NationStates Jolt Archive

A study says that at least 30% of Americans have abused alcohol. This ranks them in third place as the most drunk country behind Russia and Ireland. Personally, I'm not surprised after hearing about all the teenager parties with alcohol served...

Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070702/ap_on_he_me/alcohol_abuse)

CHICAGO - More than 30 percent of American adults have abused alcohol or suffered from alcoholism at some point in their lives, and few have received treatment, according to a new government study. Alcoholics who got treatment first received it, on average, at about age 30 — eight years after they developed dependence on drinking, researchers reported.

"That's a big lag," especially combined with the fact that only 24 percent of alcoholics reported receiving any treatment at all, said study co-author Bridget Grant of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The treatment rate for alcoholics was slightly less than the rate found a decade earlier. The study did not look at reasons for the decline, but other research has revealed a belief among doctors and the public that treatment doesn't work.

However, Dr. Mark Willenbring, director of the institute's Division of Treatment and Recovery Research, said evidence indicates that substance-abuse treatment is more effective than treatments for many medical disorders.

Three common approaches to treating alcoholism are 12-step programs, cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy. Medications such as Antabuse, naltrexone and Campral also can help in combination with counseling, he said.

"The important thing is to engage with treatment and stick with it," Willenbring said.

About 42 percent of men and about 19 percent of women reported a history of either alcohol abuse or alcoholism during their lives. Whites and Native Americans were more likely than other ethnic groups to report drinking problems.

Alcohol abuse was defined as drinking-related failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home; social or legal problems; and drinking in hazardous situations. Alcoholism was characterized by compulsive drinking; preoccupation with drinking; and tolerance to alcohol or withdrawal symptoms.

The definitions were based on the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual.

Treatment, in the study's definition, could have been by a doctor or another health professional, in a 12-step program, at a crisis center or through an employee-assistance program.

The study, appearing in Monday's Archives of General Psychiatry, was based on a new analysis of the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. The survey involved more than 43,000 face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of Americans, ages 18 and older.

A previous report on the same data found that 4.7 percent of adults reported alcohol abuse in 2001-2002, and 3.8 percent reported alcoholism.

The new analysis was the first to report on the prevalence of alcohol problems over a lifetime.

The study was funded by the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

Go Ireland :cool:

Really? Where's Britain in this list? Damn yanks, always having to do everything bigger or better than us.

Go Ireland :cool:

I think I should have a drink to celebrate.


See, this is why America is only third. You really have to work to be a country of drunks.

I think I should have a drink to celebrate.


See, this is why America is only third. You really have to work to be a country of drunks.

I pre-emptively celebrated by drinking earlier.

I think I should have a drink to celebrate.


See, this is why America is only third. You really have to work to be a country of drunks.Pfft! We have 24-hour drinking here in the UK. And soon people won't be allowed to smoke in pubs, hence they'll have to spend more time drinking.

Pfft! We have 24-hour drinking here in the UK. And soon people won't be allowed to smoke in pubs, hence they'll have to spend more time drinking.

You mean "We have 24-hour drinking here in England. And from the other day people aren't allowed to smoke in pubs in England, and it was already illegal in the rest of the UK"? :p

You mean "We have 24-hour drinking here in England. And from the other day people aren't allowed to smoke in pubs in England, and it was already illegal in the rest of the UK"? :pOh yeah... my bad... I bet would have remembered if I didn't drink to forget. Hah! Trumped you there. :p

I do remember seeing no smoking signs on all the bus stops in Birmingham though... which is odd, as most of them consist of one wall facing the road and what could dubiously called a roof. By that logic all umbrellas must have a no smoking sticker attached to the inside of them.

It's because we have a stupid culture that makes alcohol some kind of forbidden fruit, and it's status as a taboo makes it more appealing than it would be if it were merely a part of daily life.

For example, if I remember right, France doesn't have a particularly large alcohol problem.

We may only be the 3rd drunkest, but we're still the fattest nation on earth.

Personally, I'm not surprised after hearing about all the teenager parties with alcohol served...
Teenagers drinking isn't the same as alcoholism. Actually, I think that teaching teenagers how to drink responsably and in moderation would probably reduce alcoholism greatly.

It's because we have a stupid culture that makes alcohol some kind of forbidden fruit, and it's status as a taboo makes it more appealing than it would be if it were merely a part of daily life.

For example, if I remember right, France doesn't have a particularly large alcohol problem.

Well just so you know, alcohol destroys brain cells, so drinking a lot of alcohol for a long period of time will make you dumber...

