BEHS 364 Describe the economic burden of alcohol use and why it is problematic

Alcohol is a drug, and as such has an impact on all of our lives whether intentional or not. Its impact can be felt in all aspects of life, one of them being the economic aspect. From an economic aspect, alcohol has destroyed homes and caused people to lose their jobs. Alcohol has caused people to lose the ability to work and cost them to lose the desire to work due to its addictive nature. According to this week’s readings, “in 2016, of all deaths attributable to alcohol consumption worldwide, 28.7 percent were due to injuries, 21.3 percent were due to digestive diseases (primarily cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatitis), 19 percent were due to cardiovascular diseases, 12.9 percent were due to infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, pneumonia, and HIV/AIDS), and 12.6 percent were due to cancers (most prominently those of the upper aerodigestive tract)21” (NIAAA, 2022). All of these conditions could have been avoided in the absence of alcohol. We see the direct result of alcohol being cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatitis and possibly indirect results attributed to alcohol such as HIV and AIDS. These conditions take people out of the workforce and remove them from being able to function for themselves and their families. The economic impact of alcohol reaches back to saloon times, as stated in this week’s readings where saloons were located strategically near the factories, allowing the workers to spend some money before they went home at the end of the week after getting paid. This was a twofold economic impact because it impacted the business and kept it booming yet negatively impacted the worker’s family and caused the worker financial hardship. Finally, we see how the economic impact on our workforce can be attributed to alcoholism on a greater societal level. “In 2016, approximately 14 percent of total deaths among people ages 20 to 39 are alcohol attributable. “(NIAA2022.) This removes a percentage of people from the greater workforce, creating a possibly larger economic burden and negative impact.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2022) Alcohol Facts and Statistics National Institute of Health https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol- facts-and-statistics

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Economic burden refers to the impact that alcohol use has on the economy, including healthcare expenditures and lost productivity. Alcohol usage can result in people being hospitalized more frequently, depending on how much they drink and their health conditions. This places a significant financial strain on those already trying to make ends meet. Society pays a hefty price due to alcohol consumption by the residents. For instance, in the U.S., many accidents have occurred due to drunk driving. Every time this happens, a substantial economic impact results in human life and property loss.

BEHS 364 Describe the economic burden of alcohol use and why it is problematic

Another economic cost associated with alcohol drinking is the increased requirement for healthcare due to chronic health concerns that must be addressed throughout one’s life. In the United States, one out of every four occurrences of chronic illness is connected to heavy drinking (McDonough, 2015). This leads to a large proportion of mortality caused by excessive drinking and alcoholism, which hinders the growth of the per capita gross domestic product.

Alcohol is believed to play a role in several violent crimes and killings. The economic impact of alcohol-related crime is not very significant. In most cases, it is determined that these offenses were perpetrated by an intoxicated perpetrator (McDonough, 2015). A significant proportion of all trips to the emergency room for intentional injuries are alcohol-related. This increases annual medical expenses that could have been spent on other therapies.

Alcohol use has contributed to the incidence of underage alcoholism. Socialization and peer pressure are two of the reasons why adolescents and young adults drink extensively. Parents seek to regulate their children’s alcohol intake to reduce underage drinking. They are spending a great deal of money on rehabilitation, which is a significant economic burden.

In conclusion, alcohol consumption has a significant economic cost, no actual advantages for the consumer, and harmful effects on society. This can result in individuals coming apart in several spheres of life. In addition to being a substantial economic burden on the nation, alcoholism imposes enormous medical expenses across the country.

References

McDonough, M. (2015). Alcohol Use Disorders: Implications for the Clinical Toxicologist. Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology, 4(1), 13–24

BEHS 364 Describe the economic burden of alcohol use and why it is problematic