Overcoming Alcoholism
Alcohol is a legal drug, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t the cause of enormous problems. Indeed, it is the most commonly consumed drug in the Western hemisphere, and alcohol addiction is probably responsible for destroying more lives and marriages than all other kinds of drug-addiction combined together!
For most persons who drink, alcohol is a pleasurable accompaniment to community events. Moderate alcohol use - up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and elder people - is not harmful at all for most adults. (A normal drink is one 12-ounce flask 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 large number of persons get into significant trouble because of their drinking.
Currently, almost 14 million Americans - 1 in every 13 adults - abuse alcohol or are alcoholic! Several million more adults engage in risky drinking that could lead to liquor problems. These patterns include binge drinking and excessive drinking on a steady basis. Furthermore, 53 percent of men and females in the United States admit that one or more of their close relations have a drinking difficulty.
The effects of alcohol misuse are serious - in many cases, life threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system problems, brain injury, and harm to the unborn baby during pregnancy. In addition, drinking increases the risk of mortality from vehicle crashes as well as recreational and on-the-job accidents. Furthermore, both murders and suicides are more probable to be committed by persons who have been drinking. In purely economic terms, alcohol-connected problems cost our community approximately $185 billion per year. In human terms, the cost cannot be calculated.
Alcoholism, also identified as ‘alcohol addiction’ is a sickness that includes four symptoms:
* Craving: A fierce need, or compulsion, to drink.
* Loss of control: The inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occurrence.
* Physical dependency: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, trembling, and fear, occur when liquor use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
* Tolerance: The need to drink ever greater amounts of alcohol in order to ‘get high’.
Although some people are able to recover from an alcohol dependency without help, the majority of alcoholics need assistance. With care and support, many individuals are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives and relationships.
Many persons wonder why some individuals can use alcohol without problems but others cannot. One necessary explanation has to do with genetics. Scientists have discovered that having an alcoholic family member renders it more likely that if you elect to drink you too may develop alcoholism.
Genes, though, are not the whole story. In fact, scientists now believe that certain elements in a person’s background influence whether a person with a genetic risk for an alcohol dependency ever develops the disease. A individual’s risk for developing alcoholism can increase based on the person’s surroundings, including where and how he or she lives; loved ones, friends, and cultural values; peer pressures; and even how easy it is to get liquor.
Alcohol abuse is distinct from an alcohol dependency in that it does not include an extremely strong longing for liquor, loss of control over drinking, or physical dependence. Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that concludes in one or more of the succeeding situations within a 12-month period:
* Failure to fulfill crucial work, university, or home responsibilities
* Drinking in situations that are entirely hazardous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery
* Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically injuring someone while under the influence.
* Continued drinking despite having constant relationship problems that are caused or exacerbated by the drinking.
Although alcohol abuse is different from alcoholism, many results of alcohol abuse are also suffered by alcoholic persons.
Although alcoholism 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 predisposed to relapses and must continue to shun all alcoholic beverages. Cutting down on drinking just doesn’t seem to work, but cutting out liquor completely seems to be necessary for a effective recovery. However, even individuals who are determined to stay temperate may suffer one or several or relapses, before achieving long-term sobriety.
Relapses are very common and do not mean that a human being 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 enormously important time, both to the individual and to his or her loved ones. If a relapse happens, it is very necessary for the alcoholic simply to attempt sobriety once again and to get whatever superfluous support they need to refrain from drinking.
Tags: Depression