A pattern of drinking which leads to the failure to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home and/or continuous drinking in situations in which it is both physically and mentally hazardous is known as alcohol abuse.
Alcohol dependence may include a drinker’s increase in withdrawal syndrome, tolerance, unsuccessful attempts to cut down drinking or even quit drinking altogether, losing control of their alcohol use, and consistently drinking for a longer period than intended. An alcohol addiction treatment would help the situation.
The important features of alcohol dependence are compulsions which are the inability to refrain from taking that drink, excessive loss of control over alcohol (can’t quit), and continuous drinking no matter what the consequences are. In simple terms, alcohol abuse is drinking too much and too often, whereas alcohol dependence is the inability to quit the drinking habit.
The physical harm related to alcohol is a repercussion of its toxic and dependence-producing properties. Ethanol which is also called ethyl alcohol in alcoholic beverages is produced by the fermentation of sugar with the help of yeast. It is a small molecule that is absorbed rapidly in the gut and is distributed to every part of the body which also has effects on all of them.
Most of the internal organs can be easily affected by the toxic effects of alcohol which results in more than 60 different diseases. The amount of alcohol consumed over time is related to the risks of developing different diseases having different severity.
For instance, even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of developing breast cancer in a linear way. During pregnancy, alcohol can increase the risk of harmfulness to the fetus, which in turn can cause prematurity, stillbirth and can develop fetal alcohol syndrome.
Problems associated with a serious drinking issue:
Soon after drinking alcohol, it is rapidly absorbed in the gut and reaches the brain, which quickly leads to a change in coordination of activities that increases the risk of accidents and injuries when driving a vehicle or operating machinery.
Continuous alcohol consumption results in an increase in mental health disorders including depression, psychosis, anxiety, impairments of memory and learning. Alcohol dependence also increases the risk of suicide.
Both chronic and acute heavy drinking can lead to a wide range of social problems which include marital breakdown, domestic violence, neglect and child abuse, job loss, and absenteeism. Its adverse effects on judgment and mood swings can increase the risk of violent crime and social problems.
Alcohol addiction treatment:
The prime concern is to balance the patient by paying close attention to the airway, vital signs, and breathing. If there is a concern for alcohol seizures and withdrawal then benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam are used.
Certain atypical antipsychotics, such as ziprasidone and olanzapine, have also been used which can help sedate patients with acute psychosis.
The use of physical restraints is also used to protect the patient as well as the staff. However, the prognosis is good if the patient can abstain from alcohol. The risk of recurrence is high if patients are unable to abstain from alcohol.
If the drinking problem gets severe, then paying a visit to alcohol addiction treatment centers such as detox centers and utilizing some of their guidelines and help will be the key step. The ultimate goal would be to stop drinking and give enough time for the body to get the alcohol out of the system. This process would commonly take around a few weeks to months.