Alcohol addiction facts and statistics

Determining the cause of alcohol addiction or dependency is not always easy because there are two schools of thought regarding this. One school of thought contends that the abuse of alcohol leads to addiction and dependency which eventually causes a psychological disorder to develop. The other school of thought contends that the disorder was already in place and caused the individual to abuse alcohol.

The following are four key facts and/or statistics regarding alcohol abuse, addiction, and dependency that you should be aware of:

•  Roughly 1 out of every 4 American children will be exposed to alcohol abuse, addiction, or dependency by the time they turn 18 years old. There are between 6 and 7 million that live with at least one parent that has a problem with alcohol.
•  The risk of developing certain cancers such as cancer of the colon, esophagus, kidneys, larynx, liver, rectum, and throat is increased greatly when a person is addicted to or dependent upon alcohol. Alcoholism can also cause harm to an unborn fetus, damage the immune system, and result in brain damage.
•  The US incurs approximately $230 billion in medical costs from alcohol abuse, addiction, and dependency every year which is greater than the costs incurred with cancer ($200 billion) and obesity ($135 billion).
•  There are roughly 18 million Americans that are alcoholics. Around 9 million of them should enter an alcohol detox center for immediate professional help. Sadly, less than 2 million or around 10% of them will actually get the help they need.

Based on the above facts and statistics, it is easy to understand why there are so many alcohol detox center programs currently available throughout the US today. Remember that alcoholism is not a selective disease or disorder and effects individuals from all walks of life on a global basis.

Alternative versus traditional alcohol detox center programs

Where alcohol detox center programs are concerned, there are two basic types of facilities – the alternative and the traditional types. Here are the basic differences between them:

Alternative alcohol detox center – residential looking, providing clients with a homelike environment and many of the amenities they have at home. They are able to recover from their problems and get the much needed rest that the addiction has deprived them of.

Traditional alcohol detox center – these look like clinics, hospitals, or motels which can be very intimidating to the client that is entering the facility for professional help. These facilities rely on older, more conventional therapies and take a generalized or “one-size-fits-all” approach to alcohol addiction treatment and recovery.