Alcoholism : A Growing Problem

Alcoholism is a major social issue around the world today. The ProQuest Staff of SIRS Researcher defines alcoholism as excessive use of alcohol that eventually results in dependence, or addiction where the body craves a drug. There are roughly 140 million alcoholics currently in the world, which results in higher rates of crime, abuse, illness, car crashes, and lower productivity in work (ProQuest Staff). According to Dr. Mark Willenbring, most

First, before I could answer this question, I had to do a little research. Alcohol addiction is a physical dependence on alcohol which occurs gradually. Over time, drink too much alcohol changed the balance of chemicals in your brain associated with the pleasure aspects of drinking alcohol. Excessive, long-term drinking can affect the balance of these chemicals, causing your body to crave alcohol to restore good feelings or to avoid negative feelings. “Alcoholism was officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1991”. ( http://www.learn-about-alcoholism.com/alcoholism-disease.html ).

Most alcoholics won’t admit to having a dependence on alcohol. Due to their reluctance to acknowledge they may have a problem, it could be tricky to diagnose and treat them. So it’s usually up to the people around them to be able to see the signs of alcoholism. Even the most heavily addicted drinker is unlikely to show every sign and symptom, and not every alcoholic will display the same ones.

Recurrent arguments or fights with family members or friends … Temporary blackouts or memory loss … Continuing use of alcohol to relax, to cheer up, to sleep, to deal with problems, or to feel "normal" … Headache, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, or other unpleasant symptoms when one stops drinking …

Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug in the United States. Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in failure to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home; drinking in dangerous situations; having recurring alcohol-related legal problems; and continued use despite having medical, social, family, or interpersonal problems caused by or worsened by drinking (APA, 1994). Approximately fourteen percent of people experience alcohol dependence at some point during their lives (Kessler et al., 1997). Alcohol dependence refers to a more serious kind of alcohol use disorder and involves three or more of the following: tolerance, withdrawal, drinking more over a longer period of time, inability to cut down or stop, spending a great deal of time drinking, and giving up important social, recreational or occupational activities (Cunha, 2014).

Both alcoholism and alcohol abuse are each categorized as different cases. Alcohol abuse is different from alcoholism because people who are just alcohol abusers still have the ability to stop when they need, or to have the common sense to know when they have had too much. Alcohol abuse is still a very serious case though;

1. What is alcoholism? 2. How do people become alcoholics? 3. What are the effects of alcoholism, on both the alcoholic and their family? 4. How do you diagnose alcoholism? 5. Is there a cure for alcoholics? 6. What is the treatment? What is Alcoholism? Alcoholism can be defined as the dependency on alcohol; addiction to alcohol. It is a chronic disease, this disease called alcoholism is progressive and potentially fatal. “ In 1966 the American Medical Association (AMA) declared Alcoholism a disease, but it is still judged morally by society” said Father Martin. There are different types of alcoholics, the first type of alcoholic is the everyday drinker. These alcoholics drink on a daily basis with a high dependency on alcohol. A

Recognizing that one has a problem is the first step in treatment. For most alcoholics, the next step is detoxification, which is the medical management of severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Patients undergoing detox (detoxification), which usually requires less than a week, usually stay in a specialized residential treatment facility or a special unit of a hospital.

There are two different kinds of drinking problems that people may struggle with at some point in their life. The first is alcoholism, which is the illness that alcoholics suffer from. An alcoholic is an individual who has a physical or mental desire to consume alcohol beyond his or her capacity to control it (O’Connor, 2011). As an alcoholic drinks more, his or her tolerance increases. This means he or she will need more alcohol in order to feel drunk. He or she may also experience a physical dependence; if they do not consume alcohol they will begin to experience withdrawal symptoms. The other type of drinking problem that someone may have to deal with is alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is when an individual’s drinking leads to problems, but they are not physically dependent on alcohol. These problems may occur at work, school, home or in their personal relationships. It can also lead to problems with the law when using alcohol in dangerous situations, such as drinking and driving (O’Connor, 2011). Despite the difference, both alcoholism and alcohol abuse are classified as a mental illness according to the DSM-5. Interestingly, there has been an increase in the amount of women who are suffering from these mental illnesses, but their difficulties can be mitigated with the help of group therapy.

Alcohol is a drink that consumed socially, but most often people take it too far and it becomes an addiction. Most people drink it to relax or even decrease the chances of having anxiety, but when consumed too often it becomes alcohol abuse called alcoholism. Alcoholism is an addiction of an uncontrollable desire to intake alcohol, alcoholism can also be known as alcohol dependency. Many people suffer from this addiction unknowingly the consequence it has on the brain. People who are addicted to alcohol is not only harming themselves but it can also affect the people around them and their daily lives. Loss of employment, deaths by car accidents, and health problems are some of the consequences of alcoholism.

(Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2015, p. 1). It helps to know the signs so you can make a change early. Mild symptoms that most people might not see as trouble, can progress to the start of a drinking problem. (Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2015) state that other signs include, “repeatedly neglecting your responsibilities at home, work, or school because of your drinking and by using alcohol in situations where it’s physically dangerous” (p.1). For instance, abusers may forget future commitments due to being hung over, drive while being intoxicated, or mixing alcohol with prescription medication. The good thing is that you shouldn’t worry that you have certain signs or symptoms because you can take steps to reduce your risks.

A brief but descriptive overview of Alcohol use disorder can be obtained from this website. First, information is presented about what alcohol use disorder is, and what the disorder includes. Alcohol use disorder is a condition in which a person has a problem controlling their intake of alcohol. A person will continue to use alcohol even when it causes problems. This disorder includes a level of severity called alcoholism. Next, symptoms are briefly explained, including not being able to control the alcohol intake, strong cravings, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This site considers both genetic, social, and environmental causes for this disorder. Risk factors are also introduced, including age, social and cultural factors, family history,

• Difficulty controlling drinking, i.e. persistent desire to drink or unsuccessful attempts to cut down on drinking

What is alcoholism? Alcoholism is a chronic disease where a person becomes dependent on liquor. One in every twelve adults suffer from Alcoholism. Alcohol is one of the most abused substance in the United States. There are over 80,000 death in the United States due to excessive drinking. Alcoholism has many names two of the most common are Alcohol Use Disorder, and Alcohol Dependence Syndrome. A person who is dependent on alcohol is usually called an alcoholic.

The four symptoms of alcoholism are loss of control, craving, physical dependence, and tolerance. Loss of control, which is the inability of an individual to limit his or her alcohol consumption, usually occurs when a person has experienced or entered an emotional segment of his or her