Our culture conditions us to see drinking as a perfectly normal way to spend time with family and friends. Unfortunately, there is growing evidence that excessive alcohol consumption may actually be robbing us of precious years with our loved ones.

A study published in the JAMA Network Open in October 2022 attempted to quantify the heavy toll that drinking takes across the United States. Researchers looking at U.S. mortality data from 2015 to 2019 found that one in five deaths of people ages 20 to 49 living in the United States could be attributed to excessive alcohol use. For adults ages 20 to 64, one in eight deaths were drinking-related. Researchers cautioned that the number of preventable deaths related to drinking could be even higher since some of the cases they reviewed didn’t have enough information available to accurately determine the role that alcohol played.

How Excessive Drinking Can Lead to Premature Death

Heavy drinking has been linked to a number of serious and potentially fatal illnesses, including:

• Cancer. Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for several types of cancer, including throat, mouth, and breast cancer.
• Liver disease. Alcohol can damage the liver, leading to conditions like cirrhosis.
• Heart disease. Alcohol has complex effects on cardiovascular health, but heavy drinking can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke.
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). WKS is a potentially fatal brain disorder that can result from heavy drinking and leads to symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and impaired motor skills.

Other ways that excessive drinking can lead to premature death include:

• Alcohol poisoning. Consuming large amounts of alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Alcohol poisoning is most common in young adults but can affect people of any age.
• Self-harm. Excessive drinking can also lead to self-harm. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that alcohol is a factor in 30% of all suicides.
• Sexually transmitted diseases. Those who abuse alcohol are also more likely to engage in unprotected sex, which can lead to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Car accidents. Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of death on the roads. In the United States, it is estimated that alcohol-related car accidents claim the lives of over 10,000 people every year.

Understanding What Constitutes Excessive Drinking

When you’re trying to determine if your alcohol consumption is putting you at risk of premature death, it’s important to consider that no amount of alcohol is good for you. Abstinence is the healthiest possible choice.

Moderate drinking is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as two drinks or less in a day for men or one drink or less in a day for women. If you choose to consume alcohol, this is the level of consumption that has the lowest risk of negative health effects.

The CDC defines binge drinking as having four or more drinks on an occasion for a woman or five or more drinks on a single occasion for a man. More than one in six adults living in the United States binge drink on a regular basis, with one in four binge drinkers engaging in this behavior on a weekly basis. Binge drinking is associated with a significantly increased risk of negative health effects.

Heavy drinking, the riskiest category of alcohol consumption, is defined as eight or more drinks per week for a woman or 15 or more drinks per week for a man. While someone who engages in heavy drinking won’t automatically meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder, they are likely to be a gray area drinker who might benefit from taking a closer look at their relationship with alcohol.

Getting Help for an Alcohol Use Disorder

If you are struggling with alcohol addiction, help is available. A better way of living is possible—and you don’t have to go through this alone.

The residential addiction treatment program at St. Joseph Institute for Addiction offers 24/7 care in a safe and supportive environment. During treatment, you will receive individualized care from experienced professionals who will help you through every step of your recovery.

The first step of the residential treatment process is typically detox. This is followed by counseling and therapy, which can help you identify the underlying causes of your addiction and develop healthy coping skills. You will also have the opportunity to participate in group therapy and activities, which can help you build a support system of peers who are in recovery. After completing residential treatment, you will have access to continuing care resources that can provide you with support as you transition back into your everyday life.

If you are ready to take the first steps toward a brighter future, please contact our admissions representatives today to learn more about our Pennsylvania drug and alcohol addiction treatment center. If you’d like assistance verifying what deductibles or copays may be required, please complete our online insurance verification form and a representative will speak to your insurer on your behalf.

Looking for addiction treatment near Altoona, PA? To learn more about SJI Pennsylvania addiction rehab, and our programs, please contact us at (814) 228-8881.