Alcohol problems are now called Alcohol Use Disorders and include both abuse and dependence. The problems associated with alcohol use are well known. Alcohol is associated with auto accidents increased violence loss of jobs and loss of lives. What makes it possible for most people to have a couple of glasses of wine beer or hard liquor at a party and stop while others go on to have serious problems with alcohol?
Alcohol abuse is a pattern otherwise known as “problem drinking.” The behavioral warning signs of alcohol abuse are:
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol frequently (The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has established two drinks per day for men and one drink a day for women as the limits to safe drinking)
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Alcohol abuse may initially be diagnosed in young people who recently began drinking. However they may also be involved with other drugs without alcohol being the primary substance they are using. Although some alcohol users abuse alcohol without becoming alcohol-dependent alcoholics over time abuse may progress to incurable alcoholism.
Loss of control Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begunPhysical dependence Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea sweating shakiness and anxiety after stopping drinking.
Alcoholism is a disease that lasts an addict’s lifetime. The consequences of alcoholism are serious. Heavy drinking can cause:
Denial is an alcoholic’s strongest defense mechanism. But even if the alcoholic is quite aware of these serious implications of heavy drinking the craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family health or legal problems.
People who do not drink or who are alcohol abusers but not alcoholics sometimes do not understand why an alcoholic can’t just “exercise a little willpower” to stop drinking. However alcoholism is an addiction that little to do with willpower. Any addiction has both physical and psychological components that make it extremely difficult to break. Almost all alcoholics need the aid of external treatment to help them succeed in overcoming their addiction.
People drink in many social situations but also use alcohol as a means to “self-medicate” other problems such as stress anxiety depression or mental illnesses. No one who takes a drink thinks he or she will become an alcoholic. While it is not possible to predict whose drinking will lead to alcoholism there is growing evidence of certain causal factors. The most recent scientific research points to two main areas:
Genetics. Studies conducted among twins and children of alcoholics have shown that genetic factors influence alcoholism and that children of alcoholics are about four times more likely than the general population to develop alcohol problems. Currently researchers are working to discover the actual genes that put people at risk for alcoholism. Another branch of investigation is into whether there is a specific area of the brain that is different in alcoholics and whether genetics may also be a factor in this.
Lifestyle. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families does not mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. While genes partially explain this pattern more than one-half of all children of alcoholics do not become alcoholic. The risk is higher but other factors may increase the risk for alcoholism:
The biggest obstacle to treatment of alcoholism is getting the alcoholic to break through the denial that is a hallmark of this condition to realize that help is needed. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests that you ask the following four questions that can help you find out if you or a loved one has a drinking problem:
More than one “yes” answer means it is highly likely that a problem exists. If you think that you or someone you know might have an alcohol problem it is important to see a doctor or other health care provider right away. They can help you determine if a drinking problem exists and plan the best course of action. Among the steps that can be taken are:
Consider Moderation Management (MM) a behavioral change program and national support group network for people who are not alcoholics but who have made the decision to reduce their alcohol consumption. This program is based on the premise that alcohol abuse is a learned behavior (as contrasted with alcohol dependence which is a disease). For those who are not alcoholics but recognize the need to reduce their alcohol use. MM provides:
a program for problem drinkers that is not abstinence-based a mutual-help environment to help people cut back on drinking before it becomes a dependency issue empowerment to take personal responsibility for deciding if moderation or abstinence would be a better individual choice information about alcohol and moderate drinking guidelines and limits drink monitoring exercises goal setting techniques self-management strategies If a friend is diagnosed as being an alcoholic but is unwilling to get help you can’t force him or her to do so. However many alcoholism treatment specialists suggest the following steps to help convince an alcoholic to get treatment:
Stop all cover ups and other “enabling” behaviors (don’t try to protect the alcoholic from the results of his or her drinking)
Time your intervention (the best time to talk to the drinker is shortly after an alcohol-related incident has occurred)
Explain to the drinker what you will do if he or she doesn’t seek help (do not make any threats you are not prepared to carry out)
Gather information about local treatment options (if the alcoholic is willing to get help call immediately for an appointment with a treatment counselor)
There is no “one size fits all” treatment for alcoholism. Instead there are many different treatments that depend on the needs of the individual and the severity of the abuse. Treatments might include:
therapy to help individuals understand their behavior and motivation and improve coping skillsmedication to relieve withdrawal symptoms and control cravingsself-help and support groups.
