10 Reasons Why Alcohol is the Most Dangerous Drug in the World

Drinking alcohol is quite the norm for many people. Whether you enjoy a beer, wine or spirits, alcoholic drinks are readily available at happy hours, events and more. It is often seen as a way to relieve stress and unwind after a tough day or an accompaniment to a celebration. In fact, many people go to the bar after work to loosen up, while others go home to have a glass of wine on the couch.

Some people go through life without experiencing the negative effects of their alcohol use. On the other hand, others end up developing an alcohol addiction. Aside from that, alcohol is a chemical that can severely damage the body, even to the point of death. Even though alcohol is linked to many issues, social drinking is acceptable mainly because it is legal.

Why is alcohol the most dangerous drug?

When you think of the world’s most dangerous drug, you probably think of drugs that have the highest likelihood of harming you. Most people tend to imagine class A substances like crack cocaine, crystal meth or heroin as the most harmful drugs that can destroy someone’s life and cause severe health issues or even death. However, the reality is slightly more complicated than that since it depends on many different factors.

Even though those drugs have highly addictive properties and the ability to ruin lives and negatively impact societies, none of those substances make the top entry for the most dangerous drugs in the world. A recent scientific study found that the most dangerous drug happens to be alcohol.

It is alarming, to say the least, that a legal substance that you can purchase in the pub or at the supermarket is that dangerous. IFL Science reports that the results are based on several different factors. In one study by David Nutt, a former chief drugs advisor for the British Government, sixteen harmful factors were chosen and separated based on each drug’s individual and direct effect on the user, along with the impact of the substance on other people and society in general.

A direct effect of a substance on an individual, for example, could be death by overdose. On the other hand, an indirect effect could be damage caused by becoming infected with HIV after sharing syringes. Twenty substances were put through the procedure, which was considered the best way to find out which substance was the most harmful. The list of factors included was:

• Dependence
• Likelihood of dying
• Mental function damage
• Loss of things such as one’s job or home
• Criminal activities
• Physical injury
• And even the financial cost to a country

While heroin and crack cocaine were the second and third substances on the list, alcohol took the top position as the most dangerous drug in Europe and the UK. One of the main reasons for its ranking is due to its harm to other people as well as the wider economy.

Another study conducted by a European group involved the same process. The main difference between the groups is that the Europeans prioritised personal harm more while the British classified economic harm as significantly more important. Even though they used different harm weightings, the results were almost identical and had a high level of correlation.

On a surface level, the results may seem shocking. But in reality, with over 3.3 million annual deaths, the outcome should come as less of a surprise. The World Health Organisation estimates that 5.9 percent of all yearly deaths are caused by alcohol, which means that one person dies from alcohol every 10 seconds.

Reasons why alcohol is so dangerous

Here are ten reasons why alcohol is the world’s most dangerous drug.

1. It can cause financial problems
   A person who is addicted to alcohol will spend all their money on drinking, even if they cannot afford it.
2. It can result in chronic health issues
   Poor nutrition and alcohol go hand in hand, resulting in health conditions such as obesity and mineral deficiency.
3. It can lead to early death
   People who drink heavily have a high risk of developing heart and liver disease.Consuming too much alcohol in one setting can also result in alcohol poisoning.
4. It can cause people to lose their inhibitions
   People who drink a lot say and do things they usually wouldn’€™t if they were sober, which can ruin their career and reputation. They may also engage in high-risk activities such as unprotected sex or drug use.
5. It can result in permanent organ damage
   Drinking alcohol can cause cirrhosis of the liver, which can be fatal.
6. It can cause congenital disabilities
   Fatal alcohol syndrome can occur if a woman drinks while she is pregnant, which can result in brain damage, stunted growth, organ defects and more.
7. It can increase aggression
   Alcohol contributes to sexual and physical violence, such as rape and domestic abuse.
8. It can result in fatal accidents
   People who drink often think they are okay to drive even when they are not, which can end up in crashes where they injure or kill others or themselves.
9. It can be a gateway to other substances
   People who abuse alcohol often want to try other drugs to see what that different ‘highs’ are like.
10. It can ruin a person’s life
    Alcohol can destroy a person’s life for all the reasons listed above and more.

Contact The Dawn Rehab in Thailand

When a person is willing to seek alcohol addiction treatment, getting help at an alcohol rehab can be effective. Alcohol addiction treatment at The Dawn involves highly customised and intensive treatment. Choosing to enter an alcohol rehab might not be an easy choice, but it is definitely the best thing you can do. Contact us today to receive a no-obligation assessment to find out how we can help. You can also call us at +66 63 048 4877 for an immediate assistance.