Get Rid Of Alcohol

There are a number of tests and tools used to identify possible alcoholism symptoms. Many of these tools are self-administered or professionally administered questionnaires. These are designed to help the alcohol abuser identify his or her own symptoms of addiction.

There are five major tests used by addiction counselors and alcohol abuse programs. These include the CAGE questionnaire, the Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Paddington Alcohol Test. To learn more about each one, keep reading.

The CAGE

The CAGE Questionnaire is an acronym based on the four simple questions that it uses. It is a popular test because it’s simple and often takes seconds to administer. To identify or diagnose addiction, a respondent must answer “yes” to two of the following questions. Have you ever thought you should cut down on drinking? Have your family and friends ever addressed or criticized your drinking? Do you feel guilty about your drinking? Do you ever need a drink to start your day or to alleviate a hangover?

The person is then initially diagnosed with alcoholism if answering “yes” to two or more of the above questions. It’s designed specifically for alcoholism and not intended to be used to identify other drug dependencies.

The ADDQ (Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire)

The ADDQ not only attempts to identify alcohol dependence, but also determine the severity of that dependence. It’s a little more comprehensive than other tests and typically takes a few minutes to administer.

The ADDQ is used mostly throughout Europe and the UK, but it’s also utilized in some areas of the United States. It consists of 15 questions and actually gives respondents a score on a scale of 0 to 45. A score that comes in higher than 20 typically infers a high level of alcohol dependence. Read the rest of this entry »

Binge drinking is most often linked to college campus fraternity parties, dorm escapades and athletic event celebrations. Walking down the street on the campus of the University of Wisconsin on our way to Camp Randall Stadium for a football game, we see the young men hanging out dorm rooms, frat houses and apartment buildings, guzzling beer and ten sheets to the wind at 11:00 in the morning. Call it a right of passage, or just something young men in college do, but it has potential for being very deadly. Beyond drunk is alcohol poisoning and the party is over.

Simply put, alcohol poisoning is the body absorbing too much alcohol over a short period of time. The college campus binge drinking is a good example, but it happens just about anywhere, any time. It can also be caused by drinking ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, or methyl alcohol (wood alcohol). Home made alcohol such as moonshine or white lightning can be potentially very dangerous. The body can only take so much. Because alcohol depresses the central nervous system, massive amounts of alcohol, or the wrong kind of alcohol in heavy amounts, not only can cause a person to pass out, but stop breathing as well.

The slowing of breathing is just one sign of trouble. Before they pass out, a person might have vomiting, be confused or in a kind of drunken stupor, their temperature might drop and their skin might have a “blue” tinge to it. They may experience seizures. Even if all of these symptoms are not present, alcohol poisoning might still be happening. If someone has had way too much and passes out, they may be at risk of dying. Read the rest of this entry »

Although the use of the term ‘alcoholism’ is common, it has varying definitions. It usually refers to any condition which causes a person to keep drinking alcohol despite the evident negative medical and social consequences. The compulsion to drink alcohol, and a lack of awareness of the negative effects of heavy drinking are also referred to as ‘alcoholism’. Not all definitions of alcoholism specify that recent or continuous intake of alcohol is a required, and some note the long-term effects of alcoholism such as
symptoms of withdrawal.

The behaviour regarding alcohol consumption which leads to alcoholism varies wildly. It is impossible to predict the probability of becoming an alcoholic based on drinking habits, though obviously some alcohol intake is required. The biological processes which cause alcohol dependence are not fully understood, though influences such as mental health, genetic predisposition and social surroundings have been researched.

The word ‘alcoholism’ was first used in Sweden by Dr. Huss in 1849, but it was not brought into common usage until the 1940s with the founding of the Alcoholics Anonymous. The AA didn’t have a clear definition for the disease, so they likened it to a kind of allergy.

A study done in 1960 by Dr. Jellinek put forward the modern theory that alcoholism is a disease. Although the medical definition in usage has been altered since, the perception of alcoholism as a disease has a large influence and following. A few medical experts still content that alcoholism is not a disease and refer to it instead as ‘heavy drinking’ when talking about alcohol dependence. Read the rest of this entry »

In order to cure alcoholism it is first necessary to wipe out the addiction to alcohol. A doctor views alcoholism as a disease, the definition of which is a mental or physical state which interferes with the normal workings of the body. Disease in general can lead to a feeling of discomfort, dysfunction, disturbed behavior, syndromes, distress or it can even result in causing death.

In general, as the name would suggest, alcoholism will prevent the patient from kicking the habit of alcohol consumption. The patient’s craving for alcohol would be similar to our actual need for water and will tend to continue consuming alcohol even though his health will be put at risk. The signs soon tell in the patient’s behavior as he becomes more defiant and the withdrawal symptoms more obvious and should the vital organs get damaged, then death is not far away.

