It is interesting to articulate something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcoholism of another family member plainly do not comprehend. It seems that by shielding the alcohol dependent individual with falsehoods and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcohol addicted person to persevere and press forward with his or her unsafe, destructive way of living.
Undeniably, rather than helping the alcohol addicted person and themselves, these family members have essentially become enablers who have involuntarily helped worsen the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problem even more.
Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol dependent person will continue drinking in a hazardous and irresponsible manner and go through various “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), diminished mental functioning, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, ill health, and employment difficulties.
The Probability of a Relapse is Real
According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcoholism issue concerns alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol dependent individual has effectively gone through alcoholism rehab and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this circumstance flies in the face of sound thinking and looks so implausible that it forces an individual to wonder why anyone who has gone through the misery of alcohol addiction can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol rehab and in turn after reaching sobriety. There are, without a doubt, many conceivable reasons for this.
It should be highlighted, conversely that alcoholism research that has centered on the long-term consequences of alcohol dependency has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcoholic has discontinued his or her drinking, major transformations in the way in which the alcohol addicted individual’s brain works are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent individual has to do to involve himself or herself in behaviors that correspond with the changes that have occurred in the brain is to begin drinking once again.
The Need for A Significant Lifestyle Change
There are other reasons why many recovering alcohol dependent persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. In accordance to the alcoholism research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol addicted individual needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more effectively with tough alcohol-related situations that will take place.
Conditions such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcohol addicted individual was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring about memories that can set off psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in hazardous drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these situations may not only counteract long lasting alcohol recovery for the alcoholic but they can also result in relapse and as a result work against one’s sobriety.
The Good News: There’s a Lot of Hope for Lasting Sobriety
In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent individual, family members can in fact cause inadvertent destruction by enabling the destructive drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted person.
The addiction research literature highlights the fact that most people who successfully complete alcohol therapy experience at least one relapse. Alcoholics and their family members need to know this so that they do not get defeated or overwhelmed when a relapse takes place.
Happily, taking part in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up counseling and education have resulted in more productive, long-term alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction therapeutic results, have helped diminish alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcoholics reach ongoing sobriety.
Filed under Health by on Nov 5th, 2009. 
For several years alcohol addiction exploration has demonstrated the fact that there is strong linkage between alcoholism and serious health conditions.
As an illustration, in 2005, scientific examination and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics revealed that alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the United States an estimated $220 billion per year. It may be noted that this massive alcohol-related cost was significantly more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is relevant to emphasize these facts, it is also important to point out that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health issues.
To be more precise, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency are also highly interrelated with obesity and with cancer.
Definitely, substance abuse examination has shown that alcohol addiction can increase the risk for different types of cancer, particularly cancer of the colon, voice box (larynx), liver, rectum, throat, kidneys, and the esophagus. Hazardous and repetitive drinking can also lead to immune system issues and harm to the fetus during pregnancy.
Hazardous and Excessive Drinking Enfeebles the Individual’s Systems and Organs
What is more, if alcoholism continues over a period of years, the person’s body organs will likely be affected in a negative manner. For instance, long-term, abusive drinking is especially hurtful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Unwarranted amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to regenerate. This medical circumstance leads to a progressive inflammatory malfunction of the liver that can in due course lead to cirrhosis of the liver, an acute and potentially fatal disease.Heavy, long-term drinking not only can result in serious liver damage, but it can also result in damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this dangerous may be irreparable and may, in turn, lead to severe disease or an early death.
The Significance of Alcohol Rehabilitation
It is essential, then, to know how to recognize the various alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol addicted individual can be given the opportunity to seek the professional alcohol rehab he or she needs.
Alcohol Addiction and Sophisticated Brain Exploration
Fortunately, scientific research is constantly generating innovative and important information. Recent alcoholism exploration supplies an excellent illustration. More exactly, for roughly the past ten years, sophisticated brain-imaging scanning instruments have shown that repetitive and chronic excessive drinking modifies the configuration of the brain to a great extent, therefore resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or perhaps as long as the individual lives.
More exactly, medical investigation has shown that people who have been drinking in an irresponsible manner for an extensive length of time increase their risk for developing lasting and substantial transformations in the brain.
This type of damage may be directly related to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, to severe liver disease, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.
Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Excessive Drinking
As a final illustration of various medical problems that are considerably related to alcohol dependency, take into consideration the fact that according to medical investigation, the excessive and repeated abuse of alcohol can result in erosive gastritis, a health problem that limits the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
This kind of organ failure is associated with malnutrition and to an array of severe mental and neurological syndromes including memory loss, sleep disturbances, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical condition is a long lasting incapacitating medical condition that is typified by persistent learning and memory complications.
Conclusion
It is evident that repetitive, excessive drinking is directly or indirectly associated with a variety of critical medical problems that can and do result in serious ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be stressed and presented to everyone in our society so that a massive amount of people will be able to abstain from abusive drinking while other people who have a drinking problem will get the quality rehab they require.
Filed under Health by on Nov 3rd, 2009.
When I was in the tenth grade in high school, I registered for a substance abuse class. At that age, I did not comprehend that alcohol abuse in point of fact was a sub category of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse and especially about alcohol side effects, I read a lot about Alcoholic Anonymous, their meetings, how their programs have twelve steps, and how successful the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program has been for individuals all through the world. I also learned a lot about alcohol treatment and the diverse alcohol rehab clinics that are often available to people who engage in heavy drinking.
Harmful Outcomes That are Correlated With Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
Some of the harmful effects related to alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class absolutely worried me. The ruined lives and frequent difficulties experienced by most alcohol dependent people made me feel like I never wanted to drink alcohol when I became old enough. That is, I did not want to face the wreckage and destruction that alcohol addicted people almost always go through.
Ponder upon this for a moment. What fifteen-year-old teenager wants to face premature death due to his or her drinking behavior? What adolescent wants to become so out-of-control regarding his or her drinking that consuming alcohol becomes the object of one’s life? What adolescent wants to go to one of the local alcoholic rehabilitation centers to deal with alcohol-related problems before he or she becomes an adult?
What adolescent wants to deal with alcohol withdrawals when he or she tries to quit drinking? Why would an individual engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause serious issues in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after an individual has a career, a family, and develops personal responsibilities makes sense. But why would a young person want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that centers on hazardous drinking?
These issues were so important that I discussed some of them in class throughout the school year. What was absolutely amazing to me was the number of students who essentially didn’t care about the harmful outcomes of hazardous drinking that I discussed. It was almost as if they couldn’t be bothered with reality and how these effects can demolish their lives. For the first time in my life I started to grasp a saying that my grandfather used to emphasize throughout my youth: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.
It’s Invigorating, Important, and Beneficial to Remove Yourself From the Unhealthy and Destructive Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
And even at my young age, I also started to understand how invigorating, important, and beneficial it is in life to keep away from the unhealthy and damaging outcomes of alcohol and drug abuse.
Filed under Health by on Oct 31st, 2009.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I registered for a drug abuse class. At that age, I did not realize that alcohol abuse in point of fact was a sub division of drug abuse. While taking this class and learning more about drug and alcohol abuse and above all about alcohol side effects, I read a lot about Alcoholic Anonymous, their meetings, how their programs have twelve steps, and how successful the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program has been for people throughout the world. I also learned quite a bit about alcohol treatment and the various alcohol rehab clinics that are regularly available to problem drinkers.
Dangerous Outcomes That are Correlated With Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
Some of the damaging consequences associated with alcoholism and alcohol abuse that I learned about in this class definitely terrified me. The ruined lives and many serious issues experienced by most alcohol dependent people made me feel like I never wanted to drink alcohol when I became old enough. That is, I did not want to face the disaster and ruination that alcohol addicted individuals almost always experience.
Reflect on this for a moment. What fifteen-year-old teenager wants to face premature death due to his or her drinking behavior? What adolescent wants to become so out-of-control regarding his or her drinking that drinking alcohol becomes the object of one’s life? What adolescent wants to go to one of the local alcoholic rehabilitation centers to deal with alcohol-related issues before he or she becomes twenty-one?
What teenager wants to go through alcohol withdrawal symptoms when he or she tries to quit drinking? Why would an individual engage in drinking to such an extent that it would cause serious issues in every area of his or her life? Drinking later in life after an individual has a career, a family, and develops personal responsibilities makes sense. But why would a young person want to sacrifice his or her education, employment, finances, and relationships for a life that centers on irresponsible drinking?
These issues were so noteworthy that I discussed some of them in class throughout the school year. What was downright astonishing to me was the number of students who simply didn’t care about the dangerous results of excessive drinking that I talked about. It was almost as if they couldn’t care less about the facts and how these effects can wreck their lives. For the first time in my life I started to figure out something that my grandfather used to tell me all through my teen and pre-teen years: you can lead a horse to water but you can’t force it to drink.
