Alcoholism Risk Is
Linked to Early Aged Drinking

Lifetime Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking According To Survey The survey appeared in Volume 160, of the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, pages 739-746. The article states of those 43,000 participants in a survey of U.S. adults who had developed the disease, Alcoholism; 47% of them had met the criteria for alcoholism by age 21.

That is almost half of those involved in the survey. This is important information that will support the theory that alcohol use by our youth is a risk factor for developing alcoholism and for developing it at a quicker rate and at a younger age, usually within 10 years of when they started drinking. The survey took into account other risk factors for alcohol dependence to further validate the evidence.

The survey was very specific regarding terms such as "starting to drink" did not mean tasting or sipping but actually consuming the drink. The survey involved personal interviews that were face to face. The participants in the survey were age 18 and older. The data used in the survey was gathered from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), according to the article." While interpreting the survey results, one may surmise that as the world ages, our youth are exposed to more intense pressures and temptations are inclined to be in their face.

Youth may see alcohol as an answer to escape these pressures. As the survey suggests, turning to alcohol at an early age will hold lifelong consequences (namely alcoholism). The Internet is a prime example of how the trials and temptations of the day can come right into our homes. The Internet exposes our kids at an earlier age to a barrage of advertising, Websites and chat rooms that are of an adult nature.

If not supervised or monitored closely enough this exposure will continue without the benefit of safeguards for health or safety. Not only are kids bombarded with stress but also they are exposed to the inappropriate ways to handle stress, especially drugs like alcohol. Communication is at lightening speed, and involves more than local participants, as the Internet is a global medium.

Did You Know

Alcoholism effects men and women at different levels and over different amounts of time but one thing that everyone who is an alcoholic has in common is that their bodies will be negatively affected and damaged from the regular intake of alcohol. Alcoholism affects all of the body systems including the brain.

There are short-term effects that last during the drinking phase but once the person is in recovery, those effects go away. There are also long-term effects that are caused by the alcoholism and are permanent damage to the drinker.

Some of the short-term effects of alcoholism are related to being drunk. These include things such as weight loss, intoxication, drunk driving, poor decision-making, and irresponsibility and reproductive disorders. Once the alcoholic is sober, they may have to go through counseling in order to learn better responsibility and decision-making tools but without the alcohol, the person is much better.

Of course being intoxicated goes away when the person stops drinking and they have a tendency to gain weight because time that was spent drinking and not eating is replaced with at least eating regular meals. Alcohol alters the brain and inhibits its functioning. Interestingly, people will feel like they are extra creative and will believe that they are "with it". However, alcohol is a depressant and actually slows brain function.

Alcohol will actually inhibit creativity and productivity regardless of how it makes the alcoholic feel. The regular use of alcohol will actually alter the reproductive cycle in women and can cause infertility as well as other reproductive related problems.

The long-term or even permanent effects of alcoholism are more dangerous and difficult if not impossible to recover from. Alcoholism causes the human brain to literally shrink over time. This causes brain cells to die and can affect memory, sight, smell, hearing, hormones, and the nervous system.

Alcoholism can also cause infertility in both men and women as well as permanent birth defects in babies who are born to alcoholic mothers. Cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer can result from excessive drinking as well as cancers of the stomach and breast, too.

There is a 2005 survey that supports the finding of the previously mentioned survey. The 2005 survey is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey that was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It found that in the U.S., 26% of high school students had already consumed at least one alcoholic beverage, before the age of 13. Based on this it would seem that there is enough evidence that youth are indeed drinking, not just experimenting with alcohol and that this could contribute to the existence of younger alcoholics.

Interesting Facts

Talk to someone if you find that drinking is becoming a problem. Seek the assistance of Alcoholics Anonymous. That's what they are there for.

These younger alcoholics would have obviously a longer time to deal with this devastating and chronic disease. There is no telling what the ramifications of contracting Alcoholism earlier and having longer affects of the disease would have on the body and mind of those who suffer from it; one might guess that it would not be good.

Alcoholism in the News

08/29/2008
Native American Battle Plan with Alcoholism (KFYR-TV Bismarck)
Alcohol kills thousands of people every year, through things like car crashes and liver disease. A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds Native Americans are four times more likely than the rest of the population to suffer an alcohol-related death.

Native American Battle Plan with Alcoholism (KFYR-TV Bismarck)

08/27/2008
Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)
Hawaii has one of the highest rates of alcoholism and drunk driving in the nation and the legislature may take steps to correct that. The house health committee held a hearing today to listen to the experts.

Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)

08/27/2008
Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)
Hawaii has one of the highest rates of alcoholism and drunk driving in the nation and the legislature may take steps to correct that. The house health committee held a hearing today to listen to the experts.

Hawaii Has one of the Highest Rates of Alcoholism and Drunk Driving (KHON 2 Honolulu)

08/29/2008
August 29th, 2008 (Empire Page)
Responding to a report from college leaders who support a national debate to lower the legal drinking age to 18, State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo today said that facts are clear on why ...

August 29th, 2008 (Empire Page)

08/29/2008
Beacon House celebrates 15th anniversary of service (Fond du Lac Reporter)
Beacon House of Fond du Lac recently celebrated 15 years of helping women who are recovering from alcoholism and/or chemical dependency.

Beacon House celebrates 15th anniversary of service (Fond du Lac Reporter)

08/29/2008
CMU professor charged with three DUIs in rehab (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
A Carnegie Mellon University professor who was charged with drunken driving three times in eight days has checked into a Virginia treatment center for alcoholism, his lawyer said today.

CMU professor charged with three DUIs in rehab (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

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Better Your Health

Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem


◦	What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse

◦	The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse

◦	What is the Attraction To Alcohol

◦	FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1

◦	FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2

◦	A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism

◦	Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus

◦	The Brain And Alcohol

◦	Health Risks For Women Alcoholics

◦	Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic

◦	How A Child See's Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism Detoxification Steps

◦	Alcoholism and the Workplace

◦	The Children of Alcoholics

◦	Common Questions About Alcoholism

◦	Tests for Alcohol Use

◦	Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center

◦	The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving

◦	The War On Drunk Driving

◦	How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help

◦	Some Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

◦	Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal

◦	Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking

◦	A Portrait Of An Alcoholic

◦	The Symptoms of Alcoholism

◦	Basic Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Hard Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer

◦	The College Campus And Alcoholism

◦	Dangers of Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6

◦	Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12

◦	What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout

◦	New Shot to Treat Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism's Physical Effects

◦	Group Support For Alcoholism

◦	Threats From Alcoholism

◦	The Truth About Alcoholism

◦	Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism

◦	Treatments for Alcoholism

◦	Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic

◦	Recovering From Alcoholism

◦	Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic

◦	What Is Alcholism

◦	Family Members Drinking Too Much

◦	Explain Alcoholism

◦	Who Are The Alcoholics

◦	Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism

◦	Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family

◦	Health Consequences Of Alcoholism

◦	Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism

◦	Screening Tests For Alcoholism

◦	What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism

◦	How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA

◦	The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous

◦	Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable

◦	The Causes of Alcoholism

◦	So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?

◦	Is Alcoholism Hereditary

◦	What Children Need to Know About Alcohol

◦	How to Recognize When Children are Drinking

◦	What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic

◦	How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight

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