Shocking Reasons Alcohol May Be The Deadliest Addiction Of All

Driving Under The Influence

Alcohol slows a driver’s reflexes down substantially so getting behind the wheel can be deadly to the driver themselves, passengers in their vehicle, as well as any others on the road. Furthermore, alcoholics often have a higher tolerance, in their mind at the very least, so they are often less aware of when they are too drunk to drive or find they do not care.

Slow reflexes are just one of the elements affected by driving under the influence. Drivers with alcohol in their system cannot keep track of everything a sober driver can, such as the speed of their car, speed of surrounding traffic, traffic signs, lights at intersections, and pedestrians crossing the street. Many car accidents have been caused by a person driving under the influence of alcohol. Though no one is a perfect driver, the chances of getting into an accident and injuring themselves or others, or getting into a fatal accident, rise significantly.

Alcoholism Affects Generation After Generation

Alcoholism is medically known as alcohol abuse disorder, and scientists have been investigating the genetic and hereditary components of this disorder for years. Evidence indicates children who have one parent suffering from alcoholism are three to four times more likely to suffer from alcoholism themselves in the future. In 2008, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducted a study reviewing research on genetics and alcohol abuse disorder, and their findings indicated genetics accounted for forty to sixty percent of the variance among those who had this disorder.

Passing on the predisposition to alcoholism to children means an alcoholic is likely to affect more than just themselves with this struggle, so the physical, mental, and emotional risks will apply to their children and their descendants, should the cycle continue even further. Thus, it is critical only to drink alcohol in moderation, and for individuals who are struggling with alcoholism to seek help as soon as possible. It may be a long road, but it is worth the journey.