Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Understanding Alcoholism & Addiction : Part 2 of a Series

In Part 2 of this series, we will discuss what a drug is and alcohol is a drug. We will become more learn what alcoholism is and the symptoms and characteristics of alcoholism.

Education is key to understanding any disease. This post is intended to help educate both the alcoholic and the loved ones of the alcoholic to become better informed on the devastating consequences of alcohol abuse. Knowledge is power!

Most, if not all, of us have been affected by and/or know someone who has been affected by alcohol and/or other drugs either directly or indirectly. Did you know that alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug in the United States? According to the  Foundation for a Drug-Free World website -  alcohol-related motor accidents  are the second leading cause of teen death in the United States.

Statistics related to alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorders are astounding! The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that in 2013 there were 16.6 million adults ages 18 and older with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This includes 10.8 million men and 5.8 million women.

Of those 16.6 million adults, only about 1.3 million of them received treatment for an AUD at a specialized facility in 2013 (7.8 percent of adults who needed treatment). This included 904,000 million men (8.0 percent of men in need) and 444,000 women (7.3 percent of women who needed treatment).

Youth (ages 12–17): In 2013 an estimated 697,000 adolescents ages 12–17 had an AUD. This number includes 385,000 females and 311,000 males. An estimated 73,000 adolescents (44,000 males and 29,000 females) received treatment for an alcohol problem in a specialized facility in 2013.
Source: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

 WHAT IS A DRUG?
Alcohol is a Drug!

A drug is any substance (with the exception of food and water) which, when taken into the body, alters the body’s function either physically and/or psychologically. Drugs may be legal (e.g. alcohol, caffeine and tobacco) or illegal (e.g. cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin).
Source: Drug Aware

 WHAT IS ALCOHOLISM?

The following portion of an article found on the Healthline website provides a clear and easy understanding of alcoholism.

Healthline : Power of Intelligent Health
Alcoholism
Written by Darla Burke
Medically Reviewed by Timothy J. Legg PhD, CARN-AP on November 25, 2015
Part 1 of 8 What Is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism is also known as alcohol dependence and alcohol use disorder. It occurs when you drink so much that your body eventually becomes dependent on or addicted to alcohol. When this happens, alcohol becomes the most important thing in your life.

People with alcohol dependence will continue to drink even when drinking causes negative consequences, like losing a job. They may know that their alcohol use negatively affects their lives, but it’s often not enough to make them stop drinking.

Some people may drink alcohol to the point that it causes problems, but they’re not physically dependent on alcohol. This is sometimes referred to as alcohol abuse.
Source: Healthline

WHAT ARE THE SYPMTOMS OF ALCOHOLISM?

Now that we know what alcoholism is, let’s take a look at its symptoms. Symptoms of alcoholism are based on the behaviors and physical outcomes occurring as a result of alcohol addiction.

People with alcohol use disorder may engage in the following behaviors:

· drinking alone
· drinking more to feel the effects of alcohol (having a high tolerance)
· becoming violent or angry when asked about their drinking habits
· not eating or eating poorly
· neglecting personal hygiene
· missing work or school because of drinking
· being unable to control alcohol intake
· making excuses to drink
· continuing to drink even when legal, social, or economic problems develop
· giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use

People with alcoholism may also experience the following physical symptoms:

· alcohol cravings
· withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, including shaking, nausea, and vomiting
· tremors (involuntary shaking) the morning after drinking
· lapses in memory (blacking out) after a night of drinking
· illnesses, such as alcoholic ketoacidosis (includes dehydration-type symptoms) or cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver
Source:  Healthline

My family is genetically predisposed to alcoholism/addiction. I recall talking with my niece, who was 17 years old at the time, about the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. She firmly told me “I will never be an alcoholic!” I explained to her that I never planned on becoming an alcoholic. And, I hope and pray for her sake that she never becomes one!

Don’t think for a moment that you or a loved one is immune to developing alcoholism or addiction! Like most alcoholics I never thought I would become one. It wasn’t like I woke up one day and thought “Hey, I think I want to be an alcoholic, destroy my life, lose my job, my home, and myself, hurt my loved ones and tear my family apart!”

GET HELP NOW!

There is hope for a happier, healthier, and better life ahead for you and your loved ones! Sobriety can be achieved and believe me it is well worth it!!!

If you or someone you love is suffering from alcoholism and/or addiction, please seek help now! Asking for help is the hardest step to take but it gets easier from there! To help you get started I’ve listed some phone numbers and website links below.

