Thursday, November 4, 2010

Booze, the most popular drug, is also the most harmful

Alcoholic beverages is the most damaging substance in a recent study, which ranked it above heroin and crack cocaine in terms of danger. Other well-liked substances ranked as more lethal, but alcohol’s effects on society as a whole put it at the top of the list. The report found hard substances such as Lysergic acid diethylamide and ecstasy among the least damaging in the ranking of 20 substances for their effect on individuals and communities.

Most dangerous substance is alcohol

The cost of alcohol to society makes it probably the most harmful substance being abused in the U.K., according to a study published within the British medical journal Lancet. The physical, psychological and social issues that are brought on by numerous drugs were part of the study, accounts Cable News Network. A 72 out of 100 points had been given to alcohol on a scoring system all about the degree of danger. Heroin had been the runner up with 55 points and crack cocaine had been third with 54 points. Only five points went to mushrooms, seven to LSD, ecstasy with nine and cannabis scored 20.

Exactly why booze is more dangerous than narcotics and crack cocaine

Alcohol is probably the most dangerous substance to society, before heroin and crack because it is probably the most abused drug and is legal and accessible in society. The study determined that heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine were probably the most damaging substances to individuals. Nine factors related to harm for the substance user were examined, such as dependence, injury and mortality. Six other factors examined linked to harm brought on to others, for instance crime, economic cost and environmental damage. David Nutt, a co-author of the study, told BBC News that you will find hundreds of thousands of people in Britain who crave alcohol and will go to “extraordinary lengths” to abuse it.

Harm that alcohol does to us

17.6 million adults are alcoholics, the National Institutes of Health tells us. The New York Daily News spoke with dependency expert Dr. Jeffery Parsons. He said that numerous drinkers do not think it’s an issue since it’s accepted socially and is legal. He said that alcoholism does not have the stigma of drug addiction because with alcohol, people can engage in substance abuse and nevertheless feel as if they are law abiding citizens — until they get arrested for drunk driving.

Details from

CNN

cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/01/alcohol.harm/index.html?npt=NP1

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/11/01/2010-11-01_alcohol_is_more_harmful_than_heroin_or_crack_study.html?r=news

Medical News Today

medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206300.php



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