Alcoholism is the most common chronic disease in trauma patients, affecting 25% to 40% of those treated in major trauma centers. Trauma patients with alcohol problems are more than twice as likely to be readmitted with injuries during the next two years than patients without aproblem drinking. Alcoholism results in repeated episodes of trauma, drunk driving and alcohol related crashes.
Medical and health care professionals are among the first to see the consequences of an impaired driving crash.
General Facts:
During 2002, 17,419 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes, representing 41% of all traffic-related deaths. Drugs other than alcohol (e.g., marijuana and cocaine) have been identified as factors in 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths. Other drugs are generally used in combination with alcohol.
Drunk Driving Can Be Stopped
Designated drivers have probably saved nearly 50,000 lives and spared many more thousands of people from suffering injury from drunk driving. A designated driver is simply a person who agrees to abstain from alcohol and be responsible for driving
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Tips for designated drivers:
- Plan ahead whenever you are going to socialize with alcohol beverages
- Decide ahead of time who will not drink any alcohol before or during the party or event
- Consider taking turns being the designated driver (Look after your friends and family and they can look after you)
- Larger groups should have more than one designated driver
You really cna make a difference! Be a designated driver... be a hero!
Other complications of drinking
Interactions with Medications There are more than 150 medications that should not be mixed with alcohol. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before drinking any amount of alcohol if you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medicines.
Social and Legal Problems
The more heavily you drink, the greater the potential for problems at home, at work, with friends, and even with strangers. These problems may include:
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- Arguments with or separation from your spouse and other family members;
- Strained relationships with coworkers;
- Absence from or lateness to work with increasing
frequency;
- Loss of employment due to decreased productivity; and
- Committing or being the victim of violence
Alcohol-Related Birth Defects
If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you should not drink alcohol. You can cause a range of birth defects, and children exposed to alcohol before birth can have lifelong learning and behavioral problems.
Long-Term Health Problems
Alcohol-related liver disease. More than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, as a result of heavy drinking over a long period of time.
Heart disease. Heavy drinking over a long period of time increases the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and some kinds of stroke.
Cancer. Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and larynx (voice box).
Pancreatitis. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.
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