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

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
www.ncadd.org/get-help

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

Understanding Alcoholism & Addiction : Part 1 of a Series

My last post “Thanksgiving in Alcohol Rehab” prompted me to dedicate an educational/informational post on alcoholism and addiction. However, once I started on today’s post I found my mind going in several directions. So I decided to create a series of posts containing alcoholism and addiction information, facts and statistics and will be posted in the near future.

Many people do not believe that alcoholism and addiction are diseases but that a person who suffers from it is just a bad or weak person, a person with no “willpower”. I’ve heard so many people say “if they really wanted to stop, they would” or “you just need more willpower”.

Most alcoholics/addicts have probably heard “if you really loved me, you would stop”. If you’re not an alcoholic/addict, you can’t imagine how much it hurts to hear those words and so desperately want to stop yet unable to do so. Do you have any idea how many times I have promised with all sincerity, the very best intentions, and tried so hard to remain sober only to blow it within days or even hours?! Neither do I but if I had a nickel for each time…!!!

At one point I reached a point that if I heard “willpower” one more time I was going to deck someone! Well, maybe not literally although it was tempting! LOL The loved ones mean well but don’t understand it’s not a matter of willpower or even just not drinking.

It wasn’t until I entered rehab that I fully understood that my alcoholism was a disease and it was not my fault nor was I a weak or bad person. Yes, alcoholism and addiction are diseases acknowledged and defined by medical professionals. I dare anyone to say otherwise, those are fighting words! LOL

Many people believe because alcohol is legal it is not a drug. Do NOT be confused, alcohol is a drug! For me alcohol is the worst drug! Why? Because once I start drinking, I physically and mentally am unable to stop until I blackout and/or pass out. Alcohol has severe and negative consequences for me, a Dr. Jekyll/Ms. Hyde effect.

Shortly after I started attending Alcoholics Anonymous, a friend told me “one beer will get you drunk!” What the heck?! I remember thinking “That’s the craziest thing I ever heard, one beer won’t get me drunk!” Boy, he was right! I later told him he laughed and asked “Was I right?” Of course he was!

For an alcoholic, it begins with that first drink; it’s all downhill from there! Most of the time, I did not set out to get drunk just a good buzz. I can’t begin to count the times I planned on only having a few drinks. But, once I start it’s on!

There are numerous facets to this disease. Getting sober is the easy part, staying sober is the hard part a daily and lifelong battle! I won’t lie to you, not now that I’m sober, sobriety ain’t easy! Slips happen and I’ve had slips since rehab but I never gave up on myself nor lost my desire for a life of sobriety! I sought outpatient counseling and got myself back on track.

There will be days that will flat out suck! Hey, that’s life, sober or not, life happens! But I will tell you that even on the worst sober days life is a whole lot less complicated!

Remember, escaping with the bottle is only temporary. Life’s’ problems will still be there when you sober up. Those problems become more complicated with alcohol. For the alcoholic, alcohol of creates even more problems such as hangovers, no recollection of what you did the night before, how you ended up in a strange place, relationship, job, and/or legal problems, or worse…loss of life!!!

Truth is alcoholism/addiction is not just our problem. We are not the only ones suffering; it’s not all about us. Our loved ones hurt and suffer too, emotionally, mentally and often physically. Addiction is not a spectator sport, eventually the entire family gets to play.

Ok, I admit some of this may seem a bit discouraging and hard to take. Please do not be discouraged! I’m just telling ya the cold hard truth and sometimes the truth hurts. For an alcoholic/addict in active addiction we live in constant denial, the truth evades us. However, no matter how much these truths may hurt, they sure don’t hurt as much as the misery alcohol and other drugs bring to our lives and our families lives!

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

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.
www.ncadd.org/get-help