Understanding Alcoholism

Alcohol is a legal drug, but this doesn't mean it isn't the cause of extensive problems. Indeed, it is the most commonly abused drug in the Western world, and alcohol addiction is undoubtedly to blame for destroying more lives and marriages than all other forms of drug-addiction combined together!

For most people who drink, liquor is a pleasant accompaniment to community gatherings. Moderate alcohol use - up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and senior persons - is not harmful at all for most adults. (A normal drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of either beer or wine spritzer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled alcoholic spirits.) Nonetheless, a great number of persons get into considerable trouble because of their drinking.

Currently, just about 14 million Americans - 1 in every 13 adults - abuse alcohol or are alcoholic! Several million more adults take part in perilous drinking that could lead to alcohol problems. These patterns include binge drinking and excessive drinking on a regular basis. Moreover, 53 percent of men and females in the United States state that one or more of their close blood relatives have a drinking problem.

The consequences of alcohol over-use are severe - in many cases, life threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for specific cancers, specifically those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain impairment, and harm to the developing child during pregnancy. Furthermore, drinking heightens the risk of mortality from automobile crashes as well as recreational and on-the-job accidents. Furthermore, both murders and suicides are more likely to be committed by persons who have been drinking. In purely economic terms, liquor-associated problems cost the community roughly $185 billion per year. In human terms, the cost cannot be calculated.

Alcoholism, also referred to as 'alcohol dependency' is a sickness that includes four symptoms:

• Craving: A potent need, or compulsion, to drink.
• Loss of control: The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occurrence.
• Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, perspiring, shakiness, and apprehension, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a stint of heavy drinking.
• Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of liquor in order to 'get high'.

Although some people are able to recover from alcoholism without help, the vast majority of alcoholic persons need assistance. With care and support, many individuals are able to stop drinking and reform their lives and relationships.

Many persons question why some individuals can use alcohol without problems but others cannot. One necessary reason has to do with genetics. Scientists have discovered that having an alcoholic loved ones member makes it more probable that if you elect to drink you too may develop an alcohol dependency.

Genes, though, are not the whole story. In fact, scientists now believe that particular factors in a individual's background effect whether a person with a genetic risk for an alcohol dependency ever develops the illness. A person's risk for developing alcoholism can increase based on the human being's surroundings, including where and how he or she lives; family, friends, and culture; peer pressure; and even how easy it is to get alcohol.

Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not involve an enormously strong longing for alcohol, loss of self control over drinking, or physical addiction. Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:

• Failure to accomplish crucial work, college, or home responsibilities
• Drinking in situations that are entirely unsafe, such as while driving a car or operating machinery
• Having repetitive liquor-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk.
• Continued drinking despite having ongoing marriage problems that are caused or exacerbated by the drinking.

Although liquor abuse is different from an alcohol dependency, many results of alcohol abuse are also suffered by alcoholics.

Although an alcohol dependency can be treated, a cure is not yet available. In other words, even if an alcoholic has been dry for a long time and has regained physical well-being, he or she remains vulnerable to relapses and must continue to shun all alcoholic drinks. Cutting down on drinking just doesn't seem to work, but cutting out liquor completely seems to be mandatory for a positive recovery. However, even individuals who are determined to stay temperate may suffer one or quite a few or relapses, before achieving long-term sobriety.

Relapses are very common and do not mean that a person has failed or cannot recuperate from alcoholism. Keep in mind, too, that every day that a recovering alcoholic has stayed sober prior to a relapse is and extremely worthwhile time, both to the individual and to his or her family. If a relapse does occure, it is very important for the alcoholic simply to attempt sobriety yet again and to get whatever other support they need to refrain from drinking.

For more information on Alcoholism visit us at http://www.addictiontodrugs.org/drug_addiction.php