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Alcohol Abuse, Alcoholism and Treatment

Nearly 14 million people in the United States abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Alcohol use and abuse is associated with serious medical issues, and accepting the need to get help for an alcohol problem may not be easy, but the sooner you get help, the better your chances are for a successful recovery.

Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in destructive behavior, such as:

• Drinking in physically dangerous situations, such as driving.
• Having recurring alcohol related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or physically hurting someone while drunk.
• Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems caused by drinking.

Many people who have problems with alcohol abuse don’t feel that they have a problem because, unlike alcoholics, they do not have a dependency on alcohol. Even if you are not an alcoholic, abusing alcohol is a serious problem that can have many negative results. These questions can help you determine if you have a problem:

• Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking?
• Do you become annoyed with people who criticize your drinking?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

If you answered "yes" to one of these questions, you might have a problem with alcohol. If you answered "yes" to more than one of these questions, it is highly likely that you have a problem with alcohol. If you feel that you have a problem with alcohol abuse, it is important to seek help by contacting a health care provider in order to evaluate possible solutions.

Alcoholism

Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence" is a chronic (life-long) disease that includes alcohol craving and continues drinking despite alcohol related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. It is likely that an individual is alcoholic if they experience at least 3 of the following symptoms:

• Tolerance (increasing amounts of alcohol are needed to have the same affect), withdrawal symptoms (such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety); drinking larger amounts over a longer period than intended.
• A persistent desire to drink, or inability to control drinking.
• Giving up or reducing important social, work related or recreational activities in favor of drinking.
• Spending a great deal of time obtaining alcohol, drinking, or recovering from drinking.
• Continued drinking despite knowledge of having a physical or psychological problem caused or worsened by drinking.

If you have experienced at least 3 of these symptoms, it is important to seek treatment for this disease.

Although some people are able to recover from alcoholism without help, most people need assistance in order to stop drinking. It is important to remember that alcoholism is a disease, and many people are unable to stop drinking on their own, and require support and treatment in order to stop drinking.

Why Drinking Excessively is Dangerous

There are a variety of medical complications that are a result of excessive drinking. Heave drinking affects almost every system in the body, including the nervous, digestive, and cardiovascular system, and can cause dangerous and life threatening complications. Some of the risks and complications of alcohol abuse and alcoholism include:

• Liver disease
• Cancer
• Immune system problems
• Brain damage
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Increased risk of death from automobile crashes
• Increased likelihood of suicide and homicide

Treatment

The type of treatment that you will receive depends on the severity of your alcoholism and the approach of the treatment program that you choose. Treatment may include:

• Detoxification: Detoxification is the process of safely getting alcohol out of your system, and is often the first step when entering treatment.
• Taking doctor prescribed medications to prevent a relapse once drinking has stopped.
• Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): AA describes itself as a "worldwide fellowship of men and women who help each other to stay sober." AA is seen as generally effective, but there are some people who do not respond to AA’s style or message, and there are other recovery approaches that are available. Even people who do respond to AA, find that AA works best in combination with other forms of treatment.
• Inpatient, Residential, or Outpatient treatment with individual or group counseling focused on teaching patients skills that will help them to maintain their sobriety.
• Family therapy that provides support for the patient involved in the recovery process.

It is important to remember that even individuals who are determined to stay sober may suffer relapses before achieving long-term sobriety. Relapses are common, and do not signal failure. Every day that a recovering addict stays sober is very important, and if a relapse occurs it is important to try and stop drinking again through the support of family and groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Please call (888) 373-4133 to find the right treatment solution for you or your loved one.