These treatment options have proven to be effective in reducing alcohol problems and fostering abstinence. One large-scale study found that each of these treatment modalities significantly reduced drinking in the year following treatment. The study also found that about one-third of the study participants who were followed up either were still abstinent or were drinking without serious problems three years after the study ended.
includes support from fellow members who either are struggling or have struggled with the same problem uses a buddy system (”sponsor”) and group intervention to help members when they are tempted to relapse or do relapse uses the 12-Step Program as guiding principles (developed by the earliest members of Alcoholics Anonymous; adopted and adapted to many other self-help programs)
abstinence-based personal recovery program from the substance or addictive behaviorperson admits his or her powerlessness over the substance or behaviorturns his or her fate over to a higher power “as you understand it”follows steps to examine the effects the behavior has had on his or her life to accept responsibility for damage caused to others and to make amendsThere are also several non-12-Step programs available for those who have other interests special needs or who object to the “higher power” or “powerlessness” basis of AA:
a network of independent meetings with an alternative recovery methodpromotes abstinence and provides support from others struggling with the same issuesencourages self-empowerment approaches to recovery for those who are uncomfortable with the spiritual content of AA takes the approach that sobriety is a separate issue from religion or spirituality credits the individual for achieving and maintaining his or her own sobriety without reliance on any Higher Power SMART Recovery (Self Management And Recovery Training)aims toward abstinence with focus on self-empowerment self-reliance and self-directed change based on principles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)teaches specific tools and techniques within a 4-point program
Coping with UrgesProblem Solving (Managing thoughts feelings and behaviors)Lifestyle Balance (Balancing momentary and enduring satisfactions)Women for Sobriety (WFS)
Founded in 1976 this is the only national organization focusing specifically on the needs of alcoholic women whose recovery in AA was found to be less successful than for men. Premises and structure are:
the psychological needs are different for women than for menweekly meetings in small groups of 6-10 women with a structured format for confidential discussion based on thirteen positive statements to encourage emotional and spiritual growth with emphasis on: positive reinforcement (approval and encouragement) cognitive strategies (positive thinking) letting the body help (relaxation techniques meditation diet and physical exercise).
Outpatient treatment refers to treatment that does not require overnight stays in the facility. Treatment can include drug education individual and group counseling education groups for caregivers and case management services. Outpatient treatment varies in the types and intensity of services offered. For example:
residential sober-living treatment programmedical facility for alcoholics (especially when medications must be administered and closely monitored)
One randomized study of patients entering employee assistance programs compared inpatient treatment combined with AA with referral to AA alone. This study found that inpatient treatment (a combination of professional treatment and AA) achieved better results for more people than AA alone. Inpatient programs are usually followed up with additional outpatient therapy and participation in AA or other self-help group.
Inpatient and outpatient facilities have comparable success rates. The choice of institutional treatment program can be dictated by any of a number of factors such as:
factors such as age pregnancy young children or need for other medical treatmentneed for treatment in language other than English
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) has an online locator (see Resources below) that provides a searchable database of private and public facilities that are licensed certified or otherwise approved for inclusion by their State substance abuse agency. Search allows for identification of the various factors to be considered in finding a suitable facility.
More than 700,000 people receive treatment for alcohol dependence each day. Cutting out alcohol is absolutely necessary for a successful recovery. However even individuals who are determined to stay sober may suffer one or more slips before achieving long-term sobriety. Research indicates that up to 90% of recovering alcoholics will have a relapse at least one time in the four years following sobriety. While this is a setback it does not mean that a person cannot recover from alcoholism. That person may well have to restart treatment to enable him or her to again get on the road to long-term and secure sobriety.
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