Over half of the alcohol consumed in the U.S. is done so as part of a binge drinking session. Additionally, about one in six adults binge drinks regularly. Regular binge drinking could be a sign of a problem. Therefore, finding binge drinking treatment to help you regain control is crucial. You may not realize how much binge drinking costs society each year, from healthcare expenses to lost productivity in the workplace. The Right Step is here to provide you with guidance on how to overcome your binge drinking. Our goal is to make you more aware of the consequences of binge drinking. Additionally, if you are in need of a Texas addiction treatment center, contact The Right Step for treatment options.
How Much Does Binge Drinking Cost the U.S.?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive drinking cost the U.S. $249 billion in 2010. This equates to $2.05 for every drink consumed. Binge drinking accounts for 77% of this cost, or just over $191.7 billion each year. The costs vary by state, from $488 million in North Dakota to a huge $35 billion in California. The government–and, by extension, the taxpayer–pays for $2 out of every $5 that binge drinking costs the country.
It is important to understand how much individuals are spending on alcohol. Drinking takes time and money away from other healthy behaviors. When you attend our Texas alcohol treatment center, we help you realize how much you are spending on alcohol, which can cause a difference in your everyday decision-making and encourage your recovery.
How the Cost Breaks Down
The vast majority of the costs from binge drinking (72% of the total) come from lost productivity in the workplace. This is easy to understand, and there are many different causes of this. The costs usually stem from days of work missed because of hangovers. Additionally, loss of productivity results from people trying to work after having a drink or during a hangover.
The other costs pale in comparison to lost productivity but still account for large amounts of money. Healthcare expenses account for 11% of the total cost, or around $27.4 billion. Costs from law enforcement account for 10%, or $24.9 billion, and motor vehicle crashes caused by drunk driving account for 5%, or over $12.4 billion.
Reducing the Cost of Binge Drinking
If you binge drink, it does not necessarily mean you have a problem with alcoholism. But around 9 out of every 10 adults who drink excessively say that they have engaged in binge drinking over the past month. For a drinking session to classify as binge drinking, you have to consume four or five drinks over the course of two hours, for women and men, respectively. Even if you are not addicted, drinking at this rate–especially if you do so regularly–means that you should seriously ask yourself why you drink so much.
How Individual Therapy Can Help
An individual therapy program is all about finding the answer to this question, and if you are drinking in an attempt to cope with unpleasant emotions, counselors can help you find healthier ways to accomplish the same thing. Getting binge drinking counseling is the best way to get to the bottom of what’s driving your drinking, as well as the psychological insights it offers. Your counselor will also offer you useful tips to help you cut down on your drinking. If more people in the U.S. seek help through binge drinking counseling, there will be less excessive alcohol use in the country.
Contact The Right Step For Help
If you are struggling with substance abuse or binge drinking, contact The Right Step at 17135283709 for information about our substance abuse treatment programs and group therapy programs. Our professional staff is here to help you in any way we can to live a healthier life without relying on alcohol.
Sources: “Fact Sheets – Binge Drinking” – CDC https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm “2010 National and State Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption” – American Journal of Preventative Medicine https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2815%2900354-2/abstract “Excessive Drinking is Draining the U.S. Economy” – CDC https://www.cdc.gov/features/costsofdrinking/
