Alcohol Abuse Advice

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in every 13 adults – or, 14 million Americans – are currently suffering from alcohol abuse or are alcoholic. If you or someone you know is suffering from this condition, there are several things you should know so you can get the help you need.

What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence?
Alcohol abuse is having dangerous or unhealthy drinking habits. Some of the most common are binge drinking or drinking every day of the week. This type of abuse can cause you to miss work or important events, harm important relationships, and may even lead to things like drinking and driving.

Alcohol abuse eventually leads to alcohol dependence, also known as alcoholism, which is a physical or mental addiction. In other words, the affected person feels they must drink to get by.

What are the symptoms of alcoholism?
There are several things that may be considered symptoms of alcoholism, including:

• Feeling a strong need to drink
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like sweating, shaking, and nausea
• Losing interest in activities that you used to enjoy
• Being unable to limit how much you drink
• Keeping alcohol in hidden places in your home or car
• Drinking quickly and becoming intoxicated for the sole reason of feeling normal
• Not remembering conversations or events after drinking, also referred to as “blacking out.”

What causes alcoholism?
Alcoholism occurs over time when too much alcohol changes the balance of chemicals in your brain that are associated with the pleasurable aspects of drinking. After this happens, your body will crave alcohol to make yourself feel “normal,” restore good feelings, and even just avoid negative feelings.

Are there risk factors associated with alcoholism?
Yes, there are several factors associated with someone getting alcoholism, including:

• Family history – Those who have a parent or older sibling that abused alcohol have a higher risk factor.
• Depression – Those with a mental health disorder like anxiety and depression are more likely to abuse alcohol.
• Sex – While men are more likely to become dependent on alcohol, women are more likely to develop a medical complication related to drinking.
• Age – Those who begin drinking at an early age are more likely to develop alcoholism.
• Regular, steady drinking – Those who drink on a daily basis for a long period of time are likely to develop alcoholism.

What health problems are associated with alcoholism?
Aside from lowering inhibitions and affecting thoughts, there are several other health problems that are caused by a dependence on alcohol, including:

• Digestive problems – Alcohol can cause the stomach to become inflamed, thus interfering with the absorption of nutrients. It can also damage the pancreas, which produces the enzymes needed to digest fats and proteins, and also creates the hormones that regulate metabolism.
• Heart problems – Alcohol can lead to high blood pressure and increases your risk of stroke or heart failure.
• Liver disorders – Heavy consumption can cause the liver to be inflamed, which will eventually lead to the progressive destruction and scarring of the liver.
• Bone loss – Alcohol can also interfere with the production of bones in your body, thus leading to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures.
• Cancer – Those who have alcoholism are at a higher risk of getting mouth, throat, liver, colon, and breast cancer.

These are just a few of the many health problems associated with alcoholism. If you think you may have the disease, take steps to get help right away.

How much alcohol consumption is too much?
There are many factors that can determine how much alcohol is too much, including a person’s height and weight. As a general rule, women who drink more than four drinks in a day and men who have more than five, may be consuming too much alcohol. Aside from this, here are a few other questions you can ask:

• Do you feel guilty about your drinking, or are you aware that you need to cut back?
• Are you annoyed when others criticize your drinking habits?
• Do you need a drink as soon as you wake up?

Answering “yes” to even one of these questions may mean you have an alcohol problem.

Students Like Me: Episode 2 of 9

Students Like Me: A pathbreaking video guide for educators teaching children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Over the past few years, practical research has been revealing more about the nature of learning challenges faced by children with alcohol-related birth defects. As a result, strategies are emerging to help children in both mainstream and special education classrooms. Students Like Me gives elementary and special educators a clear understanding of what Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is, how it affects childrens learning and behavior, and what can be done to modify classroom environments and teaching methods to allow children with FAS to learn. This program was produced with a Small Business Innovative Research grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Includes: – How to recognize a child with FAS – How to modify the class; environment and adjust teaching methods – How to communicate clearly and plan transitions and unstructured time in the classroom

 

Find More National Institute On Alcohol Abuse Information…