Alcohol: Beyond Social Drinking

Ordinarily, alcohol serves many useful purposes, especially in the medical parlance. As a disinfectant, it is use regularly in concentrated form as methylated spirit to clean injection portal on the skin before administering injectable medications. Also it comes handy with cleaning open wound to prevent infection among other usage. Alcohol also serves a good purpose in the pharmaceutics as drugs’ addictive, solvent and preservative for medicaments as well as serving as extracting medium for roots and herbal medicaments.

However, alcohol which also serves the social function as the bonding drinks in different forms and flavours can be a cause of worry if an individual now become addicted to it. This is the fulcrum of today’s discussion.

Addiction to alcohol or what is also referred to medically as alcoholism is a condition marked by combination of: • Physical dependence on alcohol, which may include the loss of control over the use of alcohol • The continued use of alcohol despite knowing that it is harmful to one’s mental and physical health.

Signs of dependence When an individual’s body is dependent on alcohol, he/she might need to drink more and more alcohol to feel as high as he/she used to feel drinking less.

Another sign of physical dependence is that the person will experience body changes such as shakes or sweats when he/she stops drinking.

Many factors may lead to alcohol dependence. Examples of such factors are: having it in one’s family as a trait or traditional upbringing.

Other factors include: stress that is ongoing; family environment and of course the addictive nature of alcohol.

Alcohol dependence takes many forms including: • Drinking from time to time • Drinking all the time • Binge drinking: here the concern alcohol addict in relatively short time drinks too much in an uncontrollable and unrestrained manner. • Many alcoholics become able to drink ever larger amounts of alcohol before feeling or seeming drunk and commonly alcohol users often drink to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Features of alcohol addiction The following attitude and behaviours are commonly noticed with individuals that have become addicted to alcohol: • Trying to hide evidence of drinking • Promise to give up drinking • Drink stronger alcoholic beverages or start

to drink earlier in the day • Have long periods of being drunk • Drink alone • Have problems at work • Miss work • Black out • Lose interest in food • Have mood changes easily (be angry, irritable,

violent) • Have personality changes (be jealous, distrustful) • Repeatedly drive while drunk • Hurt themselves or others while drunk • Be careless about their appearance • Be confused and have memory problems,

lose the ability to • think quickly or concentrate • Have money problems caused by drinking.

Physical symptoms The symptoms that are commonly seen in individuals that has become addicted to alcoholic drinks include but not limited to the following: • Nausea or shaking in the morning • Poor eating habits • Stomach pain • Cramps or diarrhea • Numbness or tingling • Weakness in the legs and hands • Red eyes, face, or palms • Unsteady walking or falls • New and worsening medical problems.

Treating alcohol addiction Naturally, the ultimate goal is to assist the concern person to stop drinking alcohol. The medical program is tended toward helping the affected individual to quit drinking and recover from disorders related to alcohol.

After immediate withdrawal from alcohol a process called detoxification, the individual on treatment may need long-term treatment. After initial hospitalisation the treatment might as an outpatient program.

Often counseling sessions can be set for before or after the person’s work hours.

The attending physician may prescribe a drug called Antabuse (disulfiram). This drug will cause severe nausea and vomiting if the person drinks alcohol and thus will discourage him/ she from drinking.

There is a newer medication called ReVia or Depade (naltrexone) that can help you overcome cravings for alcohol without the side effects of disulfiram.

This drug is thought to work by blocking the brain receptors that produce the feelings of pleasure drinking gives somebody.

It is important to note here that the most frequent and severe effects of alcohol addiction are not the physical medical problems but problems with emotions, relationships, accidents, and work.

Psychotherapy and social programs also assist in recovery. It usual helps better if family members are included in the treatment program. Overcoming alcoholism It is important to note that alcoholism doesn’t go away that easily.

The feeling, need or desire for alcohol might remain throughout one’s life.

One of the most important aspects of alcohol counseling and treatment is to learn the behavior patterns that usually lead the individual to start drinking. Recognizing these patterns and changing them is very relevant.

Usually, after the victim of alcohol addiction stops drinking, related health problems can often be controlled or prevented. However, severe damage, such as injury to the liver, heart or pancreas, may be long lasting, possibly irreversible and potentially fatal.

Practical Steps toward overcoming alcoholism • Medical help must be sought. • One important thing to note is that recovery from alcohol dependence almost always requires the help and support of others. It is necessary to get this support. • People and places that can be of help in our setting include doctors, nurses, religion counselors (although scientific misconception and spiritual justification may sometimes be a problem here), mental health centers, and alcohol or substance abuse treatment programs. Anyhow, it is important to stress the point that the starting point for definitive treatment is at the hospital. • Follow doctor’s advice for treatment of any

other medical problems. • Avoid situations where alcohol is consumed.

One should also work to improve the general health. It is important to note that eating a balanced diet and getting regular exercise are important parts of being healthy and are of relevance to the program to overcome alcoholism.

The important public health message here is to drink wisely and avoid the drift towards alcoholism.