Phone Numbers for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Help:

EMERGENCY 911

NCADD Hope Line 800-622-2255
(24 Hour Affiliate Referral)

Websites for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Help:

Alcoholics Anonymous  www.aa.org – Help for the Alcoholic
Al-Anon  www.al-anon.org – Help for the Loved Ones of the Alcoholic
Alateen  www.al-anon.alateen.org – Help for Children Affected by Alcoholism

Narcotics Anonymous  www.na.org – Help for the Addict
Nar-Anon  www.nar-anon.org – Help for the Loved Ones of the Addict

DEFINITIONS RELATED TO ALCOHOLISM

The  Journal of the American Medical Association  website explains what alcoholism is, the characteristics and method used establish the definition of alcoholism as follows:

To establish a more precise use of the term alcoholism, a 23-member multidisciplinary committee of the  National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence  and the  American Society of Addiction Medicine  conducted a 2-year study of the definition of alcoholism in the light of current concepts. The goals of the committee were to create by consensus a revised definition that is (1) scientifically valid, (2) clinically useful, and (3) understandable by the general public. Therefore, the committee agreed to define

alcoholism as a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic.

(JAMA. 1992;268:1012-1014) ARTICLE Published online August 26, 1992 The Definition of Alcoholism Robert M. Morse, MD; Daniel K. Flavin, MD [+] Author Affiliations JAMA. 1992;268(8):1012-1014. doi:10.1001/jama.1992.03490080086030.
Source:  The Journal of the American Medical Association  -  http://jama.jamanetwork.com/Mobile/article.aspx?articleid=399449

Simple Definition of Primary: : most important : most basic or essential : happening or coming first
Source:  Merriam-Webster Dictionary  website -  http://beta.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primary

Simple Definition of Chronic: medical : continuing or occurring again and again for a long time : happening or existing frequently or most of the time : always or often doing something specified
Source:  Merriam-Webster Dictionary  website -  http://beta.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronic

Simple Definition of Disease: : an illness that affects a person, animal, or plant : a condition that prevents the body or mind from working normally : a problem that a person, group, organization, or society has and cannot stop
Source:  Merriam-Webster Dictionary  website -  http://beta.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disease

Medical Definition of Progressive: 1 : increasing in extent or severity 2 : of, relating to, or being a multifocal lens with a gradual transition between focal lengths
Source:  Merriam-Webster Dictionary  website -  http://beta.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progressive


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1 comment:

  1. JohnOctober 14, 2019 at 2:02 PM

    Like many people, at the start of the year, I made a resolution to decrease my alcohol intake.

    Drink Less in Seven Days by Georgia Foster has really helped me stick to this resolution. Georgia is a clinical hypnotherapist and alongside the written version of the book, there are also 4 "Hypnosis Hub" recordings that readers are encouraged to access to help them with the program.

    One of the great things about Drink Less in Seven Days is that Georgia (and I"m going to call her Georgia because she kind of feels like a friend) is totally non-judgemental about how much you drink, why you drink, why you feel you drink too much etc. I feel that this is an area where people carry a lot of shame and negative feelings and to have someone who approaches an emotional issue like this with absolute objectivity is helpful in driving the desired behaviours. She's on your side!

    There are two main parts to Drink Less in Seven Days. The first is how your amygdala (the part of your brain that deals with emotions and fear/stress responses) can actually work against your efforts to quit or reduce your drinking. It shows you how to move your decision to drink away from this very instinctive part of your brain to your prefrontal cortex which is the part of your brain that is more concerned with considered decision-making.

    I found this part of the book fascinating, particularly the parts where she spoke about silencing your inner critic.

    However, it was the second part of the book, where Georgia broke down different personality types. what triggers them to drink and how to circumvent these triggers that I found most useful. (Also fascinating, if like me you love a good theory of behaviour and the ability to proclaim "Yes!!!! That's me!"). Because it makes total sense right? If you drink out of social anxiety (which is me a little bit) your methods to success will likely be different to someone who drinks because everyone around you is (also me a little bit).

    The biggest take away for me was starting to understand what triggers my wanting to drink and learning alternative strategies should I decide not to. I think a really important thing about Drink Less in Seven Days is that it is NOT about quitting drinking altogether. It is about cutting down to a level that you are comfortable with, whatever that is for you. And this feels more manageable than quitting altogether.

    The cru of this type of book though is does it work?

    So here's the real deal. I started this program in January. It's now March and I can count the times I have drunk alcohol on one hand. During this time I have been to pubs, bars and restaurants, entertained at home and been entertained at other people's homes so it's not like I have been hiding myself away. I have been around alcohol and people drinking as much as I ever was.

    Will I drink again? Almost definitely. For me, this experiment was never about giving up altogether. And I have far too much fun making cocktails for this to give it up completely! However, I feel that moving forward I will be able to drink in a more mindful considered way.

    Thank you to Georgia Foster for a thoroughly fascinating book that does exactly what it says on the cover!

    Here's a link to The 7 Days To Drink Less Online Alcohol Reduction Program.

    John

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