Abstract
The term “alcoholism” describes a drinker who is mentally and physically dependent on alcohol, and who would most likely have withdrawal symptoms upon trying to quit. This dependence prevents most alcoholics from being able to control when they drink and how much they drink. For that reason, alcoholics usually drink to excess despite the consequences. Alcoholism, like any addiction, is a chronic disorder which involves continued use despite negative consequences and requires ongoing treatment and management. This research paper will cover many aspects of alcoholism including the causes and effects of drinking and different treatment approaches.
Alcohol Addiction: A Growing Epidemic Alcohol’s importance in our social history is
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Drinking can cause a person to have a complete personality change and become violent or hostile after drinking. They may also become irritable or panicky during times when a drink is expected. An alcoholic may drink to the point of black out; this is where they don’t remember what they’ve done or said that happened during a bout of drinking. A definite red flag for alcoholism is when a person has to have to drink in the morning when they first wake up.
Physical symptoms also occur after within an individual addicted to alcohol. Such symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, trembling, and loss of appetite. Signs of physical withdrawal after a period of not drinking, such a waking up in the morning, start occurring because their body builds up a tolerance and then can’t function properly without the alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms begin within 6 to 48 hours and peak about 24 to 35 after the last drink of a person with alcoholism. (Alcoholism, 2010).
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.
Causes
Alcoholism doesn’t happen all at once; this disease takes hold of a person slowly, over time. There are
A person enduring the trials of alcoholism will often suffer from a relapse. It is improbable, not impossible, that any person pursuing a life free from alcohol dependency will not have multiple relapses, which often are impulsive and craving like. Alcohol dependency is often a chronic and relapsing illness (“Factors In Alcoholic Relapse”). The best preventive measure to a life independent of alcohol is the understanding of the factors prior to relapse. During the recovery from alcohol dependency a relapse is often precipitated by emotional stress, boredom, and lack of support.
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 …
Alcoholism has been a major problem in the world for hundreds of years. Most people that deal with alcoholism became alcoholics because they needed a quick and easy way to de-stress. After long days at work or arguments with family and friends, the first thing they do is start drinking to make their stress go away. No one wakes up and decides, “I’m going to become an alcoholic today.” No one wants to be an alcoholic but bad things happen. If you are not careful with alcohol then you can easily become an alcoholic.
Most people have a confused idea of alcoholism as a disease that invades or attacks your good health. Use of such a strong word such as "disease" shapes the values and attitudes of society towards alcoholics. A major implication of the disease concept is that what is labeled a "disease" is held to be justifiable because it is involuntary. This is not so. Problem drinking is a habit in which the so-called "alcoholic" simply has decided that the benefits of drinking outweigh the liabilities; it is all a matter of personal choice. An alcoholic participates in or causes many of their own problems by their behavior and the decisions they make, so why should they be viewed as helpless victims of a "disease"(Skipper 1)? Alcoholism should not be
While alcoholism is a complex disease, it starts generally as a person being a social drinker. These people first start as a person who drink during a social occasion, drinking is usually a second activity for them. The early stage of alcoholism is regularly a person who feels guilty about their drinking, or
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.
(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.
Before we go any further, lets learn a little bit more about alcoholism. According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, Alcoholism is the habitual or compulsive consumption of alcoholic liquor to excess. An alcoholic is
Throughout people’s lives, everyone has been educated on the consequences of drinking and also even doing drugs. Everyone has learned that if you drink more than necessary after a long period of time, one could even become a slave to the delicious poison. For instance, people who were abused as children in a physical, sexual, or even emotional way can be influenced to become an alcoholic (Elliot 842). There is also “a gene linked to alcoholism apparently does not cause the disorder, but may increase the severity of its symptoms, as well as the symptoms of several other psychiatric and neurological conditions” (“Alcohol Gene” 213). However, if you fall into the bitter ecstasy called alcoholism, there are treatments that will help cure you and support you the whole time. In order to receive the help and get cured, you must want it enough to deal with withdrawal symptoms and adjusting to not drinking anymore. Alcoholism can affect the lives of those who abuse alcohol on an everyday basis; however, there are treatments to cure the addiction.
Alcohol dependence is powerful and takes hold of all aspects of the patient’s life from their physiological health to their mental well-being. Furthermore, matters of finance and personal relationships also suffer from the crippling effects of the user’s drinking problem.
“Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.”(The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2013)
Anybody that has had a bit too much to drink recognizes some of the immediate effects, such as nausea and vomiting, however binge drinking, and heavy drinking over a long period of time can wreak havoc
Alcoholism is a chronic and it often progressive disease. In which, the person drink alcohol until drinking hurt his or her life. Alcoholics find that, drink those people who have problems with people close to them, with school or work, and with other parts of their lives. If you do not used any treatment
The mental affects that come with being an alcoholic are endless. Frequent mood swings, decreased motor skills, and behavior during withdrawal are some of the most noticeable mental affects caused by alcoholism. An alcoholic can be having a great time but once they are to the point of blacking out, they
Signs of Alcoholism are spending a lot of money and time in consuming alcohol. People with Alcoholism choose to drink instead of dealing with responsibilities such as going to work, and dealing with family responsibilities. Alcoholics engage in risky behavior like driving a car while intoxicated, having unprotected sex and abusing drugs. A person who abuses alcohol often builds a tolerance which means they need a significant amount of alcohol to reach a level of intoxication. A person who consumes a lot of liquor often has severe withdrawals when they don’t have liquor in their