Alcoholism Facts

Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a chronic disorder characterized by compulsive, repeated, and excessive consumption of alcohol to the extent that the individual's health, social and economic functioning is impaired. Alcoholism has four symptoms namely craving, loss of control, physical dependence and tolerance.

Craving is a strong urge or need to consume alcohol and loss of control is the inability to control the amount of intake of alcohol. Tolerance can be explained as the need for increased amount of alcohol every time to feel the alcohol's effect.

In 2002 and 2003, binge alcohol use rates for persons aged 12 to 20 were among the lowest in Utah (13.7 percent) and among the highest in North Dakota (32.5 percent). The Southeast and West Coast States had lower rates of binge alcohol use than States in other regions.

image: doctor listening to heart of elderly male alcoholic

The factors that lead to alcoholism could be genetic, environmental, psychological or social. Often alcoholism remains undetected for years.

Alcoholism does not depend on the kind of alcohol an individual consumes but it depends on the quantity, long period of addiction and the uncontrollable need of it. Some individuals are able to recover from alcoholism easily while there are others who may require medical assistance.

People with drug and alcohol problems can get well; they can regain their physical health and well-being and improve their relationships with others. This happens when the person has stopped using drugs or alcohol and is “in recovery.

Excess alcohol or alcoholism can lead to serious health problems. Short-term effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech and impaired judgment and coordination.

Prolonged and excessive use of alcohol can lead to depression, heart failure, liver cirrhosis, damage to vital organs, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunctions and even brain and nervous system damage.

Several studies have shown that about half of alcoholics who have successfully undergone detoxification will relapse within 6-12 months. The point: remaining alcohol-free is a very difficult task for most alcoholics and most heavy alcohol abusers.

Alcoholism has a direct effect on the liver. Alcohol effects appear within 10 minutes of consumption and are at their peak for about 40-60 minutes.

image: woman suffering from terrible hangover

Since alcohol remains in the blood stream until the liver metabolizes it, continuous and increased consumption of alcohol strains the liver and increases the danger of liver breakdown.

Alcoholism in pregnant women leads to birth of infants with fetal alcohol syndrome in which case the infants suffer from mental retardation and irreversible physical abnormalities.

Various researches indicate that 53% of the men and women in the US report that one or more of their close relatives are affected by alcoholism. 15% of the population in US constitutes problem drinkers, which means that 14 million persons are affected by alcoholism in US alone.

When a person tries drinking alcohol once or twice out of curiosity, this is called experimental alcohol use. Novice alcohol users run the risk of a lack of tolerance to alcohol, and of not knowing how they will react, as well as the risks that may be associated with the effects of alcohol.

Alcoholism provides detailed information on Alcoholism, Alcoholism Treatments, Signs Of Alcoholism, Effects Of Alcoholism and more. Alcoholism is affiliated with Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

Substance abuse research has shown that family members frequently minimize, deny, or enable drug and alcohol abuse and addiction without full awareness. As a consequence, these concerned family members often further perpetuate the abusive and addictive behavior with good intentions such as assuming economic or family responsibilities and protecting the person from from the painful and unhealthy outcomes of abuse and addiction. In short, well-meaning family members may unintentionally add to the drug and alcohol abuse statistics.