Alcoholism Information

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Alcoholism has become a major problem throughout many parts of the world.  Ironically, the more "developed" and advanced a nation becomes the more it seems vulnerable to the social and personal problems that are directly or indirectly caused by alcoholism.  Quite obviously, this kind of "alcoholism information" does not paint a complementary picture of modern society.  Indeed, one could reasonable ask if this means that modern society contains environmental factors that ultimately become one of the causes of alcoholism?

From a more individual level, research has found that while many of the negative effects of alcoholism are similar and usually follow an identifiable and observable path, the causes of alcoholism, namely the genetic and environmental underpinnings of alcoholism, are different for each individual.

In a word, the people of the world need additional "alcohol awareness" and especially more relevant "alcoholism information" if they are to become more knowledgeable about and avoid the unhealthy, damaging, and at times, the fatal consequences of alcoholism.

Drinking Alcohol For Most People Is Enjoyable

For most people who drink, alcohol is a pleasant experience, especially when engaged in recreational and social activities and when their drinking behavior can be classified as "moderate."

Moderate alcohol use can be defined as having up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.  In most circumstances, fortunately, drinking in moderation is not harmful for most adults.

A large number of people, however, simply cannot have any alcoholic drinks because of the problems they encounter when drinking.  In fact, approximately 14 million Americans abuse alcohol or are alcoholic.  It almost goes without saying that these people have a drinking problem.  What are some of the problems that people experience when they drink? 

Some people simply cannot drink alcohol because they cannot stop drinking once they start.  Even though they have "good intentions" and originally plan on drinking only one or two drinks, for whatever reason, one drink leads to another and before long, the individual is intoxicated.  Other people find that when they drink, it negatively affects their relationships, their employment, their health, and their finances.

According to recent alcoholism research studies, it has been discovered that approximately 53 percent of the adults in the United States have reported that one or more of their close relatives has a drinking problem requiring alcoholism assistance.

The Damaging and Destructive Consequences of Alcoholism

Alcoholism information gained from substance abuse research reveals that the consequences of alcoholism are not only serious, but in many cases, fatal.  

Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, such as cancer of the throat, larynx, liver, and of the esophagus. Excessive drinking can also lead to cirrhosis of the liver, brain damage, harm to the fetus while the mother is pregnant, problems with the immune system, and chronic alcoholism.

Additionally, drinking increases the risk of death from motor vehicle accidents as well as recreational and work-related injuries. Not only this, but suicides and homicides are more likely to committed by people who have been drinking.

In simple economic terms, alcohol-related issues and problems in the United States cost society approximately $200 billion per year.

In human terms, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues cannot be calculated: failed health, wife battering, broken homes, destroyed lives, illnesses, child abuse, injuries, and traffic fatalities.

In sum, this alcoholism information paints a bleak picture of alcohol dependence and the many lives that are destroyed due to the damaging and unhealthy nature of this disease.

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Statistics

Unfortunately, the full extent of the damaging effects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse are not easily comprehended unless alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics are emphasized.  It is with this in mind that the following alcoholism information has been provided.  More specifically, according to a number of different studies, the following statistics about alcohol abuse and alcoholism have been identified:

• 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.
• Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse 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).
• 3.1 million Americans, roughly 1.4% of the population 12 and older, received treatment for alcoholism and alcohol-related problems in 1997.
• 3 million Americans over the age of 60 are alcoholics or have serious drinking problems.
• Every day in the United States more than 13,000 children and teens take their first drink.
• 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.

• According to a study undertaken in 2002, at least 762,000 children that are born each year have been exposed to alcohol during the mother's pregnancy.
• The 9.6% of adult alcoholics drink 25% of the alcohol that is consumed by all adult drinkers.
• 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.
• Every year, 1,400 American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle accidents.
• 66% of the population in the United States consumes alcohol.
• Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States.
• Every year in the U.S. more than 150,000 college students develop health problem that are alcohol-related.  

Many people think that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are the same.  This is not correct and to a great extent is due to faulty alcoholism information or misinformation.  Alcohol abuse, unlike alcoholism, does not include physical dependence, loss of control due to drinking, or an extremely strong desire for alcohol.

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

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

Binge Drinking

While on the subject of alcohol abuse, many people seem to think that when they go out "on the town" once or twice per year and get drunk that this is "moderate" and/or "responsible" drinking.  Actually, this kind of drinking is neither moderate nor responsible and is so common that it has been granted a name:  binge drinking.  Binge drinking is a special type of alcohol abuse that can be defined as consuming 5 or more alcoholic beverages in one sitting for men and 4 or more drinks at one sitting for women.

No, binge drinking and other forms of alcohol abuse do not necessarily mean that an individual is an alcoholic.  What they do mean, however, is that serious or even fatal consequences can result from abusing alcohol and from binge drinking if the drinker consumes enough alcohol and experiences alcohol poisoning or alcohol overdose.  In short, binge drinking is a form of alcohol abuse, and therefore, is an example of a drinking problem.

