Recovery Concepts Treatment Center programs are designed to help individuals with dependence problems overcome the difficulties of abandoning the lifestyle. Below you can find useful information about alcohol and how it can affect you.
Alcohol, because it is legal, is by far the most currently abused substance, in both the United States and the world. Alcohol comes in four types, with ethyl alcohol (grain alcohol, or ETOH) as the type humans ordinarily consume. It is often taken socially to lessen inhibitations and provide a sense of relaxation. In a non-social setting, alcohol is typically taken to escape stress and provide relaxation.
- How is alcohol used?
Alcohol is ingested orally. Alcohol is typically used for the effects of relaxation and suppressed inhibition.
- What do we mean by alcoholism?
Alcohol is ingested orally. Alcohol is typically used for the effects of relaxation and suppressed inhibition.
Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law. It includes four symptoms:
- Craving -- A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
- Impaired control -- The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.
- Physical dependence -- Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
- Tolerance -- The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.
For clinical and research purposes, formal diagnostic criteria for alcoholism also have been developed. Such criteria are included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association, as well as in the International Classification Diseases, published by the World Health Organization.
- Is alcoholism a disease?
Yes. Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease with symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems. Like many other diseases, it has a generally predictable course, has recognized symptoms, and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors that are being increasingly well defined.
- How does alcohol affect me?
Alcohol affects users by depressing the central nervous system. When consumption of alcohol exceeds the ability of the liver to breakdown alcohol, higher centers of the brain are the first affected, followed by the brain stem. This results in euphoria, relaxation, suppressed inhibition and impaired motor skills. Overdoses can be fatal. Alcohol takes effect slowly depending upon a variety of factors including metabolism and the amount of food present in the digestive system. Intoxication can last severalhours beyond the point of consumption.
- Is alcoholism inherited?
Alcoholism tends to run in families, and genetic factors partially explain this pattern. Currently, researchers are on the way to finding the genes that influence vulnerability to alcoholism. A person's environment, such as the influence of friends, stress levels, and the ease of obtaining alcohol, also may influence drinking and the development of alcoholism. Still other factors, such as social support, may help to protect even high-risk people from alcohol problems.
Risk, however, is not destiny. A child of an alcoholic parent will not automatically develop alcoholism. A person with no family history of alcoholism can become alcohol dependent.
- How do I become addicted to alcohol?
Alcoholism develops gradually over time, and can become an overriding factor in the addict's life. Tolerance develops very quickly, as the liver produces excess microsomal enzymes which detoxify the drug. As a result more alcohol needs to be ingested for the same effect, which can lead to frequent blackouts or memory lapses, and finally an inability to stop drinking. As it is legal to use alcohol, many users aren't aware of a problem until they are full-blown alcoholics and hit "rock bottom."
- Can alcoholism be cured?
Not as of yet. Nevertheless, aoholism is a treatable disease. Medication and counseling are available to help prevent relapse, but a cure has not yet been found. This means that even if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time and has regained health, he or she may relapse and must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages. Please contact us at 1-843-645-2770 to see how can assist.
- What are the effects of alcohol abuse?
Prolonged use of alcohol can lead to memory and concentration problems, amotivational syndrome (lack of motivation and follow-through), paranoia,sexual dysfunction, and possible mental illness (although that point is heavily debated). Physical damage includes cirrhosis of the liver
- What are the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
- Craving for alcohol and/or other drugs
- Convulsions
- Moodiness
- Irritability and acute anxiety
- Nausea and vomiting
- Are there any medications for alcoholism?
Yes. There are different types of medications are commonly used to treat alcoholism.
The first are tranquilizers called benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium, Librium), which are used only during the first few days of treatment to help patients safely withdraw from alcohol.
Another type of medication is used to help people remain sober is naltrexone. The oral form of naltrexone (ReVia) has been available since 1996. Another recently approved medicine for this purpose is the intra-muscular form of naltrexone (Vivitrol). When used together with counseling, this medication lessens the craving for alcohol in many people and helps prevent a return to heavy drinking.
Acamprosate calcium (Campral) is another recently approved medication for alcohol treatment. Acamprosate is for the maintenance of abstinence from alcohol in patients with alcohol dependence who are abstinent at the time of treatment initiation.
Treatment with acamprosate should be part of a comprehensive management program that includes psychosocial support.
Another older medication is disulfiram (Antabuse), which discourages drinking by causing nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant physical reactions when alcohol is used.
See FAQ’s on these meds by clicking here.
- Does a person have to be alcoholic to experience problems from alcohol?
No. Even if you are not alcoholic, abusing alcohol can have negative results, such failure to meet major work, school, or family responsibilities because of drinking; alcohol-related legal trouble; automobile crashes due to drinking; and a variety of alcohol-related medical problems.
Under some circumstances, problems can result from even moderate drinking -- for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medicines.
- Are certain groups of people more likely to develop alcohol problems than others?
Nearly 14 million people in the United States -- 1 in every 13 adults -- abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. However, more men than women are alcohol dependent or experience alcohol-related problems. In addition, rates of alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults 65 years and older. Among major U.S. ethnic groups, rates of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems vary.
- Does alcoholism treatment work?
Alcoholism treatment is effective in most cases. Treatment often includes pharmacologic & counseling therapy sessions. Studies show that a minority of alcoholics remain sober one year after treatment, while others have periods of sobriety alternating with relapses. Still others are unable to stop drinking for any length of time.
Treatment outcomes for alcoholism compare favorably with outcomes for many other chronic medical conditions. The longer one abstains from alcohol, the more likely one is to remain sober.
It is important to remember that many people relapse once or several times before achieving long-term sobriety. Relapses are common and do not mean that a person has failed or cannot eventually recover from alcoholism. If a relapse occurs, it is important to try to stop drinking again and to get whatever help is needed to abstain from alcohol.
Help is just a phone-call away. 1-864-306-8533.
