As with all addictive behavior problems, it is very difficult for a person to acknowledge the existence of a drinking problem. This means that people suffer for many more years than it is necessary. Although, we are talking about physical dependence, there are many genetic, psychological and social factors that contribute to this addiction.
Alcohol addiction is defined as having at least 3 of the following signs:
- a tolerance for alcohol (needing increased amounts to achieve the same effect),
- withdrawal symptoms,
- taking alcohol in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than it was intended,
- having a persistent desire to decrease or the inability to decrease the amount of alcohol consumed,
- spending a great deal of time attempting to acquire alcohol, and finally,
- continuing to use alcohol even though the person knows there are reoccurring physical or psychological problems being caused by the alcohol
Incidence of alcoholism
Most of the adults in the UK drink alcohol moderately and on a social basis. About one in five men and one in seven women drink more regularly than the Department of Health suggests is strictly safe for good health. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, almost 18 million Americans have problems with alcohol abusing. Each year more than 100,000 Americans die of alcohol-related causes. Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all U.S. traffic deaths. Some researches indicate that about 15% of the population in the United States are problem drinkers, and approximately 5% to 10% of male drinkers and 3% to 5% of female drinkers can be diagnosed as alcohol dependent (12.5million people).
Components of alcohol addiction
Psychological addiction
It involves several things which convince a person that they have some benefits from the use of the alcohol. For example, some people think that it allows them to better handle stress or similar.
Physical addiction
It involves the physical adaptation of a person's biological systems to the continued presence of alcohol in their system.
It is very important to know that, a decrease in the level of alcohol causes withdrawal symptoms, which can even be deadly.
Neuro-chemical addiction
It involves the bypassing of existing learning mechanisms in order to convince the system that an addictive behavior is good for it. The most important substance that is involved in this part of addiction is endorphin. Endorphin is the substance whose purpose is telling the mind that a behavior is good for it. Endorphin is normally produced into the blood stream during sex, exercise etc.
Symptoms of alcoholism
When someone becomes dependent or addicted to alcohol, they:
- Develop a strong sense of compulsion to drink
- May drink shortly after waking to reduce feelings of alcohol withdrawal
- Develop a reduced capacity to control how often and how much they drink
- Organize their lifestyle around drinking
- Drink alone
- Make up excuses to drink
- Need daily or frequent use of alcohol for adequate function
- Have episodes of violence associated with drinking
- Show hostility when confronted about drinking
- Neglect the food intake
- Neglect their physical appearance
- Experience nausea and vomiting
- Experience shaking in the morning
- Feel abdominal pain
- Feel numbness and tingling
- Experience confusion
Alcohol effects on health
Short term effects
When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, enters the bloodstream, and goes to all the tissues. The effects of alcohol are dependent on a variety of factors, including a person's size, weight, age, and sex, as well as the amount of food and alcohol consumed. Immediately after the intake of a large amount of alcohol, there are several characteristic symptoms. Some of the most common are:
- slurred speech
- a loss of co-ordination
- instability when standing or walking
- impaired attention and judgment
- sleepiness
A hangover is another effect that may occur after large amounts of alcohol have been consumed; a hangover consists of a headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue.
Long term effects
When a person has been abusing alcohol for a long time, at least for several years, there are many symptoms that may occur. Some of the most common are:
- death,
- pancreatitis,
- heart disease,
- polyneuropathy - damage to the nerves leading to poor sensation or pain
- cirrhosis of the liver,
- depression, insomnia, anxiety, and suicide,
- an increased incidence of many types of cancer, including breast cancer, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer
- nutritional deficiency of folic acid, thiamine (vitamin B1) and several others
- personality changes particularly those affecting social behaviour and relationships with those who are close to the alcoholic
- a significant damage to occupational, social, and interpersonal areas, including sexual dysfunction
Possible causes of alcoholism
Chemical imbalance
Alcohol addiction occurs gradually as drinking alcohol alters the balance of some chemicals in brain. Some of those chemicals are
o gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
o glutamate
o dopamine
Genetics
Although, these findings aren’t proven yet, several experts are saying that certain genetic factors may cause a person to be vulnerable to alcoholism or other addictions.
Emotional state
High levels of stress, anxiety or emotional pain can sometimes provoke a desire to drink alcohol in some people. Certain stress hormones may be associated with alcoholism.
Psychological factors
It is easy to understand that having low-self esteem or suffering from depression can make a person more likely to abuse alcohol. Another important factor is company and friends. Having friends that drink regularly, can easily lead to excessive drinking on your part.
What are the risk factors?
Drinking
The most important risk factor for developing an addiction is drinking by it self. Most of the people are not aware of this. Drinking over 15 drinks a week for men or 12 drinks a week for women increases the risk of developing alcohol dependence.
Age
It is proven that people who begin drinking at an early age are at a higher risk of becoming an alcoholic.
Genetics
Certain genetic structures may cause imbalance in several brain chemicals and increase a person’s risk of alcohol dependency.
Gender
Men are more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
Family history
The risk of alcoholism is higher for people who had a parent or a close family member who abused alcohol.
Emotional disorders
A person that’s being severely depressed or is having issues with anxiety is definitely at greater risk of abusing alcohol. Adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may be more likely to become dependent on alcohol.
Treatment of alcoholism
Although every treatment is completely individual because every alcoholic drinks for its own reasons, there are some guidelines that should work for every addicted person.
Determining the level of dependence
The first step in the treatment should be determining the level of dependence. This is because if a person hasn't lost control over the use of alcohol, the treatment may only involve a reduction in drinking habbits. If a person is seriously dependent on alcohol, cutting back is inappropriate and ineffective.
Residential treatment programs
Most of these programs include
- abstinence,
- individual and group therapy,
- participation in Alcoholics Anonymous,
- educational lectures,
- family involvement,
- work assignments,
- activity therapy and
- the use of counselors and professional staff
Drug treatments
The classical use of medications for alcoholism is to encourage abstinence.
There are several medications that are being used in the alcoholism treatment and the most common is Disulfiram (Antabuse).
What is the most important thing that every person should know about this drug? Disulfiram won't cure alcoholism nor can it remove the compulsion to drink, but if a person drinks alcohol, the drug produces a severe physical reaction that includes flushing, nausea, vomiting and headaches.
Naltrexone (ReVia), a drug long known to block the narcotic high, also belongs to this group of medications which reduce a recovering alcoholic's urge to drink.
Acamprosate (Campral) is an anti-craving medication that may help combat alcohol cravings and remaining abstinent from alcohol.
Detoxification and withdrawal
Detoxification is often the first step in every successful treatment because body tissues and blood must be cleared of all the traces of alcohol. It usually takes about four to seven days. Patients may need to take sedating medications to prevent delirium tremens or other withdrawal seizures. Most common withdrawal symptoms are:
- Rapid heart rate and sweating
- Restlessness or agitation
- Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
- Confusion or hallucinations
- Tremors and seizures
Psychological support and psychiatric treatment
Alcoholism is almost impossible to overcome alone, but with the help of others, a large number of people find recovery. Both group and individual counseling and therapy support can really help in recovery from the psychological aspects of alcoholism. Sometimes, the emotional symptoms of the disease may mimic psychiatric disorders. It is very important to know that effective treatment is impossible unless a person accepts that he or she is addicted and unable to control drinking. Aftercare programs and AA help recovering alcoholics abstain from alcohol, manage relapses and cope with necessary lifestyle changes.