It is within our human nature to say “That won’t happen to me” as often as possible. We aren’t programmed to embrace the unpredictable. Science has found that our brain quite literally has difficulty comprehending the possibility of something which exists far beyond our immediate future. This dysfunction in our basic functioning is part of the reason why we insistently participate in behaviors which can cause serious harm to our health and wellness. Most often, these behaviors have to do with some kind of substance. For example, cigarettes can endanger our health, yet many people smoke them for decades of their life, even into lung disease, cancer, or emphysema.

People who have an addiction or alcoholism issue do exactly the same. Though they may not yet suffer the physical consequences of their substance abuse, they do suffer other negative consequences for their substance abuse and continue to pursue their addictions. However, many people do develop physical issues or have the real threat of some- meth addicts can lose their teeth, cocaine addicts are at risk of heart failure, and alcoholics can develop wet brain or liver disease. Despite the impending reality of serious health issues, we continue to abuse our substance of choice.

In a recent blog article, we discussed the prevalence of alcoholic drinking among college students. According to NIAAA, 20% of college students who drink meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder. Michigan Health published an article last month, January 2019, revealing that not only has alcohol use disorder increased over the last decade, but that “Doctors are seeing more alcoholic liver disease in young adults”.

Seven years of data which covered more than 100 million “privately insured U.S. residents) were examined for a study which found that more young people have unhealthy livers as a result of problematic, if not alcoholic, drinking. 25-34 year olds have seen the largest increase in mortality related to cirrhosis of the liver. The statistic is simply shocking, as were more facts from the research:

• • • • • • • Mortality related to cirrhosis of the liver has increased most in people 25 to 34 years old.
            • Between 1999 and 2016, the number of drinkers in that age bracket who died tripled, averaging at a 10% increase per year.
            • Moreover, the same study found that in the same time period women had a 50% increase in alcohol related cirrhosis. Men had a 30% increase.

The threat of liver disease and serious health complications due to alcohol abuse is not only a reality, but a growing reality for our youth.

Tree House Recovery of Portland, Oregon is a men’s addiction treatment center that teaches our clients how to roll with life’s punches and use the tools they’ve learned throughout the treatment process to stay on top of anything life throws at them. Call (503) 850-2474 to see how we can help you today.