As Dangerous as Smoking? Alcohol and Cancer - ThinnerTimes

Gladitsme · 02-24-2006, 09:41 AM

As Dangerous as Smoking? Alcohol and Cancer
Friday, February 24, 2006

There are some basic things we know about alcoholism. The disease afflicts nearly 14 million people nationwide, or nearly one in every 10 adults. It kills nearly 20,000 Americans each year, both directly and as a result of alcohol-related incidents and conditions. A history of alcoholism and alcohol-dependency has also been found in nearly one-third of people diagnosed with psychotic disorders. The disease is clearly devastating in scope and impact, a strain on the public health system and a trauma for countless families nationwide...

Nonetheless, new research is showing that even these staggering statistics may be understating the true damage inflicted by alcoholism. According to a major new international study, the cancer risk associated with heavy alcohol consumption has long been underestimated and may rival even the risks posed by smoking. The study, conducted by the France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer, was recently published in The Lancet Oncology journal. Based on its results, researchers conclude that excessive drinking and alcohol dependency can significantly raise the risk of a host of cancers, including those of the breast, colon, esophagus, larynx, liver, and mouth. Alcohol consumption may also be associated with lung and pancreatic cancer, although the findings of the study were not entirely conclusive on those two forms.
The cancer study's findings caused mild controversy among some in the medical community, as other recent studies had suggested that moderate alcohol consumption may result in a reduced risk of heart disease. However, cancer researchers emphasized that the current study reflects only the consequences of heavy, long-term drinking such as that associated with alcoholism. Moderate drinking – defined as two glasses of wine daily – by non-alcoholic adults continues to be recommended by some doctors.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that alcoholism causes more than 320,000 deaths per year in the industrialized world, approximately 185,000 in men and 142,000 in women. In developing countries, where rates of alcoholism among the population can be higher, alcohol has been blamed for more than 1.5 million deaths in men and 300,000 in women every year. Public health officials consider the problem of alcohol consumption particularly acute in central and eastern Europe, where economic troubles and the affordability of highly-concentrated alcohols such as vodka have led to near-epidemic levels of alcoholism.

Some research has suggested that the increase in head and neck cancers in eastern European countries may be partially attributed to rising rates of alcoholism.

For those who believe they may be suffering from alcohol dependency, the 24-hour Alcohol Treatment Referral Hotline can be reached at 1-800-ALCOHOL. For a guide to local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and other treatment options, sufferers are also encouraged to contact their physician.