Facts About Alcoholism
Here at Ocean Recovery we have outlined a number of facts relating to alcohol use disorder and alcoholism. Request a Callback![John Gillen - Director at Ocean Recovery](https://oceanrecoverycentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/John-Gillen-Director-at-Ocean-Recovery-150x100.jpeg)
By John Gillen - Last Updated: July 9, 2024 | All Sources
Clinically Reviewed on December 19, 2023 by Dr Robert Lutaaya. All information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
![Facts About Alcoholism](https://oceanrecoverycentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alcohol-Tolerance.jpg)
In this section of these resources, we outline a number of facts relating to alcohol use disorder and alcoholism. We’ve chosen the below facts to highlight a number of diverse issues arising from alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
By the time you’ve completed this section, you will better understand alcohol abuse and alcoholism from a logical standpoint. And you may re-evaluate your own drinking habits, if this happens, contact us at Ocean Recovery.
- Fact #1: Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are recognised disorders
- Fact #2: Tolerance
- Fact #3: Alcohol abuse affects millions of people
- Fact #4: Alcoholism treatment costs the taxpayer billions of pounds
- Fact #5: Alcohol abuse is the third biggest lifestyle risk
- Fact #6: Minimum unit pricing
- Fact #7: It’s rare to seek out help for alcohol dependency
- Fact #8: The NHS spends billions on medications to help treat alcoholism
- Fact #9: Alcoholism treatment profits society
- Fact #10: Alcoholism treatment is fairly successful
- Fact #11: Alcohol causes crime
- Fact #12: Drink driving costs lives and injures many others
- Areas We Cover
Fact #1: Alcoholism and alcohol abuse are recognised disorders
Both alcoholism and alcohol abuse are recognised illnesses under the category of ‘alcohol use disorder’ in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
This disorder causes the sufferer to drink excessive amounts of alcohol despite a number of negative consequences for doing so. For instance, alcohol abuse and alcoholism inflict negative consequences on the user’s health, career, relationships and social life.
And alcoholism can coexist with, contribute to, or result from several different psychiatric syndromes. This is why at Ocean Recovery we offer dual-diagnosis to help you achieve a full recovery.
Contact Us
94 Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, FY2 9NS, Blackpool, FY2 9NS
Landline: 01253 847 553
Email: info@oceanrecoverycentre.com
Start your Recovery - Call us nowFact #2: Tolerance
One key symptom of alcohol use disorder is tolerance. This means more and more alcohol must be consumed in order to experience the desired effects of feeling drunk.
So, it is important to keep an eye on how much you are drinking because often you won’t notice your tolerance is increasing.
Fact #3: Alcohol abuse affects millions of people
In England alone, around nine million people are thought to drink more than the recommended daily limit: a maximum of 1 drink for women and 2 drinks for men daily.
There are around 9,000 deaths in the UK each year linked to alcohol an around 7,500 alcohol-specific deaths in 2018. In 2018/19, 358,000 hospital admissions were alcohol-related.
Around 9% of men and 4% of women in the UK show signs of being alcohol dependent. This is according to official figures published by the NHS.
Fact #4: Alcoholism treatment costs the taxpayer billions of pounds
It’s thought that alcohol-related illnesses contribute to around 10% of all UK diseases and deaths. A study by the National Social Marketing Centre examined the external and private cost associated with alcohol. They concluded:
- £22.6 billion was spent by households as a result of private healthcare, crime, violence, informal healthcare costs, unemployment and money spent on alcohol in the first place.
- £21.9 billion was spent on grief and pain linked to disability, long term illness and death.
- £3.2 billion was spent on public healthcare services.
- £5 billion for other public services, police, fire brigade and social care.
- £7.3 billion was spent by employers to cover sick days, productivity issues and accidents in the workplace.
Fact #5: Alcohol abuse is the third biggest lifestyle risk
Alcohol abuse is the third biggest lifestyle risk after obesity and smoking. Alcohol is responsible for 5.3% of all deaths worldwide. And it has been acknowledged there is a causal relationship between alcoholism and infectious diseases.
Fact #6: Minimum unit pricing
By far the most effective way of tackling alcohol abuse would be to enforce minimum unit pricing. This would force up the price of drinks containing lots of alcohol. This would also reverse the decades-old trend where alcohol continues to be more and more affordable. For instance, alcohol is 61% more affordable than it was back in 1980.
And since May 1st, 2018, there has been a minimum unit price of 50p. The government believes this will reduce alcohol-related hospital admissions and ultimately save lives.
Fact #7: It’s rare to seek out help for alcohol dependency
It’s estimated that a mere 1% of people seek out help for alcohol dependency. This means most people with the disease continue to inflict untold amounts of damage to their health, relationships, and career.
