The Current State of Alcohol Use in the US

The Source Fort Lauderdale - The Current State of Alcohol Use in the US

One of the stories that has dominated headlines lately is the rise in alcohol use and abuse among Americans, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The only word to accurately describe this upswing in numbers is scary. Millions of Americans turn to alcohol as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, and more. Unfortunately, using alcohol to manage difficult emotions is not an effective coping strategy.  Instead, it only makes matters worse and for many, it’s the first step toward alcoholism.

Stats and Figures About Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Addiction in America

In 2019, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health performed a comprehensive study on alcoholism and alcohol abuse in the United States. This study uncovered a variety of different startling statistics:

  • Binge drinking: A little over a quarter of Americans 18 years of age and older reported that they participated in binge drinking within the past month.
  • Youth drinking: It was reported that approximately 14.5 million Americans were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. Of those 14.5 million, 400,000 fell between the ages of 12 and 17.
  • Resistance to treatment: Although millions of Americans admitted to struggling with alcoholism, only 7.2% of them moved forward with receiving treatment. Additionally, it was determined that many who were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder were more likely to turn to their primary care physician for help as opposed to an alcohol and drug treatment center. 

Seeking Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

When you’re ready to overcome an addiction to alcohol, it’s imperative that you work with a team of individuals at a high-quality treatment center that can help you. There are several things that you should consider when deciding on which alcohol rehab to go to:

Alcohol Detox

The first step in most people’s recovery from alcoholism will be to work through an alcohol detox program. Unfortunately, you will experience certain withdrawal symptoms within just a few hours after your last drink. A trusted medical detox center will help you go through the alcohol withdrawal process in a safe, protected, and comfortable environment.

Focus on Underlying Issues

In order to truly overcome your alcohol use disorder, you first need to identify the traumatic events in your life that may have triggered your addictive behaviors. An experienced team at an accredited alcohol rehab like The Source will help you to explore these instances in your life so that you can begin to recover from them.

A Supportive Team

One of the essential aspects of your journey toward recovery is participation in various forms of therapy. While it’s true that you will be interacting with a lot of other people in treatment, you will also work closely with the staff on a regular basis. When you come to a treatment facility like The Source in Fort Lauderdale, you become part of a family of people who truly care about your success.  We work hand in hand with our clients getting to know them well and helping to navigate the many aspects of addiction and recovery so that we can assist you in putting together a personalized recovery plan.

The Source team is available around the clock to help you overcome your addiction once and for all. We provide the compassionate support required to address the various factors contributing to your addiction and provide you with the tools that you need to maintain sobriety once you are done with your treatment program. Don’t wait another day to take the steps to leave alcohol in your past. Please call us today at (800) 204-0418