Throughout this blog, we have written about the ways in which a substance use disorder centered on alcohol can upend your life (examples here, here, and here). The problems associated with alcohol use—damage to your relationships, your finances, your ability to think clearly, and more—are all serious and good reasons to give up drinking.
Recently, however, an additional alarming problem related to alcohol has been reported. Alcohol, it turns out, causes cancer.
We will note here that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States (the first is heart disease, and the third is accidents—both of which can have a connection to alcohol use, too). The added risk of developing cancer is no one’s idea of a good thing, so that makes the danger of the disease yet another reason to leave alcohol behind.
New Guidance from the Surgeon General
An article in The New York Times by Roni Carn Rabin opens with some sobering news:
Alcohol is a leading preventable cause of cancer, and alcoholic beverages should carry a warning label as packs of cigarettes do, the U.S. surgeon general said.
That is really something to think about. For years now, cigarettes and other tobacco products have carried warning labels (for example, Surgeon General’s Warning: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy) to ensure that everyone knows the health risks of using those products. While advertising around alcohol generally includes messaging like please drink responsibly, that does not pack quite the punch as a warning from the surgeon general.
And what does it mean to be a “leading preventable cause of cancer”? Rabin’s article put it this way:
Alcohol directly contributes to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 related deaths each year, the surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, said.
Now, you might assume that these cancer risks are only in play if a person drinks a lot of alcohol. But it turns out that is not necessarily the case. Again, from the NYT article:
While most cancer deaths occur at drinking levels that exceed the current recommended dietary guidelines, the risk for cancers of the breast, the mouth, and the throat may rise with consumption of as little as one drink a day, or even less, Dr. Murthy said…Overall, one of every six breast cancer cases is attributable to alcohol consumption, Dr. Murthy said. More recent studies have also linked moderate alcohol consumption to certain forms of heart disease, including atrial fibrillation, a heart arrhythmia.
That is bad news all around—for the casual drinker, for the person with a substance use disorder, and for everyone who falls in between those two.
What This News Means for You
The surgeon general’s warning about alcohol is no small matter. So, how should you respond? Here are our suggestions:
- If you do not drink, do not start. You are already avoiding the risks associated with drinking alcohol, and you can continue to do so by simply sticking to your current path.
- If you do drink, think hard about giving it up. While it can seem as though alcohol is a required aspect of many, many social gatherings and activities in America, the fact is that you really can turn to alternatives and still have a wonderful time with friends and family. Making a better choice for your health is always a good idea.
- If you have a substance use disorder, add this news about cancer risk to your list of reasons to immediately get the help you need to turn your life around. The moment to seek out treatment for a substance use disorder is always right now. That fact is reinforced by the news that your drinking can lead to disastrous—or even deadly—consequences.
We Can Help You Leave Alcohol Behind
When you are struggling with alcohol, it can seem like you are trapped. It can be devilishly difficult to give up drinking on your own. Meanwhile, you might be reluctant to seek out treatment because you are embarrassed or nervous about the unknown (we can help with that second issue). You may find yourself doing nothing—even when doing something is clearly the move.
Wooded Glen Recovery Center, located in Henryville, Indiana, is an award-winning substance use disorder treatment facility that is also fully equipped to treat co-occurring mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, or trauma-centered issues. That means you can count on the highest level of care—care that is personalized to your specific needs and supported by evidence, expertise, experience, and empathy.
We offer inpatient and outpatient treatment options, and in each case, we are wholly committed to helping you prepare for your recovery journey so that you can confidently leave alcohol in your past. Our robust continuum of care means that you can count on ongoing support and resources. And our alumni program ensures you will stay connected to others who have faced challenges similar to yours and who are working to maintain their recovery day by day.
Do not let alcohol destroy your health and your life. Let us help you make a change.