Fact #8: The NHS spends billions on medications to help treat alcoholism
In 2019, it was believed that 1 in 10 people admitted to hospitals are alcohol dependent and half of those are admitted because of their drinking, costing the NHS £3.5 billion in treatments every year. And year on year the budget allocated for these treatments and services has been cut. Resulting in many people going without treatment and ultimately falling further into their dependency.
Fact #9: Alcoholism treatment profits society
It’s estimated, by quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), that £1 invested in alcoholism treatment translates to £3 being saved on crime, health or welfare costs. And this number only increases to £1 invested translating to a £26 over 10 years.
Fact #10: Alcoholism treatment is fairly successful
The NHS says 59% of people seeking alcohol treatment in 2012-13 were now in recovery. And a study by Rudolf H. Moos and Bernice S. Moos found people that who accepted treatment were less likely to relapse and at the 3-year remission mark had less reliance on avoidance coping mechanisms.
Fact #11: Alcohol causes crime
Alcohol causes crime at multiple levels, from minor to major crimes. Alcohol famously lower inhibitions, impairing the drinker’s judgement and often making them feel ‘invincible’. This then leads to public-order offences, driving offences all the way to more major crimes like assault and even homicide.
A huge 30% of violent crimes in 2013-14 were committed in or around a public house. Where most of the violent crimes are stranger violence (42%), with 68% of these crimes occurring at night or in the evening.
Fact #12: Drink driving costs lives and injures many others
In 2017, 250 people lost their lives due to drink driving. 8,270 people were injured due to drink driving. 1,100 people suffered a serious injury during this period.
A survey conducted by Drink Driving Insurance specialists in June 2020 asked 1000 people their opinions on drink driving limits in the UK:
- 37.9% believe the drink driving limits should stay how they are.
- 30.4% believe the drink driving limits should be lowered to zero.
- 22.5% believe the drink driving limits should be lowered, but not to zero.
- 9.2% believe the drink driving limits should be increased.
These results compile to mean 52.9% of the people surveyed want the drink driving limits to be lowered to some compacity.
Areas We Cover
See below list of just some of the locations our leading alcohol rehab service covers in the United Kingdom.
- Rehab in Liverpool
- Rehab in Manchester
- Rehab in Birmingham
- Rehab in Nottingham
- Rehab in Glasgow
- Rehab in Cardiff
- Rehab in Bristol
- Rehab in Blackpool
- Rehab in Cumbria
- Rehab in Lancashire
- Rehab in Merseyside
- Rehab in Cheshire
- Rehab in Yorkshire
- Rehab in West Midlands
- Rehab in North East
- Rehab in Surrey
- Rehab in Essex
- Rehab in London
John Gillen
- Author
- Last updated: July 9, 2024
John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.
Dr Robert Lutaaya
- Clinical Reviewer
- Last reviewed: December 19, 2023
MBChB, MSc Psych
Dr Robert Lutaaya qualified in 1995 from Worclaw Medical University as MBChB, and obtained a MSc Psych from the University of Manchester in 2014. Dr Lutaaya has previously worked for the CGL Substance Misuse Service and as an on-call doctor substance misuse Doctor for 17 years before joining Ocean Recovery. Dr Robert Lutaaya is committed to helping those struggling with alcohol and drug addictions.
Source Links
- www.pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh26-2/90-98.htm
- www.alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-statistics
- www.digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-alcohol/2020
- www.ias.org.uk/Alcohol-knowledge-centre/Economic-impacts/Factsheets/Estimates-of-the-cost-of-alcohol.aspx
- https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn05021/#:~:text=A%20minimum%20unit%20price%20of,place%20since%201%20May%202018.&text=A%20ban%20on%20selling%20alcohol,(Mandatory%20Conditions)%20Order%202014.
- www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol
- www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/04/staggering-cost-nhs-alcohol-abuse-report
- www.gov.uk/government/publications/alcohol-and-drug-prevention-treatment-and-recovery-why-invest/alcohol-and-drug-prevention-treatment-and-recovery-why-invest
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1976118/
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/compendium/focusonviolentcrimeandsexualoffences/2015-02-12/chapter5violentcrimeandsexualoffencesalcoholrelatedviolence
- https://www.insurancerevolution.co.uk/blog/drink-driving-statistics-2020/
Request A Callback
Enter your phone number and a member of our team will call you back to discuss your recovery.
Contact Us
For more information please get in touch using the information below
Call: 01253 847 553 Send us a messageDownload Our Brochure
For more information about the addiction services that Ocean Recovery offer, download our brochure.
Download our brochureDo I need help?
