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Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

usatoday.com

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Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#31

Post by YokoZar »

sliverstorm wrote: post #16
mikegioia wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think what's surprising is that 1/10 is pretty high for something that technically could be prevented entirely. It has nothing to do with other causes of death.

Most deaths in that age range could be prevented entirely. Alcohol, like many other causes, is a risk we accept in exchange for something. I would hazard workplace & automotive accidents are also high on the list. We can prevent those entirely, very simply...

Automotive accidents are high in part due to alcohol though.

Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#32

Post by base698 »

ryanmim wrote: post #12

I drink way too much. I've accepted this. What stops me from drinking way too much? Not much, because I'm able to rationalize my drinking with the many beneficial effects touted. There's a lot of information about how drinking a bit is helpful for heart disease and how it basically reduces mortality across the board. More information is needed about how drinking is HARMFUL beyond cirrhosis and the short term effects…

I was a super heavy drinker until 363 days ago. From about 24 until 31 my drinking increased from something I did to alleviate my social anxiety and have the typical 1st world fun to something I did in and of itself. Drinking was no longer a means to an end to meet people and have fun, it was the fun itself.

At that point you're trading drinking for all sorts of other things you could be doing on the weekend. It's a "hobby" and a lifestyle and comes with sacrifices.

Having a problem is a continuum and not black and white. I held a job and did progressively better for myself even in spite of drinking, however, I'd be lying if I said it didn't effect me at all. Only you can decide if the risk is worth the reward.

Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#33

Post by sharkweek »

matwood wrote: post #28
Stronico wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing to consider is that alcohol use is progressive - and while you drink a significant amount now - what if you doubled it in five years (as often happens) - would you still have it under control and not negatively affecting others? Addiction = (exposure * time) * genetics.

Interesting. My alcohol use has been becoming less and less as I get older. I love a nice wine or good beer, but my nights of going out partying are way behind me.

I'm the same -- at the ripe age of 28, I had two nice beers with dinner the other night and woke up with a headache.

I can barely handle it anymore; which is arguably a good thing. I still enjoy a good beer, but other than that, have basically lost the taste for all other alcohol.

Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#34

Post by biehl »

transfire wrote: post #14

I suspect, the salient fact that the CDC is leaving out is that many, if not most, of these are from car accidents. Also, by qualifying it as "working-age" it skews the results heavily. What about all the people that did all that drinking and managed to make it past working age? Lucky for us, automated cars are going to solve most of this problem in a decade or two. So a more honest assessment would answer how many a…

So, try to regulate drinking until automatic cars save us?

Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#37

Post by bagels »

ryanmim wrote: post #12

I drink way too much. I've accepted this. What stops me from drinking way too much? Not much, because I'm able to rationalize my drinking with the many beneficial effects touted. There's a lot of information about how drinking a bit is helpful for heart disease and how it basically reduces mortality across the board. More information is needed about how drinking is HARMFUL beyond cirrhosis and the short term effects…

Simple google search, first article:

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/12-hea...

Anemia, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease (many of them), Cirrhosis, Dementia, Depression, Siezures, Gout, High Blood Pressure, Infectious Diseases, Nerve Damage, Pancreatitis

Also: Obesity, and likely higher risk of falling or other blunt trauma, it's really annoying to those around you, and it's a waste of money.

Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#38

Post by randallsquared »

YokoZar wrote: post #31
sliverstorm wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most deaths in that age range could be prevented entirely. Alcohol, like many other causes, is a risk we accept in exchange for something. I would hazard workplace & automotive accidents are also high on the list. We can prevent those entirely, very simply...

Automotive accidents are high in part due to alcohol though.

High relative to what? Automobile accident deaths per 100K have dropped by more than half since 1980, and by nearly a third since 2000. Even in absolute numbers, they've been declining pretty steadily for many years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in...

Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#39

Post by freditup »

indlebe wrote: post #35

Does anyone else find it strange that the definitions of binge and heavy drinking vary so much between the men and women groups? I would think that only body weight would be the heavy influence on this. Is USA Today just being sexist?

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but assuming you're not...

But first, 5 drinks in 2-3 hrs for men vs. 4 drinks in 2-3 hrs for women isn't that different. Second, women on average weigh less, so that contributes to the difference as you mentioned. And third, there are other ways alcohol affects men and women differently.

Edit: Just saw the 15 drinks/week for men vs. 8 drinks/week for women which is a larger difference. However, to call USA Today 'sexist' because of that is kind of out there. These numbers aren't just made up out of thin air: for example, http://www.icap.org/PolicyIssues/ExtremeDrinking/tabid/91/De...

Re: Drinking behind 1 in 10 deaths of working-age adults

#40

Post by alcoholcomment »

ryanmim wrote: post #12

I drink way too much. I've accepted this. What stops me from drinking way too much? Not much, because I'm able to rationalize my drinking with the many beneficial effects touted. There's a lot of information about how drinking a bit is helpful for heart disease and how it basically reduces mortality across the board. More information is needed about how drinking is HARMFUL beyond cirrhosis and the short term effects…

My father drank way too much throughout his adult life and now he has what is effectively dementia, please reduce your consumption of alcohol, the physical impact of alcohol abuse does not compare to the impact that it will have on your brain. My father can't remember what happened a few minutes ago and he will die alone, because of alcoholism. Please don't underestimate the impact that alcohol will have on your mental health and your relationships.

The real danger with alcohol is that unlike hard drugs (heroin, cocaine) the destruction takes years and it's very possible to trick yourself into thinking your consumption is fine by leading a normal life alongside the alcoholism... until it's too late, and then there's no turning back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korsakoff's_syndrome

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