Which Is More Dangerous: Alcohol or Drugs?

They’re often used and misused in search for a sense of relaxation or a desire to “switch off” or forget stress-related thoughts or feelings. Substituted cathinones, also called “bath salts,” are mind-altering (psychoactive) substances similar to amphetamines such as ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine. We are living in a time of unprecedented communication throughout the world. I hope we can leverage online and social culture to loudly broadcast the joy of experiencing milestones without champagne, showcase good times in the company of friends without booze and support each other in finding alternative approaches to leading healthy and fulfilling lives.

• In reality, about 50 percent of Americans don’t drink at all (would you have guessed the number was that high?!).
• A protracted withdrawal syndrome can also occur with symptoms persisting for months after cessation of use.
• Even for simple possession, legal punishment can be quite severe (including the death penalty in some countries).
• Physical and psychological dependence can occur if the drugs are used for longer periods of time or at higher doses than prescribed.

Sure – though, at the end of the long day, all addictions have more in common than what distinguishes them from each other. Li in NIAAA’s journal Alcohol Research &
Health (23), addiction carries a stigma that might make clinicians less likely
to use this term for fear of alienating their patients. Additionally, like the
term “alcoholism,” addiction is so widely used in such different contexts
that its meaning is imprecise and unclear (23). Adi Jaffe, Ph.D., is a lecturer at UCLA and the CEO of IGNTD, an online company that produces podcasts and educational programs on mental health and addiction. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol causes 88,000 (62,000 men and 26,000 women) deaths every year. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism tells us alcohol shortened the lifespan of those 88,000 by 30 years.

Chronic Pain

Tobacco, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, cannabis and benzodiazepines are all substances that you can develop tolerance and dependence to. It typically involves an overpowering desire to use the substance, increased tolerance to the substance and/or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking the substance. Substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental health condition in which a person has a problematic pattern of substance use that causes distress and/or impairs their life.

Alcohol addiction is simply a form of the larger category of drug addiction, so they each are intertwined together. Still, in our culture we have isolated alcohol from other drugs, usually referring to “alcohol and drugs,” giving “alcohol” a special status, and, lest we forget, alcohol is legal, while most other drugs are not. In order for alcohol manufacturers and distributors to stay in business, they must sell primarily to heavy, problematic, addicted drinkers.

How Does the Physical Addiction Differ Between Drugs and Alcohol

This may have started with the idea that a glass of wine a day was good for your heart, but we’re clearly way beyond that. We see much higher rates in the USA and across several countries in Eastern Europe. In the USA, this was dominated by illicit drug dependence, whereas alcoholism was much more common in Russia and Eastern Europe. The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. NSDUH estimates allow researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the general public to better understand and improve the nation’s behavioral health.

When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Doctors often overlook alcohol as a contributing factor to an illness, such as congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation. This approach to healthcare is slowly beginning to change as more healthcare professionals are trained to understand the signs and symptoms of substance use disorders and best practices in addiction treatment.

What’s the difference between substance use/misuse and substance use disorder?

Long-term use of higher doses can produce amphetamine psychosis which includes hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. Prescription stimulant drugs, dubbed “academic steroids,” are used by some college students in an attempt to enhance their academic performance. These drugs are often prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD, and should be used only as prescribed and with ongoing medical supervision. It is against federal law to use these medications without an authorized prescription from a physician.

Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to a variety of cancers, including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, lungs, liver and prostate. Many experts will disagree between the similarities and differences between drug and alcohol addictions because both are forms of addiction. And it can feel different to be addicted to a legal substance than to be addicted to an illicit one. In reality, about 50 percent of Americans don’t drink at all (would you have guessed the number was that high?!). Most of the 50 percent of Americans who do drink consume low to moderate, amounts of alcohol (less than 1 per day).

STIMULANTS – Amphetamines and other stimulants include ecstasy and “meth,” as well as prescription drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin. The physical effects produced are elevated heart and respiratory rates, increased blood pressure, https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-vs-drugs-comparison-of-addictions/ insomnia, and loss of appetite. Sweating, headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, and anxiety may also result from use. High dosage can cause rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremors, loss of motor skills and even physical collapse.