Hopefully this kind of alcohol abuse and alcoholism information will help people realize when they are engaging in binge drinking and that they need to stop this form of drinking behavior if they are concerned about their health and their lives.

What is Alcoholism?

A Definition of Alcoholism.  Also known as alcohol dependence or alcohol addiction, alcoholism 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.
• Tolerance: The need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol in order to "feel the buzz" or to "get high."
• Craving: A strong and continuing compulsion or need to drink.
• Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms when a person stops drinking after a period of excessive drinking.  Such symptoms include:  anxiety, sweating, nausea, and "the shakes."

Alcoholism Symptoms and The Need for Alcoholism Help

It is important to point out that if you observe your friends or family members exhibiting any of the above symptoms or behaviors, consider them as alcoholism signs or alcoholism symptoms.  Obviously, this could be important alcoholism information, and if your friends or family members manifest some of these symptoms or signs, they may need professional alcoholism assistance.  More exactly, they may need alcoholism diagnosis, alcoholism treatment, or they may need to enter a treatment center or facility for alcoholism rehab if they are to address their drinking problem and attain alcoholism health or alcoholism recovery.

Many times, people who are not alcoholic or who don't drink do not understand why an alcoholic can't simply use self-control or willpower to stop drinking. In most instances, however, alcoholism has little to do with willpower or with being strong and fighting alcoholism.

On the contrary, alcoholics are caught in the compelling grip of an uncontrollable need for alcohol that takes priority over their ability to stop drinking. Indeed, this need to drink for the alcoholic can be as strong as his or her need for food or water.  Hopefully this kind of alcoholism information will lead to a more compassionate level of understanding by non-drinkers about the life situations suffered by chronic alcoholics.

An Alcoholism Cure?  While there is no known cure for alcoholism, recovery from alcoholism is, however, possible. Indeed, even though some people are able to recover from alcoholism and alcoholism depression without clinical or personal help, many, if not most, alcoholics need assistance and treatment for their drinking problem. The good news, however, is this: through alcoholism treatment, rehab, counseling, and support, many alcoholics are able to abstain from drinking and rebuild their lives.

The Causes of Alcoholism

Some Possible Causes of Alcoholism .  A question that has entered the minds of many people is the following: why can some people drink alcohol without problems or any negative consequences while others cannot?  Are the causes of alcoholism different for different people?  One answer to this question involves genetics.  More specifically, researchers have discovered that having an alcoholic family member increases the risk of developing alcoholism.

In fact, there may be a genetic predisposition for certain individuals to become dependent on alcohol.  In addition, scientists have found that various environmental factors can interact with one's genetics.  Examples include peer pressure or peer influence, the relative ease of obtaining alcohol, where and how a person lives, a person's culture, and one's family and friends.  In sum, it appears that there are various causes of alcoholism that are different for each person.  For instance while various individuals might have a genetic predisposition for alcoholism, all of these people have different alcoholism environmental factors that interact with his or her genetics.  Stated simply, research has demonstrated that there are indeed causes of alcoholism, but that these causes differ with each person.

Alcoholism Videos

We have included some alcoholism videos so that you can see and hear directly from various people about their struggles with this disease.  If you, a family member, or one of your friends has a "drinking problem," seeing what others have gone through and how they attained successful recovery is much more "real" than any information you can read about.  Furthermore, watching these videos may help you understand what others with a drinking problem are experiencing and how they dealt with alcoholism on the road to alcohol recovery.  So make sure you look at these excellent videos!

Alcoholism Information:  Conclusion

This is some basic alcohol abuse and alcoholism information that most people are probably unaware of:  in basic economic terms, alcohol-related problems in the United States cost society almost $200 billion per year.  In human terms, regrettably, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues and problems cannot be calculated: wife battering, fatalities, injuries, destroyed lives, failed health, broken homes, child abuse, and illnesses.

Research has shown that there are causes of alcoholism and that these causes are genetic and environmental.  Since each person's genetic background and the environmental components that give rise his or her alcoholism, it can be determined that the causes of alcoholism are different for each individual.

Unfortunately, alcoholism has become a critical problem in the United States AND in other parts of the world.  Paradoxically, the more "developed" and technologically advanced a country becomes the more it seems susceptible to the personal and societal problems that are directly or indirectly related to alcoholism.  With so many people in the world becoming part of the alcoholism statistics as well as the number of individuals world-wide who exhib alcoholism symptoms, one begins to wonder if contemporary, industrialized society is actually one of the direct or indirect causes of alcoholism. Stated differently, is it posssible that a person's drinking problem is somehow influenced by society?

In short, the people of the world apparently need "alcoholism help," and "alcohol awareness," and more relevant "alcoholism information" if they are to become more knowledgeable about and avoid the unhealthy, deleterious, and at times, the fatal consequences of alcoholism.

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