The abuse of alcohol can lead to many significant health problems. However, some of the severest consequences of alcoholism can be the social problems that drinking too much alcohol can cause. Alcoholics routinely face a number of difficulties related to their vocations, family life, and other areas that can destroy their lives if they do not get sober. Knowing some of the potential social effects of alcohol can help a person see why they must kick their alcohol habit if they drink excessively.

Family Problems

The negative social consequences of alcohol are felt first and most powerfully in the home. Alcoholics routinely spend a lot of time away from home at bars or at other locations where they can get a drink. This can damage the relationships that alcoholics have with their spouses and children. Additionally, alcoholics are far more likely to be perpetrators of domestic violence than other people.

Societal Economic Costs

The social effects of alcohol use can be a great burden on the society as a whole. Studies have shown that alcoholism, if it is widespread, can drastically reduce a country’s economic output. This, in turn, can lead to a downward spiral of increasing negative alcohol social effects because reduced production reduces the tax base and thus the ability to deal with infrastructure, education, and other matters that the government typically addresses. Because alcoholism can lead to higher rates of unemployment, governments are also forced to spend more money on social welfare programs. These social effects of alcohol abuse are borne by governments that are insufficiently equipped with personnel and funds to deal with them and by taxpayers who see their taxes increase to deal with alcoholism in society.

Vocational Costs

There are also significant social effects of alcohol with respect to individual workers and their vocations. Overuse of alcohol can lead to missed days at work and tardiness, both of which can result in alcoholics losing their jobs. Alcoholism can also impair performance while on the job, and thus, a worker can lose opportunities for promotion. Drinking too much can also make it difficult to learn and retain new skills needed for success on the job.

Preventing Alcohol’s Social Costs

You can reduce the social consequences of alcohol if you are an alcoholic by getting help from professional addiction counseling and treatment. The programs in BetterAddictionCare‘s recovery network are supervised by highly trained medical personnel who will make your recovery safe and comfortable. Our addiction treatment specialists are standing by to help with pre-screening for treatment and with navigating private insurance for affordable, effective care. Call today or fill out our contact form for more information.