When you think of “alcoholism,” you may just associate the quirky old lady who loves her wine or the uncle who always brings the beers for the get-together. These characters may serve as comic relief and bring light to the use of alcohol, but it really is not a topic to be taken lightly. But, alcohol use disorder (AUD) is an addiction, an addiction that is acceptable by society’s norms.
Alcohol is seen in TV, movies, and celebrations, and is just accepted as a part of culture. Still, casual drinking has been normalized, making it easy to ignore the bigger picture.
According to Axiom Care, “Addiction, whether to alcohol or drugs, is a disease that currently affects almost 50 million people in the United States.” This is not just a number; this data comes from real people in the United States who are affected by the addiction.
The particular psychological disorder AUD presents itself as an addiction. Alcohol is among the top five most addictive substances, according to the Addiction Center, placed right under opioids like fentanyl and heroin. However, it isn’t like a bad habit to drop on the dime; there are many risks to withdrawing a dependent body from alcohol.
American Addiction Center: “Unlike nicotine, where withdrawals only pose symptoms of discomfort, alcohol withdrawals can be deadly.”
“Withdrawal can, if left untreated or inadequately managed, withdrawal can progress to violent seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), and death.”
The dangers are how it’s overlooked, even though it’s just as dangerous as drugs because of its addictiveness, accessibility, and acceptability.
Drinking heavily and regularly increases risks of cancer, specifically esophageal, as MyClevelandClinic.org explains that alcohol is a “chemical carcinogen”. Despite acknowledging such risks, addicts still choose the path against recovery every day.
The first, and hardest, step of recovery is saying “no” and staying consistent. It can take weeks, months, or even years to get into a place of stability in recovery; it takes a lot of hard work and is an accomplishment for those who have struggled.
One can do their best, lose cravings for it, stop structuring their life around their next drink, but the biggest hurdle to cross is social settings. While drug usage is stigmatized and heavily controlled and/or illegal, alcohol is available at the market down the road, only requiring identification to obtain. People with the disorder, of course, take advantage of such availability.
Not only is it more accessible than an equally dangerous drug, but it is often encouraged in culture and social settings. This tests the person with AUD’s self-control and judgment; it can also make it harder to recognize if someone has developed such dependency on alcohol, delaying the rehabilitation process.
Alcoholism is not something to be taken lightly; it is more common than you may think. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that “Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths of people younger than age 21 in the United States each year.” through automobile crashes (1392), alcohol poisoning (644), homicides (978), falls, burns, and suicide (615).
Also, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported in 2024 that “2.9 million people ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking in the past month”. This proves that this is not only an issue to look out for in adulthood, but it can affect the classmate right next to you. The behavior isn’t something to be supported, but the process of seeking help most definitely should.
So when we review these statistics, see the dangers alcohol abuse poses to the person themself and those around them, why is alcohol still an accessible, available, and casual thing among society?
It is imperative for you to be aware of the addictiveness of the drug alcohol and the commonality of it, as it can really be anyone to be overcome with such uncontrol. It could be your own parent, a friend, a sibling, or anyone. And it’s not something that just stands alone; it comes with the health conditions listed above, and can bring you to debt, legal trouble, or even loss of life.
For example, a well-known, family-friendly, Minecraft YouTuber, Patrick Julienelle, known as PopularMMOs, fell into the spiral of alcoholism for years. This led to being arrested three times, once for the assault of a police officer.
However, as of now, he has taken the path of recovery and is over 150 days sober, really turning his life around for the better, turning to a fitness regimen, and even stepping back into the public eye, where he faced lots of support.
So, it could be a coworker, family, or even your beloved childhood favorite, making it a radically serious topic to be educated on and know the signs of, to reduce the fright of the statistics, and not become a part of them.