Alcohol Abuse Facts

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One of the key alcohol abuse facts or info about alcohol abuse is this:  alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that can result in physical injury; ongoing alcohol-related relationship problems; the failure to attend to important responsibilities at school, work, or at home; and/or the experience of recurring alcohol-related legal problems (such as receiving multiple DWIs and DUIs) during a twelve-month time period.

Another one of the key facts on alcohol abuse and some basic alcohol abuse information is that irresponsible and long term alcohol abuse usually results in various alcohol long term effects that are highly correlated with different diseases, medical issues, and illnesses.  Stated differently, repetitive abusive drinking typically results in a number of alcohol long term effects that manifest themselves as alcohol abuse and alcoholism problems

Yet another one of the alcohol abuse facts and a bit of bottom line alcohol abuse information that many people do not realize is that binge drinking, even if done only a few times per year, is a form of alcohol abuse.

What is worse, apparently many people do not comprehend that binge drinking can and does result in alcohol poisoning, which, in some instances, can be fatal.  Such alcohol abuse signs and information about alcohol abuse, binge drinking, and alcohol poisoning, it is asserted, needs to be taught to every student in our school system.

If you engage in abusive drinking you could be gambling with your life.  How?  Simply this:  many individuals who drink excessively, involve themselves in binge drinking. And abusing alcohol in any fashion and long term alcohol abuse can eventually result in alcohol dependence which is a type of drug addiction.

As a consequence, why not break the connection between abuse and alcohol in your life, get some relevant information about alcohol facts and about alcohol abuse, and do some "proactive thinking" so that you can prevent the disease of alcoholism before it ever becomes an issue?  In short, why not avoid any potentially unhealthy alcohol abuse effects, alcohol abuse "signs," and long term alcohol abuse and consider getting the alcohol abuse treatment that you need?

Alcohol Abuse Facts:  What is Alcohol Abuse?

Many people think that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are the same.  This information is not based on alcoholism facts, alcohol abuse facts, or about alcohol facts.  Indeed, though both alcohol abuse and alcoholism are similar in that both point to the unfortunate connection that exists between abuse and alcohol, alcohol abuse, unlike alcoholism, does not include the loss of control due to drinking, physical dependence, or an extremely strong craving for alcohol.

Definition of Alcohol Abuse.  Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following circumstances in a twelve-month time frame:

• Drinking in situations that can result in physical injury such as operating machinery.
  
  
• Continued drinking in spite of ongoing relationship problems that are the result of drinking.
  
  
• Failure to attend to important responsibilities at home, work, or school.
  
  
• Experiencing recurring alcohol-related legal problems.  Examples include getting arrested for damaging someone's property, receiving a DUI, or for physically hurting someone while drunk.

An intelligent way of looking at the components that make up the definition of alcohol abuse is this: when a person exhibits problems in any or all of these areas, consider this information as alcohol abuse signs. That is, the manifestation of any or all of these issues is often a red flag that the person is engaging in abusive drinking.

A Definition of Alcoholism

To understand the differences between alcohol abuse and alcoholism, we will provide a definition of alcoholism.  According to alcoholism facts, alcoholism, also known as alcohol addiction or alcohol dependence, is a form of drug addiction and is a disease that includes the following symptoms:

• Loss of control: The inability to limit one's drinking over time or on any given occasion.
  
  
• Craving: A strong and continuing compulsion or need to drink.
  
  
• Tolerance: The need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol in order to "feel the buzz" or to "get high."
  
  
• Physical dependence: alcohol withdrawal symptoms when a person stops drinking after a period of excessive drinking.  Such symptoms include: "the shakes," nausea, anxiety, and sweating.

When looking at alcohol abuse and alcoholism one key factor is worth mentioning. The longer a person engages in alcohol abuse, the higher the probability that he or she will eventually become alcohol dependent.  Stated differently, those who engage in long term alcohol abuse increase the risk of becoming an alcoholic down the road.

