The term "alcoholism" refers to a disease known as alcohol dependence and labeled as a syndrome, the most severe stage of a group of drinking problems which begins with binge drinking and alcohol abuse. There are many controversies as to the disease concept of alcoholism that will be discussed on the following text. The information provided below about alcoholism is an attempt to explain some of the misleading information about alcoholism and the components of alcohol addiction.
Alcoholism - is it a disease?
Alcohol problems occur at different levels of severity, from mild and annoying to life-threatening. Although alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is the most severe stage, less severe alcohol consumption or alcohol abuse can also be dangerous.
For many people, the facts about alcoholism are not clear. What is alcoholism? Is it different from alcohol abuse? When and how should a person seek help? Or find out if he has alcoholism or suffering alcohol abuse?
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has prepared the following information to help individuals and families answer these and other common questions about alcohol problems. Also the NIAAA and the American Medical Association purports that alcoholism is disease, having done so in 1966.
Therapist would then lay claim that treating alcoholism as a disease would help the alcoholic understand the nature of the problem. The logic backfired causing the alcoholic to be removed any and all responsibility of the condition he or she is currently in. Nevertheless, medical professionals and American society devotedly embraced the disease concept and quickly applied it to every possible abnormal deed from alcohol abuse to compulsive lecturing.
The disease concept was a universal remedy for many failing medical institutions adding billions to the industry and leading to a prompt evolution of pop-psychology. Research has shown that alcoholism like drug addiction, at the onset is a choice, not a disease, and stripping alcohol abusers of their choice, by applying the disease concept, is a threat to the health of the individual.
In hindsight the disease concept has effectively increased alcoholism, drug addiction and substance abuse. What's more its only benefit has been vast financial gain for the professionals’ and governmental agencies responsible for providing recovery services. Specifically, it has not offered a solution for those attempting to stop alcohol abuse or drug addiction.
The information below will explain alcoholism and alcohol abuse, symptoms of each, when and where to seek help, treatment choices, and additional helpful resources.
Alcoholism, which is also known as "alcohol dependence syndrome," is misleadingly labeled as a disease that is characterized by the following elements:
• Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
• Loss of control: The frequent inability to stop drinking once a person has begun.
• Physical dependence: The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. These symptoms are usually relieved by drinking alcohol or by taking another sedative drug.
These cravings and physical maladies associated with alcohol withdrawal and alcoholism comes about after the person has consumed the alcohol not before. Unlike cancer, or other commonly known diseases where the symptoms are apparent and at the onset and clarify the problem. The things that convolute the subject of alcoholism as a disease is it just plain doesn't seem like one. It doesn't look, sound, smell and it certainly doesn't act like a disease. To make matters worse, generally it denies it exists and resists treatment.
Alcoholism has been labeled for many years by professional medical organizations as a primary, chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease. Probably the simplest way to describe it is "a mental obsession that causes a physical compulsion to drink."
Mental obsession? Like a song that keeps playing over and over in your head or a thought that hangs around for days. Alcoholism and the abuse of alcohol or any drug has certain subsequent physical effects that override the need to stop. Alcoholism and drug addiction set off a series of mechanical alterations of the function of the brain and body. This creates a dependency when the alcoholic has used alcohol as means to reach a certain emotional state thereby superseding any problems that may arise as a result of the abuse.
Alcoholism and Alcohol abuse damages the body and brain.
Different parts of the brain are more sensitive to alcohol than others. Alcohol is a toxin that damages the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and nervous system. Alcoholism and chronic alcohol abuse causes organic damage that manifests itself both physically, psychologically and in the behavior of people affected.
Physically it is manifested through loss of balance, impotence, numbness of the feet and hands, tremor and in blindness.
Psychologically and behaviorally by loss of intellectual abilities, impaired ability to learn and in mental confusion.
Alcohol abuse causes a condition called delirium tremens in which the person experiences mental confusion, extreme excitement, anxiety, trembling, rapid pulse and hallucinations.
Alcoholism and Alcohol abuse causes cirrhosis of the liver - Alcoholism and alcohol abuse damages the liver. If the damage is severe it is known as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can lead to liver failure, liver cancer and death.
Alcoholism causes infection and chronic inflammation - Inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) and digestive system leads to ulceration. Perforation of the stomach and intestines is life threatening. Inflammation of the digestive system means that food is not digested or absorbed properly.
Inflammation and infections are associated with poor diet, malnutrition, lifestyle changes, accidents and self neglect. Diseases include pneumonia, kidney and urinary tract infections, kidney failure and pancreatitis.
Alcoholism and alcohol abuse causes malnutrition- Vitamin deficiency is due to an inability to absorb or a lack of various vitamins. Wernicke's disease and Korsakoff's syndrome are characterized as a memory disorders caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1, also called thiamine.
Alcoholism causes Cardiovascular problems- Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure, it can damage your heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). Damage to the cardiovascular system can put you at increased risk of heart failure or stroke.
Alcoholism causes sexual problems- Erectile dysfunction is common in men with alcohol problems.
Alcoholism can cause Cancer- Alcoholism has been linked to a higher risk of cancer of the esophagus, larynx, colon and the liver.
Alcoholism and the need for Alcohol Addiction Treatment
The statistics are not good. About 14 million people in the United States abuse alcohol or are alcoholic, that's 1 in every 13 adults according to the NIAAA. Statistics indicate that across all ages men are four times more likely than women to be heavy drinkers. Men are twice as likely to be alcohol abusing or alcohol dependant. Compulsive drinking causes major health problems. Each year more than 100,000 Americans die of alcohol-related causes.
AddictionWatch.com
When in need of substance abuse treatment for alcoholism or looking for the right addiction treatment center, it is important to consider all the facets of alcoholism, drug addiction or substance abuse and realize there are drug rehab programs out there that do not necessarily have the best interest of you or you’re loved one at heart.
Most substance abuse treatment centers for alcoholism offer one of four types of drug or alcohol rehabilitation programs that vary in cost, length and most importantly success. These programs offer many different kinds of treatment for the recovery of addicts, like inpatient treatment, outpatient rehab, detox facilities, and sober living homes. Inpatient addiction treatment is generally designed for addicts who require more intensive treatment from their addictions where they will reside with supervision and counseling from certified addiction treatment professionals. Outpatient addiction treatment is usually for those addicts who have less severe addictions and might achieve success in a drug rehabilitation program with a few addiction counseling sessions a week for several hours, then return home at the end of the day. Detox is the first step in recovering from addiction to alcohol and benzodiazepines and offered at some addiction treatment centers, but only those with medical equipment and staff on hand to handle the safe detoxification of addicts in a comfortable environment.
For more information about addiction and addiction treatment centers, please feel free to explore our website. If you have questions about your drug use or that of a loved one, please call us at 1-866-989-4499. We are here to help!
