Alcohol: No. 1 drug problem in the U.S

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In July, the state of California will add alcohol to its list of toxic chemicals. Mya Shone discusses below the biological and social impact of alcohol consumption.

Contrary to the commonly held view, the drug most abused in the United States is not cocaine; nor is it crack "The No. 1 drug problem in this country is alcohol, and it is costing society $120 billion a year." This statement from Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is echoed "Alcohol is involved in more than 66 percent of the nation's homicides, 50 percent of rapes, and up to 70 percent of sexually aggressive acts against children and adults," reports Joseph Califano, former Secretary of One-half to three-fourths of auto accidents—including 50,000 deaths per year—involve alcohol. One-third of general hospital admissions nationally stem from alcohol abuse. One out of every four families is affected by Among the men, women, and children in the United States, 18.3 million people are "heavier drinkers." They Alcohol also leads to the deterioration of the liver, consume more than 14 drinks each week (1 or more pancreas, stomach, and the immune system. It has been ounces of alcohol per day)—with 12.1 million eviden- tied to cancer of the esophagus, breast, and liver-as well Over 80 percent of the 12 million college students, Fetal alcohol syndrome, occurring in infants whose most of whom are under the minimum drinking age, mothers drink "heavily," is the third leading cause of imbibe alcoholic beverages, with as many as one in six birth defects and is presumed to be the primary cause of considering themselves to be "heavy drinkers." retardation in the United States. Yet alcohol Alcohol use and abuse begin at an early age. Most consumption remains a significant factor in everyday high-school students (56 percent) started drinking when they were in the 9th grade or earlier. By the time they become high-school seniors, 41 percent report periodic Alcohol generates enormous profits for major American corporations, putting most of them into the Fortune 500. Americans spent $51 billion on alcoholic Alcohol is the only drug soluble in both fat and water. beverages in 1980 — 7.5 percent of the total expenditure As such, it invades every part of the human body, affecting virtually every cell and every biological Corporate producers expend currently over $1 billion on advertising. Their marketing suppresses the dangers Brain cells (neurons), of which we have billions, send of alcohol, imbuing alcoholic beverages with an image electrical and chemical signals which control cognition, of total harmlessness, reinforcing drinking as the social consciousness, and almost all behavior. These neurons release molecules called neurotransmitters, which carry Sophisticated advertising campaigns are designed to information to specific receptor sites on neighboring create heavy drinkers as well as to develop brand loyalty.

Robert Hammond, Director of the Alcohol Research If the messages are disrupted, as they are with the introduction of alcohol, so are the human emotions and "If all 105 million drinkers of legal age consumed the official maximum 'moderate' amount of alcohol (less The neuronal membranes (cell walls) adapt to chronic than 2 drinks), the industry would suffer 'a whopping 40 exposure to alcohol. They rigidify as the fats within percent decrease in the sale of beer, wine and distilled Consequently, a person becomes less sensitive to a Youth are particularly targeted, even before they reach given dose of alcohol, but the membranes become the legal minimum drinking age. "Let's not forget," dependent for normal functioning on an ever-increasing asserts a marketing executive, "that getting a [college] supply of alcohol, which acts as a solvent allowing the freshman to choose a certain brand of beer may mean that The will maintain his brand loyalty for the next 20 to 35 or heroin.

by virtually all health professionals.

Health, Education and Welfare.

excessive use of alcohol.

A nation of users cing symptoms of alcoholism. binges.

Biological impact pathway.

neurons.

the behavior they control.

them firm up from increasing cholesterol.

electrical and chemical signals to flow. life. norm. spirits." as to cardiovascular disease.

Poisoning for profit for non-durable goods.

Information Service, spells this out: Baltimore P.O. Box 16005 Baltimore, MD 21218 Boston P.O. Box 1046 GMF Boston, MA 02205 (617) 497-0230 Chicago P.O. Box 267848 Chicago, IL 60626 (312) 327-5752 Cincinnati P.O. Box 37029 Cincinnati, OH 45: (513) 272-2596 dehabilitation.

abuse. resist that followed in its wake. townships.

on practically every block.

subsequently emerged as a problem. street corner.

Let me say that Alan Benjamin's article in the June paper entitled "Nicaraguan Revolution at critical crossroads" cut through the maze of propaganda put out by both opponents and uncritical supporters of the Sandinistas. It got to the essence of the matter in a clear, cogent, and convincing style.

S.P., El Paso, Texas Cleveland, OH 44101 (216) 429-2167 Detroit P.O. Box 32546 Detroit, MI 48232 Grand Rapids P.O. Box 3505 Grand Rapids, MI 49501 Los Angeles P.O. Box 60605 Terminal Annex Los Angeles, CA (213) 250-4608 once sustained and diffused by cheap alcohol. Instrument of social control From Soweto to Harlem...

Every time that I receive Socialist Action, 1 believe that it is the best ever. Then I receive the next issue, and it is even better! Keep up the good work.

Harold Schonbrun, Chicago, Ill.

Cleveland Minneapolis P.O. Box 6151 P.O. Box 14087 Dinkeytown Station Minneapolis, MN 55414 New York P.O. Box 20209 Ca. Finance 693 Columbus Ave.

New York, N.Y. 10025 San Francisco 3435 Army St. Suite 308 San Francisco, CA 94 (415) 821-0458 Santa Barbara P.O. Box 90644 CA 90060 Santa Barbara, CA 93190 (805) 962-4011

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worker and focuses on male comraderie. individual outlets for anger and despair.

Manipulation of the oppressed Good Luck! Dear editor, Good luck on your fund drive!