they certainly enjoyed their beer, wine, and spirits. No matter what the celebration, booze was a staple at every celebration, and cigarette smoking was prevalent, as well.
I remember my aunt singing at every family wedding. After knocking back enough whiskey sours, she found the courage to join the band and belt out Don Ho’s Tiny Bubbles. Likewise, birthday and anniversary parties, picnics, and holidays included beer and liquor.
These were responsible adults who had jobs and cared for their families, but designated drivers and Uber weren’t a thing yet. Drunk driving laws weren’t nearly as strict as they are today, which meant more people were driving under the influence back then. The risk would have been greater without the added protection of seat belts and airbags.
In our small town, if you got caught drinking underage, the cops (who knew your parents) would take your beer and send you home with a warning. And we knew darn well they didn’t waste those brewskis!
Alcohol Use in the United States
Prevalence of Lifetime Drinking (ages 12 and older)
These people drank alcohol at some point in their life:
111.1 million males, or 80.1% in this age group
113.2 million females, or 78.1% in this age group
Prevalence of Underage Drinking (ages 12 - 20)
These people have had at least one drink in their lives.
6.1 million males, or 31.1% in this age group
6.5 million females, or 35.3% in this age group
Prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder (ages 12 and older)
These people report having AUD in the past year.
16.8 million males, or 12.1% in this age group
12.0 million females, or 8.3% in this age group
Consequences for Families
Approximately 10.5% (7.5 million) of U.S. children ages 17 and younger live with a parent who has alcohol use disorder, according to a 2017 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Economic Burden of Alcohol Misuse
In 2010, alcohol misuse cost the United States $249 billion.
Three-quarters of the total cost of alcohol misuse is related to binge drinking.
Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%—or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter—or more.
For further information and breakdowns regarding age and demographics, click here.
(Statistics gathered from niaaa.nih.gov)
However, addiction covers a lot of substances. While alcohol is the most abused, other common ones are marijuana, cocaine, tobacco, methamphetamine, and opioids.1
Consider these Substance Use Disorders (SUD) numbers:
40.3 million people in the United States had an SUD in 2020.
In 2020, only 6.5 percent of people with SUD received treatment.
In 2021, about 107,000 people died of drug overdoses.
Some substances are more addictive than others, but anything that messes with normal brain function is likely to cause problems. Addiction is a complex condition that involves the reward centers of our brains, and humans have evolved to seek those things that make us feel good.
For some people, using drugs and alcohol recreationally is a way to socialize and relax. For others, it’s a means of escaping or coping with more severe issues.
I’m grateful that throughout two decades as a victim of emotional/verbal abuse by an alcoholic, I didn’t succumb to drugs myself. My children were my saving grace and continue to be a source of great joy all these years later.
NEXT WEEK: Wasted - Part 4 - Substance Use Disorder - Risks and Signs
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I was never a drinker until I began work. A social wine (one glass). After marriage, I always had a glass of wine with my husband and that was it. I was always aware of the loss of control of people who got drunk and I didn't want that.
My parents had a midday gin or rum and a night time gin or rum regularly until their deaths. But i don't recall them ever being drunk.
I stopped alcohol after a gallbladder operation and accompanying sepsis. When I tried to have a nightly wine, I promptly vomited - apparently it happens to some folk. It wasn't hard thereafter to completely forget about alcohol and I don't miss that nightly wine at all.
Chilled water with lemon and mint, is just as good and I've found amazing recipes for stunning non-alcoholic fruit punches.
My uncle by marriage was an alcoholic - a charming, loving and artistically gifted man when sober, but a pathetic human when on a bender. It was sad to see.
I’m glad your children bring you joy and comfort. 🫶🏻 And thank you for the informative post. I was a binge drinker in my uni years but I was never the type to drink at home or alone. I rarely drink now and even then generally when we go out for a meal and often not. I guess some people are more prone to drinking than others.