Recently, drug abuse cases have increased, with opioids taking the greater part of the news headlines. Many people in the U.S die as a result of drug abuse, posing a significant threat to society. Alcohol abuse is closely related to drug abuse; people who use drugs are likely to use alcohol. Similarly, the people who use alcohol are more vulnerable to using other drugs than the general population. However, although alcohol is not perceived as deadly in society, it is more prevalent than drug abuse since it is easily accessible and socially acceptable as a way of relaxation.
Alcohol is widely accessible in the market with many outlets around the U.S. Since it is legal, its consumption is widespread, unlike other drugs that are even prohibited. Research shows that alcohol kills slowly, unlike other illegal drugs; however, society does not perceive it as deadly, and many individuals choose to use it continuously (“Understanding alcohol’s impact,” 2020). Such is evident where 95000 people in the U.S. die yearly from alcohol-related problems (“Understanding alcohol’s impact,” 2020). Thus, the government should find a way of educating society on the dangers of alcohol abuse.
People use alcohol to relax, have fun, or try to forget their stressors. Socially, people use alcohol to have fun, especially at functions such as parties or other related ceremonies. Consuming alcohol is also perceived to have health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart diseases, that motivate the majority to take it (Snopek et al., 2018). This case is different from other drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine, which have been seen to have significant impacts on users. Consequently, many people prefer using alcohol, making it more prevalent than drug abuse.
In conclusion, alcohol abuse has become more prevalent than drug abuse since it is widely accessible. It is legal, and anyone past the required consumption age is free to use. Moreover, it is socially accepted as a way of relaxing and having fun. Such is widely seen in celebrations where people drink and get happy with friends and families. However, alcohol abuse is equally deadly as other drugs; its effect may be long-term. This has seen thousands of individuals die yearly from alcohol-related causes. Thus, the government needs to create awareness of the impacts of alcohol abuse, just as it does with other illicit drugs.
References
Snopek, L., Mlcek, J., Sochorova, L., Baron, M., Hlavacova, I., Jurikova, T., Kizek, R., Sedlackova, E., & Sochor, J. (2018). Contribution of red wine consumption to human health protection. Molecules, 23(7), 1684.
Understanding alcohol’s impact on health. (2020). NAAA. Web.