Mark drove into the side of an SUV traveling across the intersection. Both Mark and Chris were severely injured and a passenger in the SUV was killed. In a CDC report released in 2010, the estimated economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption was around:
A $134 billion
B $149 million
C $856 million
D $249 billion
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is D $249 billion.
Excessive alcohol consumption is a major public health issue that leads to a wide range of negative social, health, and economic consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report in 2010 estimating the total economic cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the United States at $249 billion annually. These costs arise from a combination of direct and indirect consequences.
Direct costs include medical expenses, such as the treatment of alcohol-related injuries and diseases like liver cirrhosis, as well as emergency care for accidents involving alcohol. The cost of law enforcement activities, including alcohol-related accidents and arrests, is also included in the direct expenses.
Indirect costs are more significant and include lost productivity. These occur when individuals who are affected by alcohol misuse either miss work or are less productive when they are working. Alcohol use can lead to absenteeism, presenteeism (being at work but not functioning at full capacity), and even premature death, all of which result in economic losses for businesses and society as a whole.
Additionally, alcohol consumption contributes to high levels of traffic accidents, as seen in the case of Mark and the SUV. Alcohol-impaired driving is one of the leading causes of road traffic fatalities, and the costs related to traffic accidents include not only medical expenses but also long-term care for injured individuals, damage to property, and legal costs.
This economic burden highlights the importance of public health interventions aimed at reducing excessive alcohol consumption, including education, treatment programs, and stricter regulations on alcohol use and driving under the influence. By addressing these issues, the broader economic and social costs of alcohol misuse could be reduced.