When it comes to actually looking for a cure to alcoholism, guilt will play a major factor as the urge to drink alcohol starts earlier in the day and the quantities increase with the hope of just forgetting the matter at hand. This is the point when medical support should be contemplated in order to cure alcoholism.

Screening and Diagnosis: At first the normal symptoms of alcoholism such as memory loss, dyspepsia, pain and weakness could actually be confused with similar signs of old age. So a Doctor will confirm his suspected diagnosis by prescribing a screen test as well as the patient having to fill out a standard questionnaire. Read the rest of this entry »

Throughout the years many different people have tried to prevent the use of alcohol. Doctors, religious leaders, governments, and even husbands and wives but with all their efforts combined, the levels of alcoholism in the home and workplace has risen drastically. Alcoholism affects more and more people each year. Some of it is learned behavior passed down through the previous generation, specifically from the parents, but not always.

One key way in preventing alcoholism is to stop the cycle within the family unit before it is passed down to another generation of children. With all the mysteries still surrounding alcoholism, this strategy is not an absolute guarantee that alcoholism won’t rear its ugly head again. Sometimes alcoholism “skips” a generation. For instance, a child may grow up in an alcoholic home, growing to despise alcohol and all of its damaging traits, and never drink. This child grows into adulthood, marries and has children of their own. Later, their children grow and one of them becomes an alcoholic even though there was rarely any booze around them.

Another key in preventing alcoholism is education. Informing children of the dangers of underage drinking will help in increasing their chances of not becoming alcoholic. The longer a person can go, growing from child to adult without drinking, the better their chances. The seed of alcoholism is usually planted at an early age and if they start drinking, say, as an adolescent or teenager, their chances of becoming alcoholic increase. Not everyone who drinks as a teenager will become alcoholic. Though, there are cases where individuals became alcoholic even though they hadn’t started drinking alcohol until their mid-twenties. Read the rest of this entry »

Alcoholism statistics do not lie and there are many statistics. First, there are statistics on what type of alcoholic you may fall into. Believe it or not, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has stated that there are five types of alcoholics. Even more surprising is that the largest group of alcoholics in the US is young adults. Out of the five types of alcoholics, nearly 31.5% fall into the young adult’s category. Out of that 31.5% nearly 20% of them function just as well as a person who doesn’t drink does.

The next type of alcoholic is the young antisocial alcoholics. This category is made up of people in their mid twenties who began drinking at an early age. More than half of them have grown up with alcoholism in their families and at least half of them have been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. The rest have suffered from depression, or anxiety also. Surprising there are nearly 20% of alcoholics who are functional alcoholics. Half of these alcoholics are smokers and are all almost middle age, with stable jobs and families. Nearly 19% of alcoholics are considered intermediate familial alcoholics and 9% are classified as chronic severe alcoholics. The severe alcoholics are also the most prevalent type of alcoholics who will seek treatment for their problems.

Nearly 9.8 million men report having a drinking problem while almost 3.9 million women have a drinking problem. That is almost three times as many men as women. However nearly half of the US both male and female have one or more member or friend with a drinking problem and almost 43% of adults have been exposed to alcoholism. Nearly 8 million children under the age of 18 have an alcoholic parent. Read the rest of this entry »

Alcohol has been implicated as a factor that may hurt your efforts to lose body fat. Whether alcohol is “fattening” has been a very controversial subject because technically speaking, alcohol is NOT stored as fat; it is oxidized ahead of other fuels.

Whether moderate drinking is healthy has also been a subject of controversy. Many studies show that cardiovascular health benefits are associated with moderate beer or wine drinking (which has been of particular interest lately with reservatrol in the news so much), while other studies show improved insulin sensitivity. Some experts however, say that alcohol has no place in a fitness lifestyle.

A recent study published in the journal Obesity adds new findings to our knowledge about alcohol, insulin resistance and abdominal obesity. Analysis of the results as compared to other studies also gives us some insights into why some people seem to drink and get fat while others seem to drink and get thin!

The truth about the beer belly phenomenon

This new study, by Ulf Riserus and Erik Inglesson, was based on the Swedish Uppsala Longitudinal cohort. The researchers found that alcohol intake in older men did not improve insulin sensitivity, which contradicted their own hypothesis and numerous previous studies. They also said there was a very “robust” association between alcohol intake, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio. They pointed out that a high alcohol intake, especially hard liquor, was closely associated with abdominal body fat, not just overall body mass. Read the rest of this entry »

There remains much debate around the issue of alcoholism as a disease. The side of the debate you are on probably depends on whether or not you or someone you know is an alcoholic. If you have lived with an alcoholic, you probably believe alcoholism is a disease. If you have had little exposure to alcoholism, you may view it simply as a personal choice to drink too much alcohol. You group alcoholism with other excessive behaviors.

