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Although alcohol use is widespread among United States citizens, recent reports indicate that this trend is a burgeoning public health disaster. According to a recent article published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol use in the United States ought to be recognized as a national health problem that is frequently associated with increased risk of death, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and numerous cases of personal injury (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). According to this report, although binge and underage drinking is a preventable cause of death, it has been linked to more than 79, 000 deaths annually (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). The report also cites that, alcohol-related problems cost the United States taxpayer billions of dollars to the tune of $185 billion annually, both in terms of healthcare costs and criminal justice expenses. This revelation is a cause for alarm because, in Bernard Turnock’s analysis on the leading causes of death in the United States in 2000, alcohol abuse was not ranked even among the top twenty. In Table 2-2 the leading cause of death (as per the number of deaths) was heart disease, Cancer, and Cardiovascular diseases respectively (Turnock, 2007). Bearing in mind that, alcohol abuse increases the prevalence and risks factors leading to chronic diseases (health problems, some forms of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases), this current news report is neither overrepresented nor underrepresented. On further analysis, other health factors outlined in Table 2-2 such as; unintentional injuries (5), chronic liver disease and Cirrhosis (12), and Chronic Obstructive lung disease (4) could also be attributed to alcohol abuse (Turnock, 2007 ).
Conversely, while analyzing the actual causes of death in the United States, Turnock (2011) associated alcohol consumption with 85,000 deaths in 2000 (Table 2-4). This number is higher than the current estimates of 79,000, which indicates a slight underestimation bearing in mind that alcohol consumption has been escalating steadily. On the same note, recent research findings published in ScienceDaily concluded that social-economic factors could be blamed for causing a considerable number of deaths in the United States (ScienceNews 2011). Previously, researchers have been concerned about the contribution of physiological factors such as; heart and cancer problems as well as behavioral risks factors including dietary, physical inactivity, and dietary patterns to the numerous untimely deaths in the United States. However, recent research has shifted towards the role of social factors and increasing cases of premature death in the United States (ScienceNews 2011). Consequently, the current research study conducted by researchers from Colombia University Mailman School of Public health concluded that poverty, lack of effective social support, poor education levels, and other social factors led to as many deaths as those caused by a heart attack, lung cancer and strokes in the United States (ScienceNews 2011). Likewise in Table 2-5, Turnock (2011) underscores that low-income families were susceptible to myriad preventive health problems as compared to high-income families. According to Turnock (2011), the likelihood of low incomes families succumbing to adverse health risk conditions was two to five times higher than that of higher-income families. Similarly, the current research report estimates that over 4.5% of deaths in the U.S could be directly linked to poverty (ScienceNews 2011). This projection falls within the previous range; hence it is neither underestimated nor overestimated. In Table 2-5, Turnock (2011) highlights various health outcomes in regard to low income such as severe asthma, infant mortality, low birth weight, fatal injuries, fair or poor health among other outcomes. The aforementioned health outcomes have been blamed for numerous preventable deaths; thus healthcare policy should be formulated to address these social factors to reduce preventable mortality in the United States.
The significant role of mass media in informing and educating the public on health matters has attracted noteworthy research. Of great concern is the implication of utilizing mass media as the key disseminating tool for public health issues. According to Leask, Hooker, and King (2010), health authorities have always entrusted the media to disseminate and educate the wider public on essential health information, due to its ability to reach out to a wider audience. The most public have access to at least one of the myriad mass media channels such as radio, newspapers, television, and the internet (Leask, Hooker & King, 2010). However, although the media plays an enormous role in generating public responses to public health issues, it has also been blamed for encouraging unhealthy choices (Leask, Hooker & King, 2010). For instance, although it is through the media that we get to know the devastating effects of excessive alcohol consumption, the same medium has been accused of promoting alcohol consumption through enticing advertisements.
In addition, the fact that the media has unparalleled reach indicates that it would be grievous if erroneous health information was to be broadcasted (Leask, Hooker & King, 2010). The latter authors underscore that health authorities should ensure that only truthful and justifiable health information was leaked to the media to avoid instances of misinforming the public. The above implies that the role of the media in public health should be viewed as both a blessing and a curse. Moreover, considerable effort should be aimed at eliminating the negative implications of the media in order to promote positive public health responses.
References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Excessive Alcohol Use Addressing a Leading Risk for Death, Chronic Disease, and Injury at a Glance 2011. Web.
Leask, J., Hooker, C. & King, C. (2010). Media coverage of health issues and how to work more effectively with journalists: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 10: 535-550.
ScienceNews (2011). How Many US Deaths Are Caused by Poverty and Other Social Factors? About the Same as Deaths from Heart Attacks and Stroke, Study Finds. ScienceDaily. Web.
Turnock, B. J. (2007). Essentials of Public Health. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
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