Good Spirits 2018 Vol 2 - 34

it be wine, beer, or spirits. Drinking irresponsibly, though, creates public health and safety
concerns that cannot be ignored. It's why alcohol is regulated everywhere it's produced and
sold to the public.

NatioNal alcohol StatiSticS
According to the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 88,000
people die from alcohol-related causes each
year, making alcohol the fourth-leading preventable cause of death in America.
In 2016 The U.S. Surgeon General issued the
first ever Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health.
It's titled, "Facing Addiction in America." The
report's intent is to change how society views
alcohol and drug use and misuse as well as to
suggest what can be done to prevent and treat
these conditions. You can find the report through
this link: https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/
surgeon-generals-report.pdf.
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek
Murthy was quoted as saying, "Most Americans
know someone who has been touched by an
alcohol or a drug use disorder."
SummiNg it up
Millions of people consume alcohol responsibly, and half of the world's adult population
does not drink at all. That's according to data
from the World Health Organization (WHO).
This fact and others can be found at this link:
http://www.add-resources.org/half-the-worldsadults-do-not-drink-alcohol-what-should-thepolicy-implications-be.5325474-315773.html
Still, there are others who drink to excess;
the effects of which are too great to ignore. It
not only negatively impacts the drinker, but also
is a drain on resources and society as a whole.
Regulations that curb excessive alcohol use are
important tools to limit its harmful results.
Finally, and as noted above, the Surgeon
General's Report describes evidence-based prevention strategies, such as public policies that
can reduce substance misuse problems (e.g., driving under the influence [DUI]); effective treatment strategies, including medications and
behavioral therapies for treating substance use
disorders; and recovery, and recovery support for
people who have completed treatment.

34 Mix, Blend, enjoy ResponsiBly

https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/ http://www.add-resources.org/half-the-worlds

Good Spirits 2018 Vol 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Good Spirits 2018 Vol 2