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When a person has unhealthy drinking habits, like drinking too much in one sitting or drinking every day, this can be qualified as alcohol abuse. It can affect many aspects of people’s lives, leading to dependence. Dependence on alcohol is also termed alcoholism. This is when a person cannot control the amount they drink and can’t quit, even if they try. They have become completely addicted to alcohol, and feel they cannot live without it. It is extremely unhealthy, physically and mentally, as once people became addicted to alcohol, it is very difficult to stop.

The effects of alcoholism include the strong need to drink, a need that can be as strong as the need for food or water. Also, the drinker might not be able to stop once drinking has begun. Short-term memory loss can be imminent, as can be blackouts, where the user appears to others that he or she is awake and fully conscious - but in reality has no sense of time or action. These are only some of the early physical effects of alcoholism, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and ultimately death.

Alcohol withdrawal is a condition that follows a reduction in alcohol consumption or when an alcohol dependent individual stops drinking abruptly. In addition to a high level of distress, alcohol withdrawal is also associated with impairment in social, occupational, and other areas of an individual’s functioning. Relatively uncomplicated cases of alcohol withdrawal are usually characterized by signs and symptoms of autonomic hyperactivity, and could possibly include increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, hyperthermia, tremor, nausea, vomiting, insomnia and frequently anxiety.

Teens are often very susceptible to the lure of alcohol. According to a 2004 survey of high school students by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 75% of high school students have at least tried alcohol. Many of them have had episodes of heavy drinking. It is a known fact that a leading death factor in teen-related car accidents is alcohol. Alcohol can affect the way the brain functions, especially the areas controlling decision-making and emotions, meaning that growth and development can be greatly hindered in teens if they drink alcohol. Memory and learning abilities can be affected, harming a teen’s performance in school. The worst danger is that use of alchol in a teen can progress to abuse, and perhaps to addiction.

Family risk factors for teenagers developing drinking problems include low parent supervision or communication, family conflicts, inconsistent or severe parental discipline, and a family history of alcohol or drug abuse. Individual risk factors include problems managing impulses, emotional instability, thrill-seeking behaviors, and perceiving the risk of using alcohol to be low. Girls who drink, as well as teens who begin drinking prior to the age of 14 years and those whose mothers have drinking problems, are more likely to develop alcoholism. Teen risk factors for alcoholism differ a bit between the 14- to 16-year-old and 16- to 18-year-old age groups, in that the latter tend to be less likely to drink in excess when they have a close relationship with their mothers.

If you are concerned that someone close to you is abusing alcohol, there are several courses of action that you can take. If they have experienced alcohol poisoning, like unconsciousness, seizures, of difficulty breathing, or withdrawal symptoms like confusion or trembling, you should call 911, especially if they are talking about suicide or other forms of violence. If the person involved has a history of drinking, but refuses to get help, you should call a health professional at once. Oftentimes, if the person agrees to be evaluated for a possible treatment, they probably won’t follow through with it, in which case you should definitely call a doctor. Many people stay in denial of the fact that they are addicted to alcohol, which is very serious as it can lead to further abuse.

In order to be successful with treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence, the abuser must be willing to admit that there is a problem and that they want to stop drinking. There is also a physical aspect of the success of alcohol abuse treatment. If the drinker is physically dependent on alcohol, treatment can take a long time. Completely stopping to drink needs to be the first step, and then treatment focuses on relieving withdrawal symptoms. Afterwards, it focuses on staying sober. Some people may need medicine that help reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. Also, counseling and support groups are a fundamental part of treatment, as it helps with the mental aspect of recovering from alcohol abuse.

Last 5 posts by David Peters

• Cool Ways To Edit Your Digital Photos - August 12th, 2008
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• Stop Drinking Alcohol - Taking that First Step - July 29th, 2008

Tags: Self Help