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Definitions of and Treatment for Alcohol Abuse Essay

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One out of every thirteen adults are considered to be an alcoholic or to suffer from drinking problems. Alcoholism is a developmental disease that progresses slowly over a number of years and is based on both the physical and emotional dependency on alcohol. In many cases it leads to brain damage or early death. Alcoholism is a chromic disease, which means that it will last a person’s lifetime. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced by both a person’s genes and their lifestyle.

Early symptoms of alcoholism includes putting an excessive importance on the availability of alcohol. An alcoholic usually has a high tolerance to alcohol, which means they are able to drink more and show less side effects when compared to another …show more content…

It can permanently damage the central and peripheral nervous systems. If an alcoholic withdrawals from drinking it can cause shaking limbs, Hallucinations, and blackouts: Which can be fatal if they are not treated properly.

Recent studies show that approximately fifty-three percent of adults in the United States have one or more close relatives that have drinking problems. Alcohol Abuse has cost the United States more than 220 billion dollars in 2005 alone. Problem drinkers are most often found in young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 years old, and the fewest in adults who are 65 years of age or older. Alcohol Abuse is one of the major risk factors for violence, and research shows that fifty percent of all homicides and forty percent of all assaults in the United States are alcohol related. In the United States, more than forty percent of the people who start drinking when they are fourteen years old or younger are more likely to become alcoholics than those who don’t. One in ten Americans, currently have alcohol problems.

Alcoholics have the option of involving themselves in a treatment group, which may be an individual therapy, or a group therapy. (AA) Alcoholics Anonomous is one of the treat ent groups that is available, using the twelve step method in approaching sobriety. Some other treatment methods include doctor prescribed medications, which help to decrease the craving for alcohol. Some examples of prescribed medications that are

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