Must Read: Alcohol a Celebrated Poison.

 


The rate of Alcohol consumption among individuals is soaring at an alarming rate, this behavioral abnormality has cut across different strata of the human demographics. In a bid to help militate against this social uncooperative lifestyle, i have written this article to help enlighten ignorant fellows on the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Alcoholism(Wikipedia) is a broad term for problems with alcohol and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing. It is medically considered a disease, specifically an addictive illness. 

 What is alcohol abuse? 

Alcohol abuse is a disease. It is characterized by a maladaptive pattern of drinking alcohol that results in negative work, medical, legal, educational, and/or social effects on a person's life. The individual who abuses this substance tends to continue to use it despite such consequences. Effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism on families can include increased domestic violence.

What are risk factors for alcoholism?

Risk factors for developing a drinking problem include depression, anxiety, or another mood problem in the individual, as well as having parents with alcoholism. Low self-esteem and feeling out of place are other risk factors for developing alcohol dependence. In women, antisocial behaviors and impulsivity are associated with the development of alcohol dependence. Both men and women are more likely to develop alcoholism if they have a childhood history of being physically or sexually abused. Children and teens who have their first drink of alcohol between 11 and 14 years of age are more at risk for developing a drinking problem than those who do so when either younger or older.

 Is there a safe level of drinking?

 Recent research describes potential health benefits of consuming alcohol, including decreased risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. Given that, it is fair to say that low intake, along the lines of 4-8 ounces of wine per day, is likely safe.

What are the long-term physical and psychological effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism?

The long-term effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism can be devastating and even life threatening. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect virtually every organ system. Specific examples of alcohol-abuse effects on the body include everything from general effects like poor coordination, thiamine deficiency, and other forms of poor nutrition, cardiovascular effects like hypertension and irregular heartbeat, reproductive effects like impotence and irregular menses, as well as gastrointestinal problems like cirrhosis of the liver and pancreatitis. Alcohol-abuse effects on the brain include, but are by no means limited to, strokes, confusion, and amnesia.
Approximately 10%-15% of people with alcoholism tend to commit suicide. Intoxication is associated with suicide attempts using more lethal methods, and positive blood-alcohol levels are often found in people who complete suicide. Men who have lost their spouses within the year are at highest risk of suicide.

Further Reading and Reference:
http://www.medicinenet.com/alcohol_abuse_and_alcoholism/article.htm


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