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Addiction is an unfortunate word — and one you ignore. Its meaning is too vulgar; its promise is too crude. Acknowledging such a thing is useless, you assume. Nothing can be gained from it.
And so… you refuse to admit any symptoms. Every sip you take is instead deemed essential; every drink is thought of as right. Trying to label your habits is a waste of time. You’d rather devote yourself to far better things — such as sampling wine and smiling.
Individuals from the ages of 21 to 40 consume almost 30 gallons of liquor (including beer, distilled spirits and more) each year on average. Of these individuals almost 40 percent are dependent upon what they drink — unable to function without some form of alcohol in their systems. This results in 15 million people harming themselves without fully being aware of it.
Such numbers startle: if only because they’re often ignored. Alcoholism is a familiar term but one that many refuse to accept for themselves. It’s estimated that over 80 percent of those who require help (either through counseling, medication or other forms of rehabilitation) never receive it. Some cite the costs of treatment. Many, however, simply deem their situations solvable. They assume they can master an addiction without support.
They can’t — and this contributes to the millions of death that occur each year due to alcohol.
Addiction is a disease and, like any disease, it requires help. Choosing to deny its existence will offer no rewards. Instead it will only perpetuate a vicious, needless cycle.