Facts on Alcohol:  Causes of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

A question that has entered the minds of many people is the following: why can some individuals drink alcohol without encountering any difficulties or negative consequences while others cannot?  Stated differently, what is about alcohol that leads some people to abuse and addiction while for others, enjoyment and moderation prevail? One answer to this question concerns genetics.

More to the point, according to the facts on alcohol abuse, researchers have found that having an alcoholic family member increases the risk of developing alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

In fact, there may be a genetic predisposition for certain people becoming "problem drinkers."  In addition, research scientists have discovered that various environment factors can interact with one's genetics--the result being that both of these components can influence the development of alcohol related difficulties such as alcohol abuse.  Examples of these environmental aspects include where and how a person lives, a person's culture, peer influences, the relative ease of obtaining alcohol, and one's family and friends.

Regrettable, once alcohol abuse starts, the behavior in many instances continues and can result in long term health, legal, and social difficulties and other types of alcohol abuse problems.  Also unfortunate is the number of documented cases of adolescent alcohol abuse and youth alcohol abuse, especially the abuse of alcohol that takes place in high schools and on college campuses.

Information About Alcohol Abuse Facts and Alcoholism Statistics

There are certain words that almost always go together.  Examples include the following: peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, and unfortunately, abuse and alcohol.  Regrettably, the widespread dangers and destruction of alcohol abuse and alcoholism do not necessarily make a full impact on people until they are introduced to relevant statistics.  As a result, we decided to include a few highly significant alcoholism statistics and alcohol abuse statistics.

Such alcohol abuse information, "alcohol abuse signs," and alcoholism facts, it is asserted, will not only help put alcohol abuse and alcoholism in a more understandable perspective, but it might help lead to more effective alcohol abuse prevention.  Concerning alcohol abuse statistics and basic alcohol facts and info about alcohol abuse, according to a study undertaken by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University in 2005, the following alcohol abuse statistics and alcoholism statistics were discovered:

• According to alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts uncovered by alcohol research, American youth who drinking before the of age 15 are four times more likely to become alcoholics than young people who do not drink before the age of 21.  This statistic focuses on the importance of drinking at a later rather than at an earlier age.  This statistics also points out very clearly how abuse and alcohol go together, even for teenagers.
  
  
• The 25.9% of underage drinkers who are alcohol abusers and alcohol dependent drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is consumed by all underage drinkers.
  
  
• Every day in the U.S. more than 13,000 children and teens take their first drink.  Among other things, this means that many of these teens will understand first hand the relationship between abuse and alcohol.
  
  
• Every year, 1,400 American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related accidents and injuries, including motor vehicle accidents.  Traffic fatalities, perhaps more than any other statistics, point out the devastating realities that often result from alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
  
  
• In the United States during 2004, 16,694 deaths occurred as a result of alcohol-related motor-vehicle crashes.  This amount was approximately 39% of all traffic fatalities.  This amounts to one alcohol-related death every 31 minutes.  This statistic, quite honestly, is overwhelming.  Talk about abuse and alcohol---one alcohol related traffic fatality every 31 minutes and the grief and devastation suffered from these deaths is beyond comprehension.

• Here's one of the alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and an alcohol statistic that though logical, is something that most drinkers and non-drinkers probably do not know:  The 9.6% of adult alcoholics drink 25% of the alcohol that is consumed by all adult drinkers.
  
  
• Every year in the U.S. more than 150,000 college students develop health problems that are alcohol-related.  This is additional evidence that alcohol abuse and alcoholism, unfortunately, are intimately interrelated to one another.
  
  
• Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion in 2005.  This dollar amount was more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) and obesity ($133 billion).  Though dollar amounts like this are hard to comprehend, at least they make an attempt at placing a dollar value on the relationship of abuse and alcohol.

Alcohol Abuse Facts About Binge Drinking

Here' some more important facts on alcohol abuse, alcohol abuse information, and alcohol abuse signs.  It appears that many people do not understand that getting drunk "only" once or twice per year is neither "drinking in moderation" nor "responsible drinking."  In fact, there is a term for this kind of occasional alcohol abuse:  binge drinking.

Binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks at one sitting for women and five or more drinks at one sitting for men.  Stated another way, when an individual consumes an excessive amount of alcohol over a short period of time, or abuse is continuous over a number of days or weeks, this is called intensive use, bingeing, or binge drinking.  Obviously, binge drinking perfectly illustrates the relationship that exists between abuse and alcohol and is one of the most dangerous alcohol abuse problems that a person can experience.

It is interesting to note that hangovers are frequently more common in light to moderate drinkers than in heavy and chronic drinkers, suggesting that binge drinking can be as threatening as chronic drinking.  Therefore any man who drinks more than five drinks or any woman who has more than four drinks in one sitting is at risk for a hangover. When used intelligently, such alcohol abuse signs can help prevent abusive drinking as well as hangovers.

Binge drinking not only significantly increases the risk of injury and contracting sexually transmitted diseases, but it can also result in alcohol poisoning.  Considering the fact that 60 percent of American men between the ages of 18 and 25 binge drink and in 2002, a reported 2.6 million U.S. binge drinkers were between the ages of 12 and 17, binge drinking is not only extremely dangerous and potentially fatal, but it is also a drinking pattern that affects millions of teens, pre-teens, and young adults.  To state the obvious, people who regularly engage in binge drinking need alcohol abuse help because they are actively engaging in abusive drinking.

Alcohol Long Term Effects and Long Term Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol research and basic information about alcohol facts reveal that long term alcohol abuse typically results in a number of negative alcohol long term effects.  For instance, one of the more typical alcohol long term effects concerns liver disease such as hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.  Pancreatitis, the inflammation of the pancreas, is also highly correlated with long-term alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Another one of the more common alcohol long term effects concerns the many different types of cancer that are directly or indirectly interlinked with long-term abusive drinking.  Examples include cancer of the throat, kidneys, colon, liver, mouth, rectum, voice box, and esophagus.

Vitamin deficiencies, sexual problems, and ulcers also result from long term alcohol abuse. And finally, another of the more typical of the alcohol long term effects are various circulatory disease such as strokes and heart disease.  In sum, it can be determined that chronic abusive and excessive drinking and long term alcohol abuse result in a number of negative alcohol long term effects and alcohol abuse signs that manifest themselves as health-related diseases, illness, and medical problems.

Alcohol Abuse Treatment

In spite of the fact that alcohol abuse is not the same thing as alcoholism, alcohol abuse is a serious problem in the United States.  In fact, roughly 14 million Americans currently abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent.  Not only this, but several million more Americans engage in risky drinking patterns such as binge drinking that could lead to chronic alcohol abuse or to alcohol dependency.

Based on the significance of this condition, there are many alcohol abuse therapeutic approaches and methodologies that help those who abuse alcohol either significantly reduce the amount and the frequency that they drink or help them totally abstain from drinking.  Due to the significance of alcohol abuse, some individuals are sure to ask the following question: "What is the most effective type of alcohol abuse treatment"?

Although there are many effective alcohol abuse and alcoholism treatment approaches, individuals who abuse alcohol have to first realize that they have a drinking problem before they can get the assistance they need.  Once involved in treatment, furthermore, problem drinkers need to "buy into" and follow through with the treatment protocol if they are to overcome their drinking problems.  In a word, those who abuse alcohol need to either want to quit drinking altogether or learn how to drink in moderation in order for their treatment to become successful.

Alcohol Abuse Intervention

It is important to note that if you see your family members or friends displaying any of the above listed behaviors, consider them as signs of alcohol abuse that could possibly reveal important information about alcohol abuse and the need for treatment.  And if your family members or friends in fact do display some of these signs, they may require alcohol abuse intervention, treatment, or alcohol abuse rehab.  More specifically, your family members or friends may require alcohol abuse counseling, alcohol abuse education, or they may need to enter a treatment center or facility for alcohol abuse rehab.

