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Alcohol more dangerous than drugs

Alcohol is one of the most age old vices, yet its social prevalence and acceptance make it look like a harmless indulgence.

If you asked the average person whether street drugs were more dangerous than alcohol, it would be no contest. With the war on drugs in our faces, it is no wonder we have this perception. But the reality is a bit more complex than what meets the eye.

Though it is true that street drugs are dangerous and harmful, they tend to have higher rates of individual damage. Alcohol on the other hand is not only a danger to the individual, but to society as a whole.

Many cultures tend to view alcohol as a social glue: Cocktails are served at parties, cases of beer at sporting events, champagne at weddings, and wine for relaxation and romance. In moderation, we have even been told that wine can be healthful. Unfortunately, a lot of the casual enjoyment surrounding alcohol consumption shrouds its hidden dangers.

Alcohol is a drug; in a sense, it causes an altered state of mind and bodily damage just like other drugs. The difference lies in the moderation-binge dynamic — there is no other mind altering substance that is viewed as “safe in moderate amounts.” This may lead people to believe that having a bit more can be safe too.

In reality, booze is a poison, and in excess damages not only the liver but all the organ systems of the body. It causes depletion of nutrients, especially vitamin B1 which is essential for neurological and cardiovascular function. The brains of heavy alcohol users are often damaged, wound healing is stunted, and may even put users at a higher risk for HIV. The most devastating risk to the individual is cirrhosis, which is an irreversible and often lethal liver disease.

Based on recent studies on the effects of alcohol and drugs, alcohol was shown to be the most harmful substance overall, scoring a whopping 72 out of 100 — higher than even crack or heroin. Not only does alcohol have a connection to higher rates of crime and death than any other drug combined, but the costs to our health care system are astronomical. Drunk driving alone accounts for more than 15,000 deaths a year and cirrhosis is the 10th leading cause of death among men.