Get Rid Of Alcohol

Changing a Person’s Drinking Behavior

Thousands of articles have been written and countless research studies have been undertaken regarding alcoholism. In spite of this, the one finding that has apparently failed to reverberate throughout the alcohol abuse and alcoholism academic and medical communities is the emphasis on the fact that alcohol addiction has its roots in alcohol abuse. While this fact has many ramifications, perhaps the key upshot of this fact is that millions of non-alcoholic individuals in our society and throughout the world who engage in abusive drinking can address their drinking consumption and make healthy and positive changes in their drinking behavior before they become alcohol dependent.

One school of thought sees alcohol abuse in the following way: alcohol abuse takes place whenever an individual’s drinking causes a problem in any aspect of his or her life.

The areas of a person’s life where alcohol abuse commonly leads to problems includes the following:

· relationships
· employment
· school
· finances
· health
· the law (for instance, a DUI).

The Need for Positive and Healthy Change

Now that we are aware of the problems that are usually associated with alcohol abuse, it can be seen that in order to overcome these difficulties and issues it is important for the alcohol abuser to look in the mirror and honestly ask himself or herself if alcohol is causing a problem in any facet of his or her life.

As an additional component in the quest for healthy and positive change, problem drinkers need to understand that continued, repetitive, and heavy drinking can and does turn into alcohol addiction. Stated differently, millions of non-alcoholics in our society who have a drinking problem will, at some point in their lives, experience a transition from alcohol abuse to alcohol dependency. When this happens, it must be emphasized, the person will no longer simply be an alcohol abuser. Indeed, at this point, the person will be an alcohol abuser and an alcoholic.

Signs of Alcohol Addiction

How can a person tell if he or she is alcohol dependent? First, the experience of alcohol withdrawal symptoms when an individual suddenly stops drinking is one sign that alcoholism has reared its ugly head.

Second, repetitive and out-of-control drinking behavior is another indication that a person has become an alcoholic. What this usually means is that after consuming the first drink, the individual lacks control over stopping his or her drinking and therefore continues to drink until he or she becomes inebriated.

Alcohol Addiction Has Its Roots in Alcohol Abuse Read the rest of this entry »

You can take the alcohol out of alcoholism but what is left is the “ism” part of this disease. The “ism” part of alcoholism is the psychological and personality issues which go hand in hand with the actual over consuming of alcohol.

How do you know if they are an alcoholic?

The question of whether or not someone is suffering from alcoholism is an age old issue. And the truth is, there is not a hard and fast rule. The best answer anyone has been able to come up with is to look at the behavior and the results, or consequences, of that behavior in and on the individual’s life circumstances. Without getting into the entire evaluation process, the three key questions are; one, how much and how often do they drink alcohol. Two, what impact is and has drinking had on their life? And three, when you have a drink (or two) what happens? In other words does the person, once they start to drink alcohol, then end up consuming far more alcohol that they intended? This last question is the disease part of alcoholism. Your body has lost the ability to process alcohol and can no longer tolerate any of it, even in small amounts. Arguments can be made in the age old question of whether it is genetically connected, or not. Read the rest of this entry »

Alcoholism is a social problem, not unique to any single population. It is often present where there are socio-economic limitations. Alcoholism is a major social, economic, and public health problem. Alcohol is involved in more than half of all accidental deaths and almost half of all traffic deaths. Alcoholism is not confined to the metropolitan areas, however. Many are the housewives in the better areas who drink all day long while the hubby is away.

Alcoholism is a physical dependence upon alcohol, but there are also genetic factors as well as psychological and social factors that contribute to the disease. Family history, emotional and psychological stress all plays a big part as well as the constant exposure to alcohol. Alcoholism is generally defined as a disease of the body, mind and spirit. Alcoholism is responsible for more family problems than any other single cause. According to Silverstein (1990), one of every four families has problems with alcohol. Read the rest of this entry »

There are many definitions of alcoholism. The most common definition of alcoholism is that “alcoholism is a horrible disease that affects the whole person “. However this definition may also apply to cancer or other dreadful diseases. Alcoholism cannot be defined simply as a disease caused by prolonged consumption of alcohol. The amount and frequency of drinking will determine alcoholism.