It’s Liberating, Beneficial, and Important to Keep Away From the Destructive and Unhealthy Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
And even at my young age, I also started to comprehend how beneficial, important, and energizing it is in life to stay away from the unhealthy and destructive effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
Filed under Health by on Oct 27th, 2009.
Teresa was a forty-six-year-old financial analyst who realized that she had a problem with her drinking. For instance, within the past six months she has experienced the need to have one or two drinks before going to work, two weeks ago she failed a random urine alcohol test at her place of employment, three months ago she got pulled over by the police for “driving under the influence”, and last but not least, for nearly two months she has begun to fail to remember what she does and says when she drinks.
Not unlike multitudes of other individuals, Teresa’s alcohol involvement began at a “snail’s pace” and continued at this level for quite a long period of time because every once in a while she engaged in occasional social drinking. As a matter of fact, for about nine months, every time she drank, she made sure to drink in moderation. Something about her drinking situation, however, seemed to totally change when she divorced her husband.
In Order To Endure the Divorce of Her Husband In a More Pain Free Manner, Teresa Made Up Her Mind To Start Palling Around More Regularly With Some of Her Buddies Who Love to Whoop it Up and Drink
Teresa got awfully dejected about the divorce from her husband, and as a way to refrain from obsessing about her dismal emotions she made up her mind that she would start palling around more routinely with some of her pals who love to ”get down” and drink.
Quite candidly, Teresa concluded that having fun nearly every day by drinking and partying with her buddies would help her come to terms with the breakup of her husband in a more pain free manner.
Teresa’s Drinking Escalates Greatly the More Habitually She Goes to Private Parties, Dinner Dates, Family Get-Togethers, Sporting Events, and Happy Hours With Her Friends
It didn’t take long, nevertheless, before her drinking escalated significantly the more routinely she went to and drank at dinner dates, private parties, family get-togethers, sporting events, and happy hours with her pals. Not only this, but the fact that her drinking buddies were all many years younger than she was and therefore able to drink more intensely was one of the reasons that she didn’t direct more of her attention to her increased drinking. In a word, she was drinking and having fun just like everyone else in her group of friends without giving much thought to the negative effects of her excessive drinking.
Yet someplace in her mind she realized that she more likely than not needed alcohol rehabilitation but sidestepped the thought as much as humanly possible.
Teresa Gets a Physical Exam, ”Comes Clean” About Her Abusive and Irresponsible Drinking to Her Healthcare Practitioner, and Admits Her Melancholy
One late afternoon during her twelve month physical examination, her doctor asked her if she drank alcohol. Not wanting to tell falsehoods to her healthcare professional, Teresa acknowledged that she frequently drinks more than she should. As a matter of fact, she said that she routinely drinks in an excessive and irresponsible manner. Then Teresa told her healthcare professional about her depression. More plainly, she mentioned that shattered relationships frequently started a dismal sequence of events characterized by increased drinking which further led to more disheartening feelings that, in turn, resulted in even more drinking. And this is specifically what happened when her husband and she got divorced three years ago.
When her healthcare practitioner heard this, he told Teresa that according to various alcoholism facts and statistics on alcoholism he was researching, alcoholism and depression many times occur in the same person. He then informed Teresa that some of the alcohol statistics, facts, and research investigations he has been looking into also underline the fact that individuals who drink in an irresponsible and hazardous manner and who also suffer from depression need to receive treatment for both medical situations.
Teresa’s Physician Schedules an Appointment for a Psychological Assessment and For an Alcohol Dependency and Alcohol Abuse Assessment
Teresa’s doctor then said the following: “I am not trying to make a sudden judgment, but with your medical condition we may be facing two separate issues. As a consequence, I think we ought to schedule an appointment for you to get an alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency assessment from my partner, Dr. Ballas, who is an alcohol and drug abuse specialist. Whether your drinking situation is more correlated with alcohol dependency or alcohol abuse is not clear at this time, but I believe that further assessment is needed. Then I feel we should make an appointment for you to get a psychological evaluation from another one of my partners, Dr. Bodnar, who is a clinical psychologist. I want to get a better grip on your dejection and see how much your drinking and depression are interrelated.” Teresa showed her approval of her physician’s plan of attack and thanked him for his help and concern. Now all she had to do was to try to trim down on her drinking and wait for her appointments.
Filed under Health by on Oct 27th, 2009.