Although some individuals are able to recover from chronic alcohol abuse without medical or personal help, many, if not most, people who regularly abuse alcohol need professional assistance.  Regrettably, this seems to be a fact about alcohol abuse that over time does not change significantly.  Fortunately, through treatment, rehab, and support, many individuals who abuse alcohol are able to either abstain from drinking or regulate their drinking behavior and reclaim their lives.

Alcoholism Videos

So that you can better understand the path to alcoholism that many who abuse alcohol will follow, we have included some alcoholism videos.  We feel that it is important for people who are interested in learning more about alcohol facts and about alcohol abuse and alcoholism to see and hear directly from various people about their struggles with alcoholism.  If you, a family member, or one of your friends has a "drinking problem," seeing what others have gone through, how they avoided the alcohol long term effects, and how they attained successful recovery is much more "real" than any information you can read about.

These videos also illustrate, once again, various facts on alcohol abuse, alcohol abuse signs, and how abuse and alcohol are interrelated.  Furthermore, watching these videos may help you understand various alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts, what others with a drinking problem are experiencing, and how others successfully dealt with their long term alcohol abuse.  If nothing else, these videos will provide some additional information about alcohol abuse facts and alcoholism statistics.  So, if you are looking for some alcohol abuse facts, alcohol abuse signs, or further info about abusive drinking, make sure you look at these excellent videos!

Alcohol Abuse Facts: Conclusion

Some Basic Facts on Alcohol Abuse.  Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in ongoing alcohol-related relationship problems; the failure to attend to important responsibilities at home, work, or at school; the experience of recurring alcohol-related legal problems; and/or drinking situations that can result in physical injury.

Unfortunately, long-term alcohol abuse results in a number of negative alcohol long term effects that manifest themselves as health-related problems such as binge drinking, liver disease, cancer, pancreatitis, heart disease, and strokes.  All of these, it might be emphasized, can be considered as "alcohol abuse signs" and alcohol long term effects.

When focusing on various alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and statistics, then, it becomes apparent that continued, repetitive abusive drinking usually results in a number of alcohol abuse problems. To make matters worse, people who engage in long term alcohol abuse also increase the chances that they will eventually become alcohol dependent.  In other words,

Unfortunately, for many people, abuse and alcohol go together similar to the way that peanut butter and jelly go together:  it appears difficult to engage in one activity without the presence of the other.  The same sort of logical connection, regrettably, applies to the terms alcohol and abuse.

There are many kinds of alcohol abuse facts, alcohol abuse signs, information about alcohol facts, and a lot of alcohol abuse information that needs to be examined.  Indeed, there are social, behavioral, psychological, physical, and health aspects about alcohol abuse that ironically lead to and also result from alcohol abuse.  One of the most important alcohol abuse facts, however, is this: when people abuse alcohol on a regular basis, they increase the risk of becoming alcohol dependent.  And keep in mind that since alcohol is a drug, alcoholism is a form of drug addiction.

According to alcohol abuse and alcoholism facts and research, regrettably, at some point, the line between alcohol abuse and alcoholism becomes blurry and the person makes the transition from being able to control his or her drinking to a total lack of control.  This is especially sad when teen alcohol abuse or alcohol abuse in teens is considered.  In short, and in accordance with the research literature about long term alcohol abuse and alcoholism, the earlier and the more frequently a youth starts to drink alcohol, the more likely he or she will eventually abuse alcohol, which can in turn, lead to alcohol dependency.  These are alcohol abuse facts and info about alcohol abuse that though based on reality, are most unfortunate.

It is at this point that the person has become alcohol dependent.  If you abuse alcohol, do you think it is worth gambling with your life to the extent that you could become an alcoholic?  The bottom line:  what is it about alcohol abuse and alcoholism that is worth the ill health, relationship problems, financial difficulties, employment issues, and education problems that are typically associated with excessive, abusive drinking? In short, you need to learn how to read the alcohol abuse signs and alcoholism signs so you can avoid the alcohol long term effects that are often associated with hazardous and irresponsible drinking.

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