Alcoholism & Alcohol Use Disorders Affect Nearly 30 Percent of Americans But Only a Few Seek Treatment - Report
A new study, published in JAMA Psychiatry on June 3, has discovered that 30 million Americans suffer from either alcoholism or alcohol use disorder.
In addition, the study found that only few Americans are willing to seek help concerning any form of alcohol disorder, reports MSN.
The US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has said that among the most common mental health problems in the world are alcohol use disorders. NIAAA further states that alcohol abuse can have life-altering effects like disability, illness or even death.
According to the Director of NIAAA, George Koob, "The problem of alcohol abuse is bigger than people thought. Alcohol disorders cost the United States $224 Billion a year."
Koob says over 70 percent of Americans drink. While most do not have an alcohol use disorder, a "significant group do have a problem."
It would seem that the biggest issue with alcoholism and alcohol use disorder is not that people are actually abusing alcohol, but the fact that less than 20 percent of people with drinking problems do seek help.
Koob says there are several reasons why people do not bother to ask for help, one being the prevalent stigma on alcoholism. People with drinking problems are seen as either "bad" or those who have made bad choices, which they can fix by themselves.
Denial about having a drinking problem plays a big part on why an alcoholic might not seek professional help as well. There is also the fact that people suffering with drinking problems simply do not know that there are effective treatments available.
Treatments available to anyone with drinking issues include: Alcoholics Anonymous, behavioral therapy and medications, says Koob. He adds, "These medications have been out there a long time. Unfortunately, they [Naltrexone and Acamprosate] are not prescribed that much."
The researchers in this study redefined alcohol use disorders based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), reports Time.
People with drinking issues were identified as having two out of eleven symptoms, in accordance with the researchers' new definition. These symptoms include: continuing to drink even if it harms relationships, drinking despite harming performance at work or school and the inability to quit.
At the end of the study researchers concluded: "...this study highlighted the urgency of educating the public and policy makers about alcohol use disorder and its treatments, destigmatizing the disorder, and encouraging among those who cannot reduce their alcohol consumption on their own, despite substantial harm to themselves and others, to seek treatment."