Alcoholism and alcohol abuse
Alcoholism (alcohol dependence) and alcohol abuse are two different forms of problem drinking.
Alcoholism occurs when a person shows signs of physical addiction to alcohol (for example, tolerance and withdrawal) and continues to drink, despite problems with physical health, mental health, and social, family, or job responsibilities. Alcohol may come to dominate the person's life and relationships. In alcohol abuse, a person's drinking leads to problems, but not physical addiction.Alcoholism Symptoms
Popular thought condemns the alcoholic as a morally unfit individual too "weak-willed" or "unwilling" to stop drinking. This simply isn't true. Alcohol is an addictive drug, and alcoholism is a disease, not a personality flaw. Like any disease, alcoholism has specific symptoms.
Alcoholism Symptom #1: Craving Craving alcohol is perhaps the most misunderstood alcoholism symptom. Alcohol consumption is an over-riding compulsion for the alcoholic. "Willpower" or "strength of character" is rarely sufficient to overcome alcoholic cravings. The compulsion to drink can be as powerful an urge as eating and drinking for an alcoholic.
Alcoholism Symptom #2: Loss of Control Once an alcoholic begins to drink, he or she cannot control the urge to continue drinking. This is another alcoholism symptom that contributes to the misconception that the alcoholic is weak willed. However, the compulsion to keep drinking is beyond the alcoholic's control.
Alcoholism Symptom #3: Physical Dependence An alcoholic gradually develops a physical
dependency on alcohol, as the body and brain become accustomed to alcohol's effects. If the alcoholic abstains from alcohol, withdrawal symptoms result. These symptoms include nausea, anxiety, physical shaking and irritability when deprived of alcohol. In severe cases, withdrawal symptoms can include delirium tremens, which produces severe tremors and seizures.
What is a safe level of drinking? · two drinks per day for men · one drink per day for women |
Alcoholism Symptom #4: Tolerance Over time an alcoholic develops a physical tolerance to the effects of alcohol due to chemical changes in the brain. Tolerance results in the alcoholic requiring progressively greater amounts of alcohol to feel the drug's pleasurable effects. High tolerance levels for alcohol exacerbate other alcohol symptoms and health complications.
Alcohol Abuse Symptoms
Alcohol abusers have negative and debilitating drinking patterns that are not accompanied by the symptoms of alcoholism. While alcohol abusers don't experience craving, uncontrollable drinking, physical dependence and tolerance, alcoholics may experience many of the signs of alcohol abuse.
Alcohol abuse results in one or more of the following conditions over a twelve-month period:
· failure to meet responsibilities at work, home or school
· risky, dangerous drinking, such as drinking while driving
· regular law enforcement conflicts related to drinking, such as driving under the influence or assault while drunk
· continued drinking in spite of the negative effects of alcohol on career, health or relationships.
Warning Signs of Alcoholism or Alcohol Abuse
Warning Signs of Alcoholism or Alcohol Abuse
These are common signs of alcohol abuse:
· drinking alcohol to get to sleep
· drinking for socialization
· drinking to relax or relieve stress
· hiding alcoholic drinks or empty bottles
· lying about alcohol consumption
· no memory of events while drinking
· inability to stop drinking
· Worrying that alcohol may run out over a holiday or weekend.
The CAGE Questions
Can you answer "yes" to any of these questions?
· Have you ever felt the need to Cut down on alcohol consumption?
· Are you Annoyed when people question your drinking habits?
· Do you feel Guilty about your alcohol use?
· Have you ever used alcohol as an Eye Opener to recover from a hangover?
Note that the CAGE questions are guidelines, not clear diagnostic criteria. Some
What risk factors are causes of alcoholism?
people answer no to all four problems, but are still diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol abuse. If alcohol adversely affects any area of your life, either socially, at work or at home, consult a health professional about your drinking habits.
Genetic: If your parents or grandparents were addicted to alcohol, the chances are strong that you will be vulnerable to the disease. Healthcare professionals will take a family history to look for risk factors for many diseases. Alcoholism is no different. Children of alcoholics will not necessarily become alcoholics themselves, but the medical history indicates a possibility.
Emotional Makeup: People may use alcohol to block the pain in the life. Alcohol is used as a coping device and there are certain stress hormones that may contribute to the progression of the disease.
Psychological: People suffering from depression or low self esteem may be more likely to develop a drinking problem. They are more likely to try to “fit in” with their friends, who “enable” the problem to continue.
Social: Alcohol is legal, readily available and drinking is socially acceptable. Alcohol is promoted heavily in the media, and having a few beers before, during and after a sporting event is part of American culture. There is a peer pressure to drink, to be a part of the crowd.
Frequency: Drinking alcohol regularly can cause alcoholism. People who drink regularly over time may be at risk of developing a physical dependence on alcohol. If studies show that one/two drinks per day for the average person (15 per week for men, 12 per week for women) is within safe limits, then it follows that going beyond that limit can produce problems.
Age: Young people are at greater risk of developing alcoholism, especially if they start drinking by age 16 or sooner.
Gender: Men are more likely to develop the disease than women.
If a person has risk factors at play, that does not mean they are automatically going to develop the disease; it is not necessarily a causes of alcoholism. It is possible, likewise, for a person with no risk factors at all, no family history, to develop the disease. It is important for people to know the risk factors and the causes of the disease to avoid getting into trouble with alcohol.
It can’t happen to me!
Another common mistake people make is assuming “it won’t happen to me.” In a society that glorifies alcohol consumption, from beers at sporting events, to fine wines at upscale establishments, the risk factors are obvious. Two martini lunches and bourbon on the rocks after office hours are indicators that
Americans embrace alcohol use. Alcohol is everywhere. Education is important, to understand how the disease progresses, how it can be managed or avoided, and how it impacts our society in general.
Not everybody who drinks develops the disease, but it is important to understand that it is possible and that moderation is a key element in maintaining a healthy balance. If there are risk factors present, if a person begins to use alcohol more frequently, or daily, then there may be a problem.
Everywhere in our culture
Because alcohol is so prevalent in our society, because it is so widely accepted if not embraced, it is difficult to see when a person is slipping from social drinking into something more problematic. The individual who is on the downward slide is not likely to recognize any of the signs and therefore needs others to intercede.
Sources: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
http://www.healthtree.com
http://www.alcoholism-support.org
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