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Alcoholism Facts

Alcoholism is one of the largest problems affecting Americans today aside from drug abuse and domestic violence. Alcoholism has been a prominent factor in the lives of people across the globe for centuries, this didn’t just pop up over night. The term alcoholism has had a couple of different definitions throughout the history of the world ever since alcohol became a prominent drink at social events and family gatherings. Here we will enlighten you on the facts about alcoholism and its effects on individuals, their families, their friends, and society.

Alcoholism, with today’s standards, is looked upon in a negative light. In today’s technology driven world, it can take only a handful of seconds for a police officer to determine whether or not someone is above the legal limit of intoxication. Alcoholism is defined in today’s world as a disease that results in the persistent use of alcohol despite negative consequences. This is the medical definition of the term. In historical context, alcoholism was defined as any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages despite the health problems and negative consequences is causes.

The latter definition is somewhat true when you look at today’s standards but the first half of the definition does not fit in with the word
alcoholism at all. People can consume alcoholic beverages at a prolific rate and still not become intoxicated. How? It depends on the size and weight of the person, how their body reacts to alcohol and how much they have eaten in relation to the amount of drinks they have had. One can sit down at a bar in their town’s main strip and continue to have one drink after another and not be affected. It simply depends on the chemical makeup of that individual person.

Alcoholism is more so regarded as a debilitating disease in today’s age more than a habit or a condition. Why? Diseases are tough to cure and once someone gets hooked on alcohol and that feeling of inhibition when intoxicated, that too can be a difficult thing to cure. When you look at the facts about alcoholism, one glaring thing stands out. That one glaring thing is the amount of people killed each year on the nation’s roads because of drunken drivers.

In 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that over 17,000 people in the United States died as a result of a drunken driving related accident. The 17,941 deaths account for over 41 percent of the total traffic deaths in the country. In 2003, over 500,000 people were injured in alcohol-related accidents.

The facts about alcoholism are glaring and sometimes even disturbing. People don’t like being told that they have a problem, let alone dependence for something they love. Having a beer with dinner or a glass of wine with hors d’oeuvres is absolutely fine. But having eight beers over a span of two hours or less with dinner can be a sign of a problem. And of course, one other important fact to remember, women that are pregnant should not drink alcohol. It can affect the development of the baby’s brain and motor skills while in the womb.

Signs of an Alcoholic

How can you tell if a loved one or friend is an alcoholic or is developing a propensity for heaving drinking? The first signs are the dependence of alcohol in that person’s life. If your friend or loved one routinely needs a drink in their hand because it ‘feels right’ or ‘helps them wind down after a long day,’ there may be a pattern developing. Also, people that are addicted to alcohol on a higher level will only want to drink alcoholic beverages. They won’t want soda, iced tea or water; only alcohol.

Other signs include withdrawal. If a person has been attached to alcohol for a certain amount of time religiously and all of a sudden it is taken away, they will go through periods of withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal can be mild or it can be extremely serious, to the point where it can lead to death. Mild symptoms include trouble sleeping and mild anxiety and severe symptoms include a state of delirium. Other symptoms of withdrawal are agitation, confusion, fear, euphoria, hypertension, sweating, seizures, tremors, weakness, depression and much more.

Treatment Options for Alcoholism

If you or a loved one suffers from any of these symptoms or feel that a loved one is developing a propensity for alcohol, get help immediately. There are alcoholicanonymous groups to join, therapy sessions to attend, clinics to visit and alcohol treatment centers to check into. One important fact about alcoholism is that it doesn’t have to ruin your life or anyone else’s life around you. If you can get help early enough then you might be saving a life or two.

Conclusion

Aside from drunken driving accidents, alcoholism also affects families and social situations. A person addicted to alcohol can show signs of aggression and hostility when drunk, which can lead to arguments and violent outbursts with family and friends. Social situations can also become embarrassing because of the way the person addicted to alcohol acts in public. They can be loud, obnoxious and boisterous to no end. Finding ways to get help can mean the difference between life and death.

How To Recover From Alcoholism

Scott Barker- EzineArticles- Expert Author

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Filed under: Addictions