A lot of people are unsure if there are suffering from addiction. Take these tests to find out if its effecting you without your knowledge.
Select your test and find out more
Our Centre
Rehab In Northern England
![Outside Shot of Ocean Recovery Centre in Blackpool](https://oceanrecoverycentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Outside-Shot-of-Ocean-Recovery-Centre-in-Blackpool.webp)
Google Reviews
4
Tel: 01923 369161
Email: info@oceanrecoverycentre.com
Address: 94 Queen's Promenade, Blackpool, FY2 9NS
View CentreOur Partnering Centres
Rehab in Scotland
![Entrance of Nova Recovery in Largs, Scotland](https://oceanrecoverycentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Entrance-of-Nova-Recovery-in-Largs-Scotland.jpg)
Google Reviews
5
Tel: 01475 303998
Email: info@novarecovery.com
Address: 10-12 Scott St, Largs, North Ayrshire, KA30 9NU
View CentreRehab in Greater London
![Outside Shot of Cassiobury Court](https://oceanrecoverycentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Outside-Shot-of-Cassiobury-Court-1000-x-7440.jpeg)
Google Reviews
4.5
Tel: 01923 369 161
Email: info@cassioburycourt.com
Address: Cassiobury Court, Richmond Drive, Watford, Herts, WD17 3BH
View CentreRehab in the Midlands
![Front Asana Lodge Rehab](https://oceanrecoverycentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Front-Asana-Lodge-Rehab.jpg)
Google Reviews
4.5
Tel: 01908 489 421
Email: info@asanalodge.com
Address: 48 Moorend Rd, Yardley Gobion, Towcester, NN12 7UF
View CentreOur Blogs
How to Commit to Sobriety
If you are suffering from alcohol addiction or substance misuse issues, it can be very difficult to overcome. Sobering up in the first place can be a major challenge, but recovery is not a single step – it is an ongoing process. Committing to sobriety means making a serious and continuing effort to stay away
Life After Addiction: How to Cope With Survivor’s Guilt
Recovering from addiction is a very personal journey, but something many share is a sense of achievement and renewal. On the other side of the coin, for many individuals who have walked this path, the joy of recovery can be accompanied by an unexpected emotional burden – survivor’s guilt. And this feeling (which is commonly
What Does Ketamine Do to Your Bladder?
Ketamine, in the context of recreational drug abuse, can have severe effects on our bodies – with one of the major organs impacted being the bladder. But what does ketamine do to your bladder? And why is it so serious? Find out the answer to this question and more below. What Is Ketamine? Ketamine is
The Link Between Alcohol and Chest Pain
The UK is known for its drinking culture, and many people use alcohol – often to excess. It’s estimated that 24% of adults in England and Scotland regularly drink over the Chief Medical Officer’s low-risk guidelines, while 27% of drinkers in Great Britain binge drink on their heaviest drinking days. Alcohol is linked to a
Methamphetamine Mouth: Signs, Causes & Risk Factors
The UK and USA are two of the biggest drug-taking nations in the world. Both countries have problems with drug addiction among the population and indulge in similar substances such as cocaine, opiates and meth. Although meth use isn’t as common here in the UK when compared to the US, tens of thousands still use
Are Fentanyl Deaths Rising in the UK?
There has been significant concern that the number of fentanyl-related deaths in the UK has recently been on the rise. In this article, we assess whether fentanyl is a widely used drug in the UK and how many people have died as a direct result of fentanyl use. What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a powerful
Can You Get Addicted to Antihistamines?
Antihistamines are medications commonly used to treat the symptoms of allergies, including hay fever, conjunctivitis, hives and reactions to insect bites and stings. They also have a number of other legitimate uses, such as treating nausea and sickness, motion sickness and insomnia. They can also be misused, particularly in forms that can make you feel
What is Wet Brain?
Alcohol abuse can lead to numerous health problems, and sadly, some of them can be severe and life-threatening. One of those conditions is known as “wet brain,” an informal term for Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS). This syndrome is a serious brain disorder, which is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), and it’s often linked
Alcohol and Panic Attacks: Is There a Link?
When we drink alcohol, it can definitely cause some feelings of anxiety. But can they cause something more significant, like a panic attack? This question is one that many want an answer to as they work on understanding their personal relationships with alcohol and mental health. This blog explores whether there is a genuine link
How to Repair a Damaged Liver from Alcohol
.The liver, one of the body’s most vital organs, plays an essential role in processing nutrients, filtering toxins, and supporting overall health. Unfortunately, excessive alcohol consumption can severely damage this important organ. Understanding the impact of alcohol on the liver and recognising the signs of damage are the first steps towards recovery. This article explores