“Problem with america is this:
Were too up tight about alcohol to the point of insanity.”
There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the U.S. from substance abuse than from any other cause. 1
About 18 million Americans have alcohol problems; about 5 to 6 million Americans have other drug problems. 2
More than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking. 3
More than nine million children live with a parent dependent on alcohol and/or illicit drugs. 3
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. 4
Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: heart disease, cancer and stroke. 3
Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. 5
Between 48% and 64% of people who die in fires have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication. 1
Fetal alcohol syndrome is the leading known cause of mental retardation. 6
The Costs
Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes, and other conditions. 7
Untreated addiction is more expensive than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer combined. 7
Every American adult pays nearly $1,000 per year for the damages of addiction. 8
What fantasy world are you living in?
While I can understand where you’re coming from, America is definately not “too uptight” about alcohol. It is the single most damaging thing in the entire fucking world.
1 “Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem,” Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, 1993.
2 “Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem,” Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, 2001.
3 Position Paper on Drug Policy, Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy, Brown University Center for Alcohol & Addiction Studies, 2000.
4 “Sobering Facts on the Dangers of Alcohol,” NY Newsday, April 24, 2002.
5 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Annual Report, 1992.
6 E. Abel, “Incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Economic Impact of FAS-Related Anomalies,” Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 1987.
7 “Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem,” Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, 2001.
8 The National Drug Control Strategy, The White House, 1997.
“We froun upon the human body as if its a sexual object as soon as a little skin is shown, where as most of Europe freely uses the nude form with no childish giggles and whistles.”
Once again, this is just plain complete lunacy on your part. America more than any other society glorifies and objectifies the human body beyond belief. Turn on your television for a while, take a stroll to a newstand, go to a high school or college party.
Just because Americans frown on these things amoungst eachother in the public arena, doesn’t mean they aren’t fair game as long as no one is watching. America is like a 14 year old who is afraid of anyone thinking that he/she masturbates.
My personal feeling on alchohol and other drugs is that I do not need to alter my consciousness through injecting chemicals because I love my normal consciousness. I think many other people would feel this way if they asked themselves the same questions I ask myself about what’s really important and so on.
I can barely stand how beer smells, let alone it’s taste. Urg, such a nasty after-taste.