For the most part, the medical community treats alcoholism as a disease. In fact, alcoholism is categorized as a chronic and progressive disease. It can progress to a point of fatality. Alcoholics die as a result of vehicular accidents, alcohol poisoning, and liver disease among other complications.

Alcoholism is basically defined as an obsession that evolves into an uncontrollable compulsion for alcohol. There are physical symptoms that help define alcoholism as a disease. Keep in mind that alcoholism is considered a family disease because it impacts everyone living with the alcoholic. This is not a disease that causes pain only to the “patient”. It causes pain and other symptoms such as depression in everyone who loves the alcoholic.

Studies are being conducted to determine if an actual addictive gene exists that predisposes individuals to substance abuse, whether alcohol, nicotine or narcotics. If such a gene is discovered, it may confirm alcoholism as an organic disease. This means it is a latent disorder that an individual is born with, is triggered later in life and develops into a disease. Read the rest of this entry »

Just about everyone knows that the legal drinking age throughout the United States is 21. But according to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, almost 80% of high school students have tried alcohol. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are not only adult problems; they also affect a significant number of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 20, even though drinking under the age of 21 is illegal.

Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system.
People with a family history of alcoholism are more vulnerable than others to alcohol problems. In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication.
Alcoholism can start at a very young age. In addition to being illegal, underage drinking poses serious health risks: car accident, increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases, an increased likelihood of alcohol dependence and drug addiction in adulthood.

Alcoholism has little to do with what kind of alcohol one drinks, how long one has been drinking, or even exactly how much alcohol one consumes. But it has a great deal to do with a person’s uncontrollable need for alcohol. Read the rest of this entry »

An Issue of Mixed Messages

How can something as prevalent, accepted, and accessible in our society as drinking alcohol be so harmful, unhealthy, AND illegal when consumed at or slightly above moderate intake levels? The simple asking of this question immediately uncovers a number of issues, one of which is the mixed messages that exist in our society about drinking alcohol.

The Accessibility and Acceptability of Alcohol

On the one hand, consider the thousands upon thousands of bars and taverns in the United States. Now add to this list the restaurants, night clubs, sporting events, festivals, state fairs, hotels, casinos, carnivals, etc. where alcoholic beverages are regularly served. Moreover, add the grocery stores, liquor stores, beverage stores, the Convenient Food Marts, the 7/11 stores, and the state stores where an adult can legally purchase as many bottles, cans, and/or cases of alcoholic beverages as he or she desires.

Is Drinking Alcohol Cool?

Not only is alcohol extremely accessible in our society but there are also a number of factors that reinforce the idea that drinking alcohol is “cool.” For instance, consider beer advertisements and commercials on TV. Indeed, it can be argued that some of the most memorable, funniest, and “best” commercials and advertisements on TV have been those that were associated with drinking beer. To push the point further, why would beer manufacturers spend millions of dollars for a commercial during the Super Bowl if this expenditure did not lead to more sales? From a slightly different perspective, consider professional athletes and movie stars who, by their actions and advertisements, reinforce the idea that drinking alcohol is “cool.” Read the rest of this entry »

What causes college students to abuse alcohol? The answers are probably many, but the simplest answer is this: Because they can.

Abusing Alcohol is Easy

When there are so few immediate consequences for excessive drinking, when repeat offenders are not disciplined, when parents are not notified about their children’s drinking activities, when students get mixed messages from the college administration about alcohol, when students have seen their parents drinking alcohol in an irresponsible manner, when students are not informed about the long-tern negative consequences of alcohol abuse, when there are few alcohol-free social and recreational activities that are attractive to students, when minors or intoxicated students are served alcoholic beverages by the local drinking establishments, and when the drinking activities in the sororities and fraternities are not monitored—drinking and excessive drinking become so very easy.

What Draws Students to Abuse Alcohol?

When peer pressure or influence is added to the equation, when it is disregarded that drinking alcohol temporarily removes a person from his or her problems, when ignoring the belief or perception that drinking alcohol makes it easier to socialize with potential dating or sexual partners, when it is so acceptable to engage in activities that emphasize the drinking of alcohol, when the “good feelings” or the “fun” of getting an alcohol high or buzz are not considered, and when the party atmosphere at college is expected by students–it becomes more clear regarding what causes college students to abuse alcohol. Read the rest of this entry »