Why Alcohol Is The Deadliest Drug

Alcohol is surprisingly easy to get hold of. You can purchase it in supermarkets, bars, casinos, and even petrol stations. It’s not surprising that so many people drink it regularly. In fact, according to the WHO, roughly 2.3 billion people drink alcohol regularly, and over 50% of the population in Europe, the Eastern Pacific, and the Americas consume alcohol.

 It’s normalised, but should it be?

Death Rates

It’s a little macabre, but what better way to assess how deadly a drug is? The report by the World Health Organisation also highlighted that 2.6 million deaths every year are directly attributed to alcohol consumption. This figure doesn’t include deaths caused indirectly by alcohol consumption, such as drunk driving incidents.

In short, for many consumers, alcohol is a deadly substance. Here’s why it can be considered the deadliest drug on the planet.

It’s Highly Addicitive

When you drink alcohol it affects the chemistry in your brain. Specifically, it triggers the ‘feeling happy’ response. Your brain and body crave this. When the effects of the alcohol wear off, your body will crave more. Of course, over time, the amount of alcohol you need to get the same happy feeling will increase. Without realising it, you will become addicted. Interestingly, alcohol is generally considered more addictive than marijuana.

Getting over an addiction is challenging. It’s not something you can generally do by yourself. Fortunately, there is an excellent drug and alcohol course online which can help you discreetly but effectively conquer your dependency.

You Can Get Alcohol Anywhere

In almost every country, purchasing alcohol is as simple as popping into a local store. Because it’s generally legal to drink alcohol, you’ll find there is always somewhere willing to sell it to you regardless of the time of day. In fact, some of the food delivery services will now deliver alcohol to your door!

Alcohol Is Socially Acceptable

Smoking is addictive, but it has become less socially acceptable in recent years. This is thanks to a sustained health awareness campaign. However, alcohol hasn’t been subject to any similar campaign. As such, it’s still acceptable to drink it at home, in the pub, and at a variety of other venues. This much temptation is hard to resist, especially when all your friends are drinking alcohol.

It’s A Gateway Drug

Most people don’t realise this, but alcohol is seen as a gateway drug. That means, as you become more dependent on it, you’ll seek other ways to get a similar or more powerful hit. Many people with alcohol dependency find themselves in situations where they can access something stronger, namely drugs.

In other words, alcohol addiction will increase the likelihood of a drug addiction.

Additional Issues

Mention alcohol addiction, and most people think of the health implications, such as a damaged liver. However, it can also have a serious negative effect on your finances. Addicts are likely to spend all their money on alcohol. In addition, alcohol causes you to lose your inhibitions, which can lead to a lot of actions that you wouldn’t normally take. These can be dangerous.

Summing Up

There are many different types of addiction in the world. Alcohol is legal in most countries, but, thanks to the ease of access, social acceptance, and relative affordability, it is, in many ways, far more dangerous. If you’re a regular drinker, perhaps it’s time you considered getting some help.