What Is Alcohol Abuse or Alcohol Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic disease that involves uncontrolled, continued substance pursuit and use despite any harmful consequences. Individuals who suffer from alcohol addiction are often diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), and they may also have developed a dependency on alcohol.
The effects alcohol has can vary between people, and there are factors that influence those effects, including age, health status, family history, and how much and how often one drinks.
What are Common Methods of Alcohol Abuse?
Binge Drinking and Heavy Drinking
Binge drinking is excessive drinking that is defined as 5 or more drinks in 2 hours for a man and 4 or more drinks for a woman. Most people who are binge drinkers are not identified as alcohol dependent.
One in 6 adults report binge drinking approximately 4 times each month, and binge drinking occurs most commonly among adults aged 18-44. Binge drinking can lead to numerous health problems, including alcohol poisoning, car accidents, violence, sexually transmitted diseases, cancer (including breast, mouth, liver, and colon), and memory and learning problems.
Pregnant Women and Alcohol
Alcohol can present various dangers during pregnancy, and there is no known level of use that is considered safe. All types of alcohol are dangerous.
Drinking while pregnant is dangerous because the alcohol is passed on to the baby and can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and numerous physical, behavioural, and intellectual development issues, including low body weight, poor coordination, hyperactive behaviour, poor memory, learning disabilities, poor judgement skills, visions or hearing problems.
Teen Alcohol Use
Many teenagers misuse alcohol due to the accessibility of the substance and peer pressure. In fact, alcohol tops the list of drugs used by teenagers, per the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In fact, more than 8% of 8th graders, 18% of 10th graders, and 30% of 12th graders were current alcohol drinkers in 2018.
Teenagers who misuse alcohol may exhibit signs including low energy, having alcohol paraphernalia, concentration problems, problems with coordination, mood swings, changing social circles, declining academic performance, behavioural issues/rebelling, smelling of alcohol.
Teens who use alcohol are at an increased risk in a number of ways. Teens who drink may be sexually active and participate in unprotected sex more often than teens who do not consume alcohol. These teens are also at an increased risk of becoming a victim of rape or assault.
They may also get injured or die in car crashes involving alcohol. Not only can alcohol abuse alter how a teen acts, it can also have adverse effects on the adolescent brain.
Studies show that brain development continues past the teenage years. Alcohol abuse during the brain’s formative years can negatively impact how the brain develops and can also lead to learning problems and increase the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder in the future.
Signs and Health Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse symptoms can vary. Binge drinking and excessive use of alcohol have a wide range of consequences, from nausea and headaches from a hangover to severe liver problems from chronic drinking. In the short term, drinking too much can be very dangerous, sometimes deadly. Effects may include:
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Headaches.
Slurred speech.
Impaired judgement.
Anxiety.
Insomnia.
Trouble concentrating.
Memory loss.
Problems breathing.
The risk of significant personal harm or long-term health problems are increased with chronic alcohol consumption. People who use excessive amounts of alcohol are at higher risk of:
Mouth, esophageal, throat, liver, and breast cancer.
Raised risk of heart problems, such as cardiomyopathy.
Brain damage.
Weakened immune system.
Liver disease.
Pancreatitis.
Ulcers.
Violence or self-harm.
Accidents, such as vehicle collisions.
How is Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosed?
Abuse of alcohol has the potential to lead to an alcohol use disorder. An AUD is a chronic disease in the brain that is defined by the compulsive use of alcohol, an inability to control how much you drink, and negative feelings when you are not drinking. Signs that may indicate an alcohol use disorder include the following:
Neglecting personal/family responsibilities.
Declining academic or professional performance.
Depression.
Conflicts with loved ones.
Preoccupation with drinking and cravings.
Inability to control drinking.
Failing in attempts to stop drinking.
Needing increasing amounts of alcohol to feel its effects.
Getting drunk when it could be hazardous, such as before driving.
Going through withdrawal when not drinking.
Alcohol Combining with Other Drugs
Alcohol use disorder often occurs in the presence of another substance use disorder. In 2017, 16% of individuals entering treatment for substance use used alcohol alone vs. 37% entering treatment for AUD along with a co-occurring substance use disorder. Many people combine alcohol use with a prescription or illicit drugs. This can have dangerous and possibly even deadly consequences.
Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Treatment
Individuals who wish to overcome problems with alcohol use or who suspect they may have alcohol use disorder have a number of options.
Many of the individuals who are treated for alcoholism and alcohol abuse often seek outside help from treatment centers and therapy sessions.
Alcohol treatment centers are designed to help individuals who are addicted or who abuse alcohol in a number of ways. Some treatment centers require an individual to stay at the center for a specific amount of time while others offer outpatient treatment. Many centers offer both long- and short-term treatment options.
During treatment, individuals go through detoxification. Detoxification is the set of interventions used to keep a person safe as they readjust to a lack of alcohol in the body. Medical detox is extremely important for someone dependent on alcohol because withdrawal can cause delirium and potentially life-threatening seizures, along with other very serious symptoms.
Treatment with therapy and possibly medication should follow detox. Treatment centers are designed to provide support in the form of individual therapy, as well as group therapy and educational classes on drug addiction. During therapy sessions, patients can explore their reasons behind their excess alcohol consumption, as well as what they can do to overcome their abusive behaviour.
Inpatient treatment allows patients to receive care in a structured, controlled environment. With housing, medical care, and various forms of therapy, inpatient treatment can be best for those who do not have an effective home support system or are dealing with a more severe form of alcohol abuse.
For more information and to read the full article, please click the link below:
Comments