Trends and History of Alcohol Addiction

America was founded in 1776, but was a colony for over a hundred years before that. And through it all, we've had alcohol. There were many laws passed throughout our nation's history banning the production and drinking of alcohol, most notably the Prohibition laws that were in effect from 1920 to 1933. Yet during that time, as to be expected, illegal sales of alcohol skyrocketed. It's inevitable that people have been addicted to alcohol throughout history, and sadly, will continue to be. While some are able to drink occasionally, others simply are not - alcoholism is a disease which can affect anyone, regardless of who they are, but does not affect everyone in the same way. The Right Step understands that while laws and trends of alcohol use may change over time, the disease of alcoholism does not. It is in every sense of the word a disease that must be treated properly, with the help of a successful and effective substance abuse treatment program. The Right Step is such a program, and offers its services to anyone who is suffering from abuse of or dependence on alcohol.

History of Alcohol

The origins of Prohibition began as early as 1657, when the court in what would become Massachusetts made the "sale of strong liquor" illegal. Alcohol was seen as a gift from God, but the abuse of it was seen as an act of the Devil. Temperance associations were formed throughout the late 1700s and early 1800s, and the Prohibition or dry movements were started in the 1840s, usually by religious organizations. In 1881, Kansas became the first state to outlaw alcohol in its Constitution, and in the Progressive Era of the early 20th century, hostility to saloons and their political influence became widespread. By the time the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Prohibition was seen as patriotic since many breweries in the country were owned by German-Americans. The 18th Amendment establishing Prohibition as a law went into effect in January of 1920, citing a need for the grain used for alcohol instead be used for food as a sacrifice for the war. As a result, many gangs arose to power, with notorious gangsters like Al Capone making millions of dollars in illegal alcohol sales. In 1933, the amendment became the only amendment to have ever been repealed. In the next few decades, taxes on alcohol were increased, but by the 1960s, levels of drinking were back at pre-Prohibition era levels.

Taking The Right Step Toward Treating Alcoholism

Surveys demonstrate a decline in alcohol consumption by young persons over a period of decades. The proportion of people aged 12 through 17 who had consumed any alcohol during the previous month has dropped from 50% in 1979 to 17.6% in 2002, according to the federal government's annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The percentage of high school seniors who had ever consumed alcohol has also declined, from 93% in 1980 to 76% in 2003. But while these numbers might indicate that alcohol consumption is down, 14 million Americans today are still considered alcoholics. These people can receive treatment in an alcohol or drug abuse treatment or recovery center like The Right Step. If you or someone you love has an addiction to alcohol, please contact us today.