A more accurate definition of alcoholism suggests a chronic disorder characterized by some loss of control over drinking. Drinking more frequently and at inappropriate times will point towards alcoholism. Alcoholism is a common term for two distinct disorders. They are alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.

The medical definition of alcoholism describes alcoholism as a disease caused by continuous consumption of alcohol. The quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption required to develop alcoholism will vary from person to person.

Alcoholism is also qualified by some other expressions. They include use, misuse, heavy use, abuse and dependence. Use is a term which simply refers to a person who drinks any alcoholic products. Misuse and heavy use do not have any standard definitions. Heavy use of alcohol will vary from person to person depending upon the age, alcohol brand and so on.

Alcohol abuse is one of the serious problems which lead to poor nutrition, memory loss, difficulty in walking and liver diseases. It will also generate mental stress, depression, fatigue, employment problems, family problems etc. Alcohol abuse may also involve the drinker in legal problems at some point in his life. The drinker will continue to drink at this stage irrespective of his health and family problems. Read the rest of this entry »

WHY THE CRAVINGS?

Craving certain substances is not a matter of corrupt morals or weak wills. It is often a series of learned behaviors and body chemistry.[i] Something as simple as a genetic background can predict potential alcohol problems. For instance, people from Middle East background have been using alcohol for over 2,000 years. As a sharp contrast, some groups of people, such as the Inuit or Eskimo have been exposed to alcohol and refined starches for less than 100 years. Their bodies have not had the thousands of years to adapt to a substance that is largely foreign to them. (Before you dismiss me as a racist, read on.) Read the rest of this entry »

“Are you an alcoholic, Andy?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think I’m an alcoholic.”

“Do you want to quit drinking?”

Andy thought for a moment, and whispered, “Yes. I want to quit.”

“Then the first thing you have to do is admit you’re an alcoholic. You can’t possibly quit until you do that.”

“I know I drink a lot. But how do I know if I’m an alcoholic? It’s not like I’m on skid row or something.”

“It sounds like you’re in denial, Andy. Nothing will change until you admit you’re an
alcoholic.” Read the rest of this entry »

“Scientists announced that they have located the gene for alcoholism. Scientists say they found it at a party, talking too loudly.” Conan O’Brien [American late night Talk Show Host. b. 1963].

Although much can be said about alcoholism and its impact on society, one thing is clear- We are breeding a nation of alcoholics. Drinking has become part of our national past time. I myself have been guilty of the excessive use of alcohol- a condition not learnt until university days when, some may say, I took a “crash” course in drinking. Read the rest of this entry »

Alcoholism is the inability to control or ignore a strong craving for alcohol. People suffering from alcoholism often find that they need the aid of alcohol to feel good or normal. They often crave alcohol, but this craving is much stronger than the occasional craving people have for certain foods. The craving for alcohol experienced by those suffering from alcoholism is often so severe that the individual feels they need alcohol as if it were food or water. They do not feel they can go a day, or in some extreme cases, an hour, without consuming alcohol.

Alcoholism is not characterized by the type of alcohol consumed or how much alcohol is needed to satisfy the craving. Alcoholism is characterized mostly by the loss of control. Alcoholics often build up a tolerance to alcohol over time. This means they need more and more alcohol to satisfy their need for it. As they consume more and more alcohol, serious health problems manifest themselves. Alcoholism also affects the sufferer psychologically, as well as physically.

Alcoholism differs from alcohol abuse in that a person who abuses alcohol does not display a loss of control over their drinking. An individual who abuses alcohol may act irresponsibly while under the influence. They may also put themselves and others in danger by driving or operating machinery while drinking. Relationships may suffer, as with alcoholism and work performance may become careless. While alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism, it can be a serious problem and should not be ignored.

There are many symptoms of alcoholism. Many of the symptoms of alcohol abuse are also displayed by those suffering from alcoholism. Some symptoms include drinking alone or secretly (hiding the fact that they are drinking), memory loss (also known as “blacking out”), ritually drinking at certain times during the day and becoming irritable when this ritual is disturbed, feeling the need to drink to feel normal, loss of interest in relationships or activities that were once enjoyed, experiencing financial, marital, or legal problems caused by drinking, building a tolerance to alcohol or experiencing withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is not available. These symptoms are just a few of the possible symptoms that could be displayed by alcoholics. Read the rest of this entry »

Alcohol and health effects of alcohol on the body can be short term or long term effects. The consumption of alcohol and health related problems can occur over a short time frame, while other conditions and long term effects of alcohol on the body may only happen following years of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol comes into direct contact with the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and intestines as well as being absorbed into the bloodstream. Health problems can begin as headaches, feeling nauseated, sore throat or indigestion. However, if alcohol abuse continues, these and other alcohol and health symptoms can develop into more serious illnesses and diseases.

