Suppose I told you that a lot of people were dying from something and most people didn’t know it?
Suppose I told you that a shockingly high number of people were dying from a disease, and most people had no idea?
Suppose I told you that more Americans died last year from this epidemic than died in any single war we’ve ever fought? Would you be surprised?
-----
I saw an article in my news feed recently that noted that 632,000 Americans died last year from tobacco, alcohol and drug addictions. The data was compiled by the Centers for Disease Control. I have attached links to the CDC report at the bottom of this page.
632,000 deaths a year in the U.S. Think about that. By comparison, the most Americans who died in any war was the Civil War, where 620,000 died. Those 620,000 who died in the Civil War died over the course of four years (April 1861-May 1865).
About 1,264,000 Americans have died in all wars combined.
What this means is that every year, more Americans die from addictions than died in the entire Civil War. Every two years, we lose as many Americans to addictions as we have lost in all of our wars.
That is appalling.
-----
The World Health Organization just released a report entitled “Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2018”. In the report, they estimate that 3 million people died worldwide in 2016 from alcohol abuse.
Three million.
In 2017, Alcoholics Anonymous estimated its total membership at just under 2.1 million people.
That means that more people (many more) are dying every year, than are members of AA.
-----
Whatever we are doing isn’t working. Whatever we are doing isn’t enough. It isn’t enough for the 3 million people who died of alcohol abuse last year.
I will continue to do everything that I can to spread the news that there is a solution available for those who want help and are willing to work for it.
The Recovering Urchin
CDC references
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fast_facts/index.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0329-drug-overdose-deaths.html
WHO reference page XV
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/274603/9789241565639-eng.pdf?ua=1
AA Membership
https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-132_en.pdf
P.S. Do you like The Recovering Urchin? Let me know at therecoveringurchin@gmail.com. Please tell your friends, and remember to sign up for my e-mail list so that I can deliver this content straight to your inbox.
Sign up for our newsletter
-
April 2019
- Apr 5, 2019 I Think My Spouse Has A Drinking Problem Apr 5, 2019
-
December 2018
- Dec 13, 2018 The Ant and the Grasshopper Dec 13, 2018
- Dec 3, 2018 Where I Go For Hope Dec 3, 2018
-
November 2018
- Nov 23, 2018 This I Believe Nov 23, 2018
- Nov 12, 2018 Guest post: Grace, compassion and the stink of the soul -- part one Nov 12, 2018
- Nov 7, 2018 The Importance of Home Groups Nov 7, 2018
- Nov 5, 2018 The Law of Averages Nov 5, 2018
- Nov 1, 2018 Guest post: A List Of Stupid Things That Mess Up Recovery Nov 1, 2018
-
October 2018
- Oct 29, 2018 Guest post: Grace within Oct 29, 2018
- Oct 28, 2018 Guest post: My ugly, unvarnished truth Oct 28, 2018
- Oct 27, 2018 Staying Sober in Dark Times Oct 27, 2018
- Oct 24, 2018 I Am Responsible Oct 24, 2018
- Oct 23, 2018 The Opioid Epidemic Oct 23, 2018
- Oct 21, 2018 The Challenge of Being an Introvert in Alcoholics Anonymous Oct 21, 2018
- Oct 20, 2018 Physical Pain And Spiritual Pain Oct 20, 2018
- Oct 18, 2018 My 38th Street Bridge Blackout Oct 18, 2018
- Oct 10, 2018 Who are you? Oct 10, 2018
- Oct 9, 2018 Guest post: Zen Spot #155 — Mindfulness, meditation and letting sleeping dogs lie Oct 9, 2018
- Oct 8, 2018 The Taping Pit Oct 8, 2018
- Oct 7, 2018 The Lou Gehrig of Recovery Oct 7, 2018
- Oct 6, 2018 Guest post: Zen Spot #161 — Mindfulness, meditation, the Beastie Boys, potato salad, the number 12 and a phone call from a Buddhist monk Oct 6, 2018
- Oct 6, 2018 The Cathedral of Chartres Oct 6, 2018
- Oct 5, 2018 Guest post: Addiction and spirituality Oct 5, 2018
- Oct 4, 2018 Meetings When I Travel Oct 4, 2018
- Oct 3, 2018 Why Discipline Matters Oct 3, 2018
- Oct 2, 2018 Meditations on Anonymity Oct 2, 2018
- Oct 1, 2018 Guest post: Zen Spot #36 — Mindfulness, meditation, autopilot and the internal gyroscope Oct 1, 2018
- Oct 1, 2018 This Is Our Plague Oct 1, 2018
-
September 2018
- Sep 29, 2018 Guest post: Zen Spot #143— Mindfulness, meditation and the intersection of Broad and Vine Sep 29, 2018
- Sep 29, 2018 Seven Things My Sponsor Suggested Sep 29, 2018
- Sep 27, 2018 Guest post: The Opioid Crisis—Personal Responsibility, Choice, and the Law Sep 27, 2018
- Sep 24, 2018 Page 87 Sep 24, 2018
- Sep 20, 2018 Humility Sep 20, 2018
- Sep 17, 2018 Honesty Sep 17, 2018
- Sep 10, 2018 The Purity of the Message Sep 10, 2018
- Sep 3, 2018 Recovery Resources Sep 3, 2018
-
August 2018
- Aug 28, 2018 What’s The Problem?! Aug 28, 2018
- Aug 17, 2018 Roll Call Aug 17, 2018
- Aug 17, 2018 I Don’t Know Aug 17, 2018
- Aug 17, 2018 I Need Help Aug 17, 2018
- Aug 17, 2018 I Was Wrong Aug 17, 2018
-
July 2018
- Jul 8, 2018 Welcome to The Recovering Urchin! Jul 8, 2018
- Jul 8, 2018 The Most Important Thing Jul 8, 2018
- Jul 7, 2018 Role Models Jul 7, 2018