When people hear the word "drug" they usually think of illegal substances such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or any other street drug. Most people never believe the fact that consuming alcohol can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs, not only to the body, but to the mind and spirit as well. "Currently, nearly 14 million Americans - 1 in every 13 adults- abuse alcohol or are alcoholic" (Alcoholism: A Widespread Problem). "Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems" (Alcoholism: A Widespread Problem). If constantly abused, alcohol could be worse than taking illegal drugs. Alcohol causes medical problems and probably increases the carcinogenic effects of other substances, such as cigarette smoke. Careless drinking can destroy a person's life as well as the lives of those around them. Alcohol is a depressant; it impairs the ability to drive, slows down reaction time and causes person to make some risky decisions that would not be normally be taken. Alcohol also is a huge factor in spousal and child abuse, divorce, and loss of income. .
There are ways that moderate drinking can help. "Countless studies have shown that a glass of wine or a bottle of beer helps your heart (McCord, 56). "The latest: A Harvard study of physicians found that those who consumed alcohol in moderate amounts slashed their heart disease by 37 percent" (McCord, 56). Even though drinking may help, any protection that occurs with moderate alcohol intake appears to be limited to adults over 60 who have a risk for heart disease. Various studies have found that "regular, moderate drinking not only helps mental clarity in both young and elderly people but also increases blood-sugar control in people with diabetes" (Raloff, 155). Studies have also shown that with moderate drinking there is a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. (Raloff, 155).
Although studies have shown that moderate drinking may be healthy, hardly anyone knows what moderate drinking could be and often moderate drinking leads to alcohol abuse and to alcoholism.
