Each year alcohol kills over 100,000 individuals and leaves tens of thousands more in hospitals, psychiatric institutions or in jail and prison. One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related. Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related, and up to 64% of people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication. Alcohol abuse also results in alcoholism, a dependency upon alcohol - either physical or psychological - that is chronic, progressive, and if left untreated, often a fatal disease.
Alcoholism cuts across all races, religions and socio-economic groups; however, men have particular issues with alcohol. While it is generally accepted that 20% of men have an alcohol problem (more than twice the rate for women) it is believed that the more realistic finding for the lifetime prevalence rate of alcohol use disorders (AUD) is as high as 40% for American males. American drinking customs and norms place men at a very high risk of developing either diagnosable alcohol abuse or alcoholism, and the fact is that men are much more likely to be addicted to alcohol than women.
Binge Drinking
A second issue for men is “binge drinking”, i.e., five or more drinks within a given sitting. A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that a far higher percentage of men reported binge drinking than women. Binge drinking can be dangerous and result in death from alcohol overdose. Binge drinkers also often engage in potentially deadly behaviors such as driving drunk, starting fights, and taking unnecessary and foolish risks leading to accidents.
Alcohol and Medical Problems
Third, because men are more likely to become intoxicated than women, men are also at greater risk for co-occurring medical problems, such as disorders of the liver, pancreas, and the neurobiological and gastrointestinal systems. Heavy alcohol use correlates with greater risk of prostate cancer and lower amounts of testosterone. Men who abuse alcohol are more likely to engage in unprotected sex and are at greater risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other STDs, and are more likely to experience depression and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
Alcohol and Social Problems
Alcohol use also results in social problems, including the following:
- Alcohol abusing men show higher rates of violence. A study from the University of Minnesota (“Research Shows that Women and Men Suffer from Alcoholism Very Differently”, Rachel Krech, Associated Content, April 29, 2007) showed that men tend to get more forward, aggressive and violent, and get into more alcohol-induced fights when drinking.
- Men who use and abuse substances also tend to have higher rates of problems related to fatherhood and families. Alcohol is often a factor in divorce and family separation.
- Alcoholic men, especially those in the group aged 35 to 44 years, have a significantly higher risk of premature death than other men. Men who engage in morning drinking and who cannot limit drinking are at even higher risk of mortality.
- Male alcoholics, when compared with nonalcoholic men, have a heightened prevalence of sexual dysfunction including erection difficulties, lowered libido and retarded ejaculation. Sexual dissatisfaction and diminished sexual frequency is quite common in alcoholics' marriages.
Contrary to public opinion, however, studies of alcoholic males who have completed treatment and are now sober show that overall alcoholic men are hard working, intelligent, dependable people and tend to be more social than non-alcoholics. Studies also show that male alcoholics may be more sensitive in the world of emotions and feelings than other men, and that this may be one contributing factor to the overuse of alcohol.
Defense Mechanisms
The problem is that most men may neither recognize that they have a serious alcohol problem, nor fully appreciate the critical nature of alcoholism or the need for treatment. As a disease, alcoholism has many defense mechanisms such as denial, projection, anger, deflection, rationalization, and minimization. The alcoholic male is most likely to deny that there is an actual problem, or blame it on the stress at work or the problems at home.
Reaching Out for Help
The point is that alcoholism is a serious disease and the best option is to bring the problem drinking to a loved one’s attention in a non-confrontational manner, and to try to get him to a local treatment agency for an evaluation. One can find help or local treatment services by calling the 24-Hour national Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357), or online with the Substance Abuse Facility Treatment Locator from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Additional Reading
The Consumption of Alcohol is Not Recommended
The Economic Impact of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Nelson Acquilano - Nelson Acquilano holds an A.A.S. in Police Science, a B.S. in both Political Science and Criminal Justice, a Master of Social Work Degree ...
