Heavy Drinking Costs American Economy Billions
At first glance, you might think the idea that heavy drinking (or drinking at all) costing money must mean that heavy drinking costs money only for the person who is doing the purchasing (buying the alcohol and the subsequent purchases that follow). This seems to makes sense. Alcohol isn’t free and when people get drunk they tend to be looser in their financial decisions. Drunken people tend to purchase more perishable items like food and drinks—and also things taxis and online purchases are increased when the consumer is drunk. But it’s not these purchases that make up the billions of dollars that are discussed and reviewed in a new CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) study. This study examined how excessive consumption of alcohol, much of it binge drinking, cost the American economy $224 billion in 2006. 72% of the $224 economic toll comes from lost work due to drinking – what is commonly referred to as losses in workplace productivity, while health care expenses related to conditions caused by heavy drinking made up 11%. The extra expenses incurred by the state in police and criminal justice system resources caused by excessive alcohol consumption represent 9% of the economic burden, while the costs caused by drinking and driving represent 6%. The researchers believe that $224 billion is a conservative estimate, because their calculations did not include other potential costs, such as the suffering and pain experienced by the excessive drinker and his/her family.
These costs are very real and they make a lot of sense when you take a step back and consider how alcoholism has a direct correlation to these expenses. Alcoholism is a very destructive disease that has a negative effect many levels outside of the excessive drinker themselves. If you, a family member, a loved one, or a Boston, Massachusetts (MA) community member displays alcoholic behavior, it needs to be brought to their attention that they aren’t just hurting themselves, they are hurting others. Alcoholism has a ripple effect that is felt by family members, close friends, work colleagues and other people that they might come into daily contact with. And not only does the ripple effect hit people on an emotional level– alcoholism has an economic ripple effect as well. Boston, Massachusetts (MA) families and community members need to know that there is a treatment for alcoholism, and the way to treat it is through the programs at Seabrook House. At Seabrook House, we use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking, and this combination treatment has helped many people stop drinking and rebuild their lives by putting them on the road to recovery. We’re located in rural Bridgeton, New Jersey (NJ)—roughly a 6 hour drive or about an hour flight from Boston, Massachusetts (MA). Stop the alcoholism ripple effect with Seabrook House.
