April is Alcohol Awareness Month. “NCADD Alcohol Awareness Month, held every April, was founded by and has been sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) since 1987 to increase public awareness and understanding aimed at reducing the stigma associated with alcoholism that too often prevents individuals and families from seeking help.” (www.ncadd.org). Many people do not understand the risk involved with drinking alcohol. The World Health Organization identifies “The harmful use of alcohol [as] a global problem which compromises both individual and social development. It results in 2.5 million deaths each year. Alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for premature mortality, disability, and loss of health.”
Many people are unaware of how dangerous drinking alcohol is. Not only do people risk getting killed or injured in car accidents because of drunk driving, which accounts for about 16,000 alcohol-related deaths per year (only about 25% of all alcohol-related deaths), but alcohol drinkers also risk increased likelihood of health issues such as cancers of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box), as well as liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain damage, and heart problems. The people who drink alcohol aren’t the only ones who can suffer from alcohol abuse. According to statistics, 75% of men and women who abuse their spouses have been drinking prior to the time of abuse. When it comes to expectant mothers, according to statistics, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are the leading preventable cause of birth defects in the U.S., affecting as many as 40,000 babies per year and costing upwards of $5.4 billion per year.
As you can see, there are many different negative effects from the abuse of alcohol, and the people who abuse alcohol aren’t the only ones who can suffer. If that isn’t enough convincing check out some of the following sites:
http://www.alcoholaddiction.info/alcoholism-statistics.htm
www.cspinet.org/new/pdf/alcaware.pdf
As always, Westgate-Jones Insurance Agency is here for both your insurance and safety needs. If you have any questions about purchasing an insurance policy of any kind, contact Westgate-Jones and we will work as hard as we can to get the best Florida insurance policy that meets your personal needs.
Westgate-Jones Insurance Agency
352-787-7548
www.westgatejonesinsurance.com