Americans drink more than before, and this alarming trend has potentially serious consequences.
According to research, the number of adults who drink at least once a week, can reach 30 million people, more than the population of each state, except California.
David Jernigan, Director of the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, said: «Alcohol is our number one problem».
Although in recent years the level of underage drinking has decreased, the consumption among adults has increased. Greatly increased use of alcohol, older Americans, minorities and people with lower levels of education and income.
The proportion of adults who reported drinking alcohol, staying at the peak risk of alcohol dependence or abuse increased significantly, if we compare the results of studies conducted in 2001-2002 and 2012-2013 years.
The researchers point to several reasons for the increase: stress after the Global economic crisis, the more available alcohol is in the restaurants and retailers and a drop in taxes on alcohol. The percentage of middle income alcohol is cheaper than ever since 1950.
The estimated cost of the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption for the US budget of nearly $ 250 billion per year.
Juergen Rehm, senior Director of the National Institute of Mental Health emphasizes: «the Costs are visible in the higher needs for health care, reducing productivity and increasing number of crimes related to alcohol, from drunk driving to murder.»
REM says that alcohol does not attract the attention of policy makers so as tobacco products, illegal drugs or opioids. «The reaction has to be commensurate with the level of the problem,» says Rep.