Here are examples of short term health effects of alcohol on the body:

o Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, Hangovers – excessive alcohol consumption can result in the body trying to protect itself by getting rid of the alcohol and vomiting. Alcohol and health and the central nervous system are related since alcohol affects a person’s sense of balance and orientation, leading to a feeling of nausea and/or dizziness. Hangovers are partly due to the body’s dehydration caused by alcohol consumption, and hangover effects of alcohol on the body may be felt a few hours after consuming alcohol.

o Loss of Muscle Control – slurred speech is one of the effects of alcohol on the body. Impaired judgement and poor coordination are alcohol and health effects that can lead to falls and accidents.

o Adverse Interactions with Medications – alcohol is known to interact negatively with at least 100 medications. For example, antihistamines taken with alcohol can increase the drowsiness that this medication by itself can cause. Large doses of the painkiller acetaminophen taken together when consuming alcohol increases the risk of liver damage.

o Pregnancy Risks – alcohol can cause numerous birth defects, the most serious being fetal alcohol syndrome. Babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome will have physical abnormalities, mental impairment and problems with behavior. To avoid negative alcohol and health effects during pregnancy, do not drink alcohol while pregnant as no one knows exactly how much alcohol causes birth defects.

Because alcohol and health effects can involve many organs in the body, long-term heavy drinking puts you at risk for developing serious health conditions and illnesses. Here are examples of long term effects of alcohol on the body:

o Liver Inflammation and Cirrhosis of the Liver – liver inflammation symptoms include abnormal yellowing of the skin, eyeballs and urine, fever and abdominal pain. And in the case of cirrhosis, as many as one in five heavy drinkers will develop cirrhosis of the liver. Alcohol is especially harmful to the liver since the liver is needed to metabolize alcohol. Alcohol destroys liver cells, and it destroys the ability of the liver to regenerate new cells. Read the rest of this entry »

Physical effects of alcohol can range from annoying to life-threatening. The short term effects of alcohol consumption not only have consequences for the drinker, but can impact those around him or her as well. For example, the physical effects of alcohol can be experienced with only one or two drinks, and impaired judgment and coordination needed to safely operate a car can result in the drinker having an accident.

Alcoholism is a disease where consuming alcoholic beverages is at a level that interferes with the drinker’s physical or mental health, and negatively impacts social, family or occupational responsibilities. Immediate physical effects of alcohol can happen ten minutes after drinking begins. With continued alcohol consumption on that occasion, the short term effects of alcohol consumption become more serious.

Here are seven of the short term effects of alcohol consumption:

1. Reduced Inhibitions – consuming alcohol changes behavior. At a blood alcohol level of 0.05, the drinker’s behavior begins to change and be noticable. Physical effects of alcohol and reduced inhibitions can mean the drinker becomes more likely to engage in activities they would otherwise not participate in like sexual activity, continued drinking, drinking and driving or illegal drug use.

2. Loss of Muscle Control – at the level of 0.10, slurred speech will likely be one of the physical effects of alcohol. Impaired judgement and poor coordination are short term effects of alcohol abuse that can lead to falls and accidents.

3. Memory Loss and/or Blackouts – since alcohol depresses the brain’s control mechanisms, as blood alcohol levels increase, periods of time and certain situations and events may not be remembered afterward.

4. Nausea, Vomiting – excessive alcohol consumption can result in the body attempting to protect itself by getting rid of the alcohol. Also, alcohol adversely affecting a person’s sense of balance and orientation can lead to a feeling of nausea.

5. Headaches, Hangovers – these short term effects of alcohol can be felt a few hours after consuming alcohol. Hangovers are partially due to the body becoming dehydrated due to alcohol consumption. Read the rest of this entry »