Quick Guide to Secondhand Drinking

Secondhand drinking (SHD) refers to the negative impacts of a person's drinking behaviors on others. Drinking behaviors occur when excessive alcohol use changes the way the drinker's brain functions. These brain changes results in any number of hurtful behaviors, such as: verbal, physical or emotional abuse, driving while impaired, domestic violence, committing a crime or sexual assault, to name a few. It is estimated 90 million Americans and millions more worldwide are directly...
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Secondhand drinking (SHD) refers to the negative impacts of a person's drinking behaviors on others. Drinking behaviors occur when excessive alcohol use changes the way the drinker's brain functions. These brain changes results in any number of hurtful behaviors, such as: verbal, physical or emotional abuse, driving while impaired, domestic violence, committing a crime or sexual assault, to name a few. It is estimated 90 million Americans and millions more worldwide are directly affected by SHD. This includes: family members (spouses, children, parents, siblings), close friends or co-workers, boyfriends, girlfriends and innocent bystanders. Through contact with people directly affected, millions more also experience it. Classmates, in-laws, extended family, co-workers, roommates, law enforcement officers, teachers and the like typically fall into this group.The ripple effect of SHD can also be as indirect as the taxes paid by citizens to cover the costs of alcohol-related crimes (law enforcement, courts, jails and probation). Or the increased alcohol and SHD related health care costs or safety issues born by a company or agency. Or it can be the social costs of child abuse, domestic violence and impaired driving paid by a community and those most directly involved.How This Quick Guide Can Help YouLearning about secondhand drinking with the help of new science will improve your: * Physical fitness and mental health.* Ability to do your job safely and effectively.* Stress management. * Family's wellness.* Ability to avoid or protect yourself from drinking behaviors. * Ability to avoid driving impaired or riding in a car with an impaired driver.No one sets out to cause secondhand drinking and no one sets out to cope with it in harmful ways. This science, this common term and the information this Quick Guide provides can help those causing SHD and those coping with it learn what it takes to change.