THURSDAY, April 7 (HealthDay News) -- A new report reveals that
98.8 percent of the more than 7.4 million American adults aged 21
to 64 with untreated alcohol abuse disorders don't believe they
need treatment.
And only 7.8 percent (506,000) of the nearly 6 million American
adults with untreated alcohol dependence recognize that they need
treatment.
The finding shows the need to increase public awareness about
adult problem drinking, how to identify people with an alcohol
problem, how to raise the issue with a problem drinker and how to
get help, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA).
SAMHSA released the report Thursday in conjunction with National
Alcohol Screening Day. The findings are based on data from SAMHSA's
2006-2009 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health.
People with alcohol abuse disorders have drinking-related
behaviors that put themselves or others in physical danger, lead to
trouble with the law, and cause problems at work or in
relationships, according to information in a news release from
SAMHSA.
Alcohol dependence is a more serious disorder that features
alcohol addiction, inability to reduce or stop drinking, and
repeated problems with relationships, work or school, the experts
explained.
The report "provides striking evidence that millions of
Americans are in serious denial regarding problem drinking," SAMHSA
administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in the news release.
"Individuals, friends and family members clearly need help and support in confronting and doing something about the problem. Without help, alcoholism can be fatal. As a nation we need to ask ourselves why we stand by and allow so many people to self-destruct before intervening. National Alcohol Screening Day provides one day to have the conversation we should be willing to have every day until screening for alcohol problems becomes the norm -- just like heart disease, cancer and diabetes," she said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has
more about
alcohol abuse and alcoholism.