I just realized why they have to have such a good mass transit in Europe.
:D

It's because we have a stupid culture that makes alcohol some kind of forbidden fruit, and it's status as a taboo makes it more appealing than it would be if it were merely a part of daily life.

It wasn't nearly as popular before Prohibition. And there wasn't nearly as much crime, either. And gold literally grew on trees.

I, for one, blame the Jews.

We may only be the 3rd drunkest, but we're still the fattest nation on earth.

Mongolian guys would sure love our chicks. Fat=sexy over there.

Well just so you know, alcohol destroys brain cells, so drinking a lot of alcohol for a long period of time will make you dumber...

I just realized why they have to have such a good mass transit in Europe.
:D

Because alcohol isn't a major problem in Europe, so we go with good ideas?

Yay drinking!

Question: Who was the third drunkest before?

Of course, 12 step programs aren't any more likely to succeed than you on your own, so it can't really be considered a "treatment". (The relapse rate in the case of both is 95%)

Anyway, isn't getting drunk abusing alcohol?

Great News... I especially needed it after watching the news today (our President fucked us all today and didn't even bother to buy us a drink first or call us later)

Great news as a microbiologist and brewer... guess I'll always have work.

Oh... and Chico State!!! Go Wildcats!!! (former #1 party school)

Of course, 12 step programs aren't any more likely to succeed than you on your own, so it can't really be considered a "treatment". (The relapse rate in the case of both is 95%)

Anyway, isn't getting drunk abusing alcohol?

I think to abuse alcohol you have to get drunk alot. Not just occasionally. But who knows what the standard is according to the government.

Teenagers drinking isn't the same as alcoholism. Actually, I think that teaching teenagers how to drink responsably and in moderation would probably reduce alcoholism greatly.

Well it forecasts future problems. Teenagers who drink at parties tend to drink enough to be considered binging.

Well it forecasts future problems. Teenagers who drink at parties tend to drink enough to be considered binging.

Which is still a long way from alcoholism.

Really? Where's Britain in this list? Damn yanks, always having to do everything bigger or better than us.

Yeah.. I thought Brits drank a shit load too. :p

Of course, 12 step programs aren't any more likely to succeed than you on your own, so it can't really be considered a "treatment". (The relapse rate in the case of both is 95%)

Anyway, isn't getting drunk abusing alcohol?

According to AA, yeah. But you can't go by them.. hell if you drink only on special occasions (2, 3 or 4 times a year) you're an alchy to them. In order to not have no drinking problem .. basically only drink occasionally and never get drunk. So drink one glass of wine with a meal and you're ok. In other words.. don't drink. I know I'm a problem drinker .. but I'm no alcoholic. When I drink I just drink too much. That's one of the reasons I prefer to drink at home.

Well it forecasts future problems. Teenagers who drink at parties tend to drink enough to be considered binging.
Binge drinking isn't alcoholism. Alcoholism is when you feel like you have to drink... when you're dependant on alcohol to get you through the day.

If drinking was just something that one did from a young-ish age (I'm not sure how good booze is for small children) at home with one's parents at meals and all, I don't think that it would be as big a deal. I don't think that you'd have such problems with people binge drinking (yes, people would still get drunk, but the novelty would wear off).

But then alcoholism is partly genetic (which is one of the reasons that Russia is supposed to have such a big problem with it).

Also.. about binge drinking. My sister in law use to say her ex mother in law was binge drinker because when she did drink she drank for like 4 or 6 hours and then passed out. That IS NOT binge drinking IMO. I'm not even sure what the real definition of a binge drinker is now.. but to me .. going on a binge is when someone stays drunk for days.. only not drinking when they are sleeping basically. A couple of my dads friends use to do that. One would go for maybe a month or more and not touch nothing, but when he did .... he went on a drunk.. sometimes over a week. That is what I think of binge drinking being. From what I've read and seen them mention on tv about college students or whatever drinking a lot in a night or maybe drinking often during the week.. I don't consider binging. They are just partying too much and more than likely are problem drinkers. Some might possibly be alcoholics, but most, no... young and stupid maybe.. trying to out do the next guy/girl and showing their ass, often getting alcohol poison or in trouble and sometimes dieing because of it.. yeah.

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It wasn't nearly as popular before Prohibition. And there wasn't nearly as much crime, either. And gold literally grew on trees.

I, for one, blame the Jews.

Damn Jewish CommuNazis. Takin' our jobs.

It wasn't nearly as popular before Prohibition. And there wasn't nearly as much crime, either. And gold literally grew on trees.

I, for one, blame the Jews.

