alcoholism

What is Alcoholism?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcoholism is “a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.”

      Symptoms:
          -craving (a strong need or compulsion to drink)
          -impaired control (the inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion)
          -physical dependence (withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking)
          -tolerance (the need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects)

Alcohol Abuse VS Alcoholism

Alcohol abuse is a pattern of problem drinking that can have major health and societal consequences. Problem drinkers are prone to violence, car accidents, and other problems.

Alcoholism is a disease that is characteristic by abnormal alcohol-seeking behavior, or lack of control over drinking.

While alcohol abuse and alcoholism are basically different, it is important to note that alcoholics experience many effects of alcohol abuse.

Effects of Alcohol

Short-term:
       -distorted vision, hearing, and coordination
       -altered perceptions and emotions
       -impaired judgement
       -bad breath
       -hangovers

Long-term:
       -loss of appetite
       -vitamin deficiencies
       -stomach ailments
       -skin problems
       -sexual impotence
       -liver damage
       -heart and central nervous system damage
       -memory loss

Alcoholics and alcohol abusers are also at high risk for premature death from:
       -organic complications involving the brain, liver, heart, and other organs
       -overdose, suicide, homicide, car accidents, and other traumas

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) report that 1 person dies in an alcohol-related car crash every 32 minutes. 2 more people are injured in alcohol-related automobile crashes every minute. In 1996, over 17,000 persons died in alcohol-related traffic crashes. That same year, about 1,058,990 people were injured in alcohol-related crashes.

Risk Factors

People with a family history of alcoholism should be particularly alert to signs of a problem. About Ľ of US adults either report they currently have a drinking problem or report drinking patterns that place them at risk for developing alcohol problems. Most experts agree that at least 10% of the population has an alcohol problem.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that in the US:

       -1 in every 13 adults (14 million adults) abuses alcohol or is alcoholic.
       -more men than women are alcohol dependent or experience alcohol-related problems.
       -rates of alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults 65 years and older.
       -rates of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems vary among major ethnic groups.
       -young white males were almost twice as likely as young black males to have an alcohol use disorder.

Over half of the people in the US report that at least 1 of their close relatives has a drinking problem.

Treatment

Most people who have an alcohol problem find it difficult to get the help they need. But the sooner they do the better their chances for recovery. While there is no cure at this time, alcoholism is a treatable disease. Recovery takes hard work, commitment, help, and honesty.

The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment 1-800-622-HELP

Alcoholic’s Anonymous (check local phonebook under alcoholism or call 1-212-870-3400)

Al-Anon (for spouses and significant adults in the alcoholic life) and Alateen (for children of alcoholics): US 1-800-344-2666 Canada: 1-800-443-4525

Please read the following poem:

Near to the door
He paused to stand
As her took his class ring
Off her hand
All who were watching
Did not speak
As a silent tear
Ran down his cheek
And through his mind
The memories ran
Of the moments they walked
And ran in the sand (hand and hand)
But now her eyes were so terribly cold
For he would never again
Have her to hold
They watched in silence
As he bent near
And whispered the words…
‘I LOVE YOU’ in her ear
He touched her face and started to cry
As he put on his ring and wanted to die
And just then the wind began to blow
As they lowered her casket
Into the snow…
This is what happens
To man alive…
When friends let friends…
Drink and drive.

Author Unknown