Alcohol abuse and alcoholism
Alcohol abuse refers to excessive or problematic consumption of alcohol, which can progress to a condition known as alcoholism. Alcoholism is characterized by a physical dependence on alcohol, leading to an inability to control or limit drinking habits. Various risk factors contribute to both alcohol abuse and alcoholism, including genetic predispositions, mental health issues, social influences, and early exposure to alcohol. Symptoms of alcohol abuse may include neglecting responsibilities, engaging in risky behaviors, and legal troubles, while symptoms of alcoholism consist of cravings, increased tolerance, and continued use despite negative consequences.
Diagnosis often involves a series of questions and possibly blood tests to assess the extent of alcohol-related issues. Treatment typically aims for complete abstinence and may include medical intervention for withdrawal, medication to curb cravings, and therapy to develop coping mechanisms. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) also play a crucial role in recovery. Additionally, movements encouraging temporary breaks from alcohol, like "Dry January," aim to promote awareness of drinking habits and their impacts on health. Engaging in these practices can lead to physical and mental benefits, fostering healthier lifestyles.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism
DEFINITION: Alcohol abuse is characterized by excessive or problematic alcohol consumption. It can progress to alcoholism. Alcoholism is a condition characterized by a physical dependence on alcohol and an inability to stop or limit drinking.
Risk Factors and Symptoms
Several factors can contribute to alcohol abuse and alcoholism, including genetics, brain chemistry, social pressure, emotional stress, chronic pain, depression or other mental health problems, and problem drinking behaviors learned from family or friends. Other factors that increase the chance of developing alcoholism include a family history of alcohol abuse (especially for men whose fathers or brothers are alcoholics), alcohol use at an early age (beginning when younger than fourteen years), illicit drug use, peer pressure to drink, easy access to alcoholic beverages, the presence of psychiatric disorders, and cigarette smoking.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defined what at-risk and heavy drinking means. The behaviors put an individual at risk for developing alcohol use disorder that can lead to health and emotional problems. For healthy adult men, at-risk behavior means drinking more than four drinks on any day or more than fourteen drinks per week; for women, it means drinking more than three drinks on any day or seven drinks per week. People can also be at risk by having one heavy drinking day per month, one heavy drinking day per week, or two or more heavy drinking days per week. The standard in the United States is approximately 0.6 fluid ounces of 100 percent alcohol per drink.
It is common for a person to deny an alcohol problem, and alcohol abuse can occur without physical dependence. Symptoms of alcohol abuse include repeated work, school, or home problems due to drinking; risking physical safety to drink; recurring trouble with the law, often involving drunk driving or violent behavior; and continuing to drink despite alcohol-related difficulties. Symptoms of alcoholism include craving alcohol; an inability to stop or limit drinking; needing greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect; giving up activities in order to drink or recover from drinking alcohol; drinking that continues even when it causes or worsens health problems; and wanting to stop or reduce drinking but being unable.
It is also important to understand and recognize withdrawal symptoms. Drug withdrawal is an unpleasant physical reaction that occurs when a substance-dependent person suddenly stops using drugs or alcohol. Withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, sweating, shaking, anxiety, increased blood pressure, and hallucinations and seizures (known as delirium tremens). The brain, nervous system, heart, liver, stomach, gastrointestinal tract, and pancreas are all damaged by alcoholism.
Diagnosis
To help with diagnosis, doctors ask a series of questions to assess possible alcohol-related problems:
• Have you tried to reduce your drinking?
• Have you felt bad about drinking?
• Have you been annoyed by another person’s criticism of your drinking?
• Do you drink in the morning to steady your nerves or cure a hangover?
• Do you have problems with a job, your family, or the law?
• Do you drive under the influence of alcohol?
• Blood tests may be done to look at the size of red blood cells and to check for alcohol-related liver disease and other health problems.
Treatment
Treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence is aimed at teaching patients how to manage the disease. Most professionals believe that this requires giving up alcohol completely and permanently. The first and most important step is recognizing a problem exists; successful treatment depends on the desire to change. A doctor can help an individual withdraw from alcohol safely. Recovery may require supervised care in a detoxification center. Certain medications can help to relieve some of the symptoms of withdrawal and to prevent relapse. A doctor may prescribe medication to reduce cravings for alcohol. Medications used to treat alcoholism and to prevent drinking include naltrexone (ReVia, Vivitrol), which helps to block the cravings for alcohol; disulfiram (Antabuse), which will make individuals sick if they drink alcohol; and acamprosate (Campral), which reduces cravings for alcohol. While these medications are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and groups such as the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have recommended consideration of such medication use as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, particularly for those who do not respond to psychosocial methods, some studies have shown varied efficacy between individuals and stage of treatment. Additionally, by the early 2020s some studies had shown that an anticonvulsant drug, topiramate (Topamax), may reduce alcohol dependence; further research into this drug as well as others continued.
Therapy helps individuals to recognize alcohol’s dangers. Education raises awareness of underlying issues and lifestyles that promote drinking. In therapy, recovering alcoholics work to improve coping skills and learn other, more adaptive ways of dealing with stress or pain. Additionally, recovery groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), help many people to stop drinking and stay sober. AA members meet regularly and provide support for each other throughout the recovery process. Family members may also benefit from attending meetings of Al-Anon, as living with an alcoholic can be a painful, stressful situation. The general statistics on treatment outcomes for alcoholism vary according to the type of treatment, including inpatient or outpatient, as well as length; overall, most experts note that barriers such as finances have remained that keep a significant number of people from seeking treatment. According to a survey of 2,136 American adults conducted in the early 2020s by the Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab, a collective of drug rehabilitation centers, 29.4 percent of respondents reported complete abstinence following rehabilitation while 32.3 percent reported relapsing within the first year after stopping.
Taking Breaks from Alcohol
By the 2020s, movements around making concerted efforts to take at least short, designated amounts of time away from consuming alcohol had grown in popularity. Several experts emphasized the health benefits tied to even brief periods of abstinence, including increased amounts of sleep, weight loss, and improved concentration as well as energy. As part of a more widespread effort to encourage taking breaks away from alcohol consumption, both online and physical groups formed and promoted periods such as "Dry January" and "Sober September" to support periods of sobriety as well as an overall assessment of one's alcohol intake habits. In addition to sharing some of the physical and mental benefits experienced during these times, many have offered suggestions for different ways to socialize that do not involve alcohol, such as recipes and venues for alcohol-free cocktails, and new activities to engage in instead of drinking alcohol.
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