Damn Jewish CommuNazis. Takin' our jobs.

Through the power of Zombie Moses.

*makes up 15% of that*

Sounds about right, really says something about the American dream.

*makes up 15% of that*
You're too modest.
Sounds about right, really says something about the American dream.

The American Dream, according to Wiki:
"through hard work, courage and determination one could achieve prosperity"

Well, you have to work hard to pay for the booze... or, if your a girl, you have to work hard to be hot enough so that people buy booze for you.

And liquor is often called "Dutch courage" or "liquid courage" or "courage of extra-courageyness".

And it takes some determination to put away 21 shots of vodka (plus one for good luck!)

But by doing all these things, we achieve prosperity, AKA, drunkenness.

Another report by the anti-fun society trying to scare everyone into the 12-step program or whatever.

42% of American males have had drinking problems? What is their definition? An actual debilitating alcoholic problem or someone having difficulty getting a cork out of a bottle.

Any report conducted by a vested interest in the results is to be viewed with a cynical eye in my humble opinion.

Alcoholism is a serious concern for those who suffer long-term abuse and, I feel, should not be trivialized by headline statistics such as these.

This calls for a nice Irish Carbomb or a 6 pack of Boston Lager.

This calls for a nice Irish Carbomb or a 6 pack of Boston Lager.

Why not both?? :D

Through the power of Zombie Moses.

That BASTARD! I knew he was behind this.
Quick, we must summon Super Baal!

I know I'm a problem drinker .. but I'm no alcoholic. When I drink I just drink too much. That's one of the reasons I prefer to drink at home.

The first step to solving your problem is admitting you have one..... ;)

Well it forecasts future problems. Teenagers who drink at parties tend to drink enough to be considered binging.

Binge drinking is 5 drinks for a male, 4 for a female.

Now, I don't know about everyone else, but it takes me 6 drinks to run a decent buzz. Binge drinking isn't so much a question as it is an inevitablitiy.

I do miss the old rule of thumb for binging: "In the past, 'binge drinking' was often used to refer to an extended period of time, usually two days or more, during which a person repeatedly drank to intoxication, giving up usual activities and obligations."

Why do I like that? Because I'm a college student. My usual activities and obligations ARE drinking :)

I'm glad we're catching up to the Irish, though I've still lived in dry counties (no booze sold) for most of my life - not exactly friendly to the drink across the whole country, here. :(

I sense that at least one person in this thread, by the name of Naturality, has never met a person from AA before :p

And the need to constantly claim "I'm no alcoholic! I'm no alcoholic!"... well, where does that come from?

Mongolian guys would sure love our chicks. Fat=sexy over there.

I hear that's true in many places but somehow I doubt they had Americans in mind...

Why do I like that? Because I'm a college student. My usual activities and obligations ARE drinking

Well I'm in college as well and I've never felt the need to drink. Beer stinks, anyway.

Well I'm in college as well and I've never felt the need to drink. Beer stinks, anyway.

Blasphemous words :eek:

Yeah, I am known as a freak and misfit. One element of my freakishness is that I do not drink.

We may only be the 3rd drunkest, but we're still the fattest nation on earth.

Actually, a study showed that the European Union had similar statistics towards their own obesity levels.

We're overworked and miserable. Why shouldn't we drink?

We're overworked and miserable. Why shouldn't we drink?Because Americans thing Coors can be described using the noun 'beer'.

So if you do drink then all you'll be is overworked, even more miserbale, poorer and needing the toilet.

You're too modest.
>.>
This calls for a nice Irish Carbomb or a 6 pack of Boston Lager.

You said "or" . .

Why on earth would you ever say "or"?

Well I'm in college as well and I've never felt the need to drink. Beer stinks, anyway.

a) I never said I need to drink. I'm a functional alcoholic, not a raging one.
b) If you think beer stinks, you've probably sampled one of the following:
Milwaukees Best
Pabst Blue Ribbon
Bud Light
Budweiser
Natural Ice
Coors
Keystone
Red Dog

If that is the case, I suggest you try an actual beer rather than a "beer".

Although, those listed above do have their time and place. Those are called beer pong/beirut and flipcup

Go Ireland :cool:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kbRuiQDbsc0

It's because we have a stupid culture that makes alcohol some kind of forbidden fruit, and it's status as a taboo makes it more appealing than it would be if it were merely a part of daily life.

For example, if I remember right, France doesn't have a particularly large alcohol problem.

Yeah. 5 year olds are permitted to bend their elbows, and none of them ever goes on a bender later. Of course, my dad would disagree, but he just hates France.