Apparently Alcohol is more lethal than Heroin

I just saw this article that basically sums up saying Alcohol is more deadly than any other drug due to its social impacts in addition to the physical [body] damage that it causes. I tend to approach things fairly scientifically (at least I think I do) and I always sort of thought that sample size and the strength of overall data was the best way to determine an outcome... as opposed to just saying "yeah its not good, alcoholics can cause damage" and call it a day.

I guess my thoughts in reaction to this article are, you've got to be kidding me.

You're telling me that an equal or HIGHER percentage of people that would be considered drinkers cause as much or more damage to themselves and their social circles than a heroin, meth, LSD or crack addict? Has anybody ever seen what somebody addicted to these substances look like?

By no means am I saying all alcohol as a blanket rule is healthy and yes many people can overdo it when drinking but this is comparing apples and oranges.

The article tries to justify its claims with the following quote:

 ~

Experts said alcohol scored so high because it is so widely used and has devastating consequences not only for drinkers but for those around them.
"Just think about what happens (with alcohol) at every football [soccer] game," said Wim van den Brink, a professor of psychiatry and addiction at the University of Amsterdam. He was not linked to the study and co-authored a commentary in the Lancet.
~

 given, yes he wasn't part of the study, but you went and asked a guy from a University in a city known for every drug known to man for a quote about alcohol?

link to the stupid, obviously biased article -> Click here

Isn't EVERYTHING bad for you in excess?

believe it or not, Alcohol can be healthy -> http://www.esquire.com/the-side/healthiest-alcohol-030810/the-side/healthiest-alcohol-030810?click=main_sr

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3266819.stm

http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/food-beverage-stores/343363-1.html

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478144/ns/today-today_health/

Cheers!

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