Alcoholism Facts
Alcoholism Facts In America alcohol is socially acceptable, readily available and the most commonly abused drug, but that doesn’t mean all Americans are alcoholics. The disease of alcoholism goes beyond merely having “one too many” and it is necessary to gather some facts about alcoholism before rushing into an uninformed diagnosis. This page is designed to give you some general alcoholism facts to help you understand the impact it has on the alcoholic and society. Facts to Consider: Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by the inability of the person to control his/her drinking, craving for a drink and dependence on alcohol to feel “normal.” Alcoholism is progressive. It begins with one drink to be sociable, or to enjoy the effects of alcohol, but progresses to the point where people need more alcohol to achieve the same effect, begin to drink more often or earlier in the day, and may even lead to a person’s constant craving for alcohol just to feel “better.” Alcoholics develop a tolerance for alcohol and can become capable of consuming large amounts of alcohol each day. Alcoholism is a progressive disease because left unchecked it can cause serious damage to the liver, heart and other major organs of the body, leading to death. People who have the disease of alcoholism do not always know it, or accept it. An alcoholic may deny any problem, regardless of the consequences the disease brings to their life. It is often necessary for friends and loved ones to intercede and strongly encourage the alcoholic to enter treatment. Denial of the disease is the major enemy of recovery. Why AA works and why it doesn't Click the link below and listen to an episode of our weekly radio show Recovery Now. During this show a long time AA member describe how AA works and what you need to do to make it work for you: Click this link "When A works and when it doesn't" Why AA works and why it doesn't Listen to a long time AA member describe how AA works and what you need to do to make it work for you:
One of the alcoholism facts that many people don't realize or believe is that alcoholism is a brain disease that causes a person to consume unhealthy quantities of alcohol even to the point of destroying their physical, mental and spiritual well being. Left untreated, the disease can lead to serious medical complications and death. It is commonly believed that alcoholism is caused by a lack of willpower, but that is actually a rather misguided claim. People are pre-disposed to becoming an alcoholic. There is a mechanism in the brain that is triggered when alcohol is introduced and in some people, that mechanism causes excessive use. That is why one person can have a drink and walk away, while another has the same drink and winds up wanting more…and more…and more. There’s a genetic component to it. Some Do and Others Don’t? Another misconception is that alcoholism is entirely self-induced. While a person has to take that first drink in order to trigger the brain mechanism that launches the alcoholism sequence of events, nobody in their right mind would take that drink knowing the outcome may be so disastrous. Even a complete fool does not look into the future and decide they are going to become an alcoholic. Others may drink, even to excess, and not become alcoholics, but the person with the right brain mechanism, has one and they’re in trouble. Alcoholism begins with one drink to be sociable, or to enjoy the pleasurable effects, but progresses to the point where people need more alcohol to achieve the same effect, begin to drink more often or earlier in the day, and may even lead to a person’s constant craving for alcohol just to feel “better.” Tolerance Develops Alcoholics develop a tolerance for alcohol and can become capable of consuming large amounts of alcohol each day. Alcoholism is a progressive disease because left unchecked it can cause serious damage to the liver, heart and other major organs of the body, leading to death. People who have the disease of alcoholism do not always know it, or accept it. An alcoholic may deny any problem, regardless of the consequences the disease brings to their life. It is often necessary for friends and loved ones to intercede and strongly encourage the alcoholic to enter treatment. Denial of the disease is the major enemy of recovery. Here are some questions to ask when observing someone you suspect might be having a struggle with alcohol: 1. Do they drink too much? Answering these questions honestly should give you a pretty good indication if there is a problem. If there is a problem the sooner it gets treated the better the outcome. VERY Widespread Problem The problem of alcoholism is wide-spread. The Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University concluded, “more than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking, and more than nine million children live with a parent dependent on alcohol and/or illicit drugs.” Alcoholism is a family disease, because it impacts the entire family, not just the alcoholic. Alcoholism is a community disease, because alcoholics are more likely to lose productivity at work, get into automobile accidents, require emergency health care and have legal entanglements. More Facts About Alcoholism -*- Alcoholism is a contributing factor to suicide in many cases. -*- Alcohol is a leading cause of birth defects. -*- Alcohol abuse and alcoholism, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cost American taxpayers over $67 billion every year. This includes law enforcement, uninsured patients, court costs, lawsuits, etc. -*- An alcoholic, even though he/she is in recovery, may be vulnerable to relapse if they take a drink. -*- Alcohol withdrawal/detoxification can be very dangerous. People can experience extreme convulsions, delirium tremors (DTs), rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, auditory and visual hallucinations, delusions, disorientation, loss of appetite and insomnia. Severe withdrawal can be fatal. For more about Alcoholism Facts link to Books Alcoholism Facts Alcoholism Facts Alcoholism Facts HOW TO USE THIS SITE:This site contains five MAIN pages that EVERYONE should read:ABOUT… Read these five pages and learn what you need to know to spot Addiction to Drugs in: Yourself... Your Family... Your Friends... Your Community... The rest of the pages are there for your reference to explain important topics in more detail. |
