What is the Attraction To Alcohol>Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem>The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse>Basic Facts About Alcoholism Basic Facts About Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a widespread problem that affects people of all races, socioeconomic classes, genders, ages and so forth. There are an estimated 14 million individuals presently living in the U.S. who either abuse alcohol on a regular basis or are alcoholics. This works out to be every one in three adults. The highest rates of alcohol dependency appear to be in young adults ranging from the age of 18 to 29 years of age while the lowest rates are for those adults who are 65 years of age and older. There are several million other adults in the United States who may not be alcoholics per se but they still engage in risky types of drinking patterns on a more or less regular basis that could put them in the high-risk category for alcohol dependency. An estimated 53 percent of both males and females have admitted to having one or more family members or friends who have a problem with alcohol. Less than an estimated five percent of alcoholics fit the stereotypical picture of what a drunk is supposed to look and act like. Alcoholism is a chemical type of disease as it breaks down in the stomach differently than anything else does and it has a tremendous negative impact on a persons brain. It is considered to be biological in nature as well because it is believed that there is a chemical predisposition towards alcohol addiction that is inherited. Alcoholism is considered to be a primary disease because it is not the consequence or result of any other type of disease. Alcoholism stands on its own and it has its own diagnosis as well as pathology. Alcoholism is a progressive disease, as it will worsen over time if it is not treated. In this way it is very easy to predict the start of many symptoms such as for example, euphoric recall, blaming others and blackouts. Stopping drinking can stop the damage that has been done to a variety of organs, except for the liver. Once the liver has developed cirrhosis, the damage cannot be reversed. While the cessation of drinking will not cause the condition of the liver to get any worse, it will not make it possible for it to heal itself either. Alcoholism is a chronic disease because it generally develops over a long period of time and it never stops all at once for no reason. Instead it just keeps getting worse until intervention takes place. Alcoholism can become fatal. Did You Know
Alcoholics on average die approximately 12 to 13 years earlier than their non-alcoholic counterparts due to the devastating effects that alcohol has on the human body. Alcoholics also tend to have higher rates of suicides, motor vehicle accidents as well as accidental deaths such as falls and even homicides sometimes have a measure of alcohol connected to them. Many alcoholics are also known to mix other types of drugs and take them in conjunction with alcohol, sometimes leading to lethal combinations that can end lives.
Interesting Facts
The mixing of more than on substance is known as amplification or a magnified effect. Two alcoholic beverages taken with two pills for example can bring about an even greater high or they can cause the body to shut down and render the person comatose or worse, dead.
Alcoholism in the News
08/28/2008
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