Teen Drinking Leads to Adult Alcohol Dependence

It is wrong for teens to drink alcohol on so many levels the most serious reason there is for teens to avoid alcohol is that youth who drink have a higher chance of developing alcoholism, a chronic disease that can lead to serious health issues like liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. If a teen starts drinking alcohol before he/she turns fifteen they are four times as likely to develop alcoholism as opposed to teens that do not begin drinking until after they reach legal age, according to the national Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

In the United States the minimum legal drinking age is 21, in Japan and Iceland it is 20, in South Korea it is 29. Several countries have no minimum legal drinking age including Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Fiji, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Soviet Georgia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. The minimum legal age to drink in Antigua, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Turkey and Switzerland is 16 with the rest of the countries chiming in at age 18.

There are other dangers for teen drinkers besides the higher risk for developing alcoholism. The other dangers include the perils of drinking and driving and being involved in a fatal crash. Teens that drink are very likely to make the decision to drink and drive in part because of the fear of being caught if they call home for a ride, and partly because poor judgment is a symptoms of alcohol abuse. Teens who are intoxicated typically engage in many dangerous behaviors including behaving in a way that they might not otherwise behave such as having decreased inhibitions to act in a sexual manner that they would otherwise not participate in which carries the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Alcohol is a drug and as a drug it is addictive. Alcohol usage often leads to the use of other drugs that carry many other dangers for teens.

Teens who drink are also in danger of performing poorly in school, which can impact future possibilities for career and higher educational choices resulting from the drop in grades that typically follow alcohol dependency.

Teen alcohol usage can also damage relationships between the teen and his/her family creating rifts that can last a long time. Teens that drink often exhibits behavioral problems, which can further complicate family relations.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to numerous health risks later in life including the increased risk for liver issues, heart problems, stomach ulcers, and malnutrition at a time when physical growth is still occurring.

The obvious danger is that underage drinking is illegal, and those who engage in illegal activities as youth may continue to break the law as adults, which can lead to dangerous situations. They may also engage in other illegal activities as teens, which carry other dangers.

The Affects of Alcoholism

There are many affects that the disease, alcoholism has on the individual with the disease. The affects include health, financial, work-related and in regard to relationships.

The health affects of alcoholism are physical, mental and emotional. The treatment plan for someone suffering from alcoholism must address all three-health areas in order to be truly effective in treating the disease.

The excessive drinking that occurs when a person suffers from alcoholism can lead to many physical health issues including those that affect major organs of the body like the liver and brain. The liver can be affected by alcohol and cirrhosis of the liver can occur. The person can also develop hepatitis as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. Research studies have also been conducted on the matter of excessive alcohol consumption being connected to liver cancer. Doctors using imaging technology have been able to detect alcohol related damage to both the brain and the liver.

The brain can be damaged by alcohol in many ways including something called, "alcohol dementia. Alcohol dementia can affect memory, reasoning ability, ability to learn and other brain functions.

Those suffering from alcoholism often participate in binge drinking which has been shown to alter mood, and negatively affect cognitive performance.

The health-related symptoms of alcoholism include dizziness, blurred vision, unconsciousness and even coma and death. Long-term alcohol use can also have serious impact upon just about every organ in the person’s body.

Statistics show that there are more than 100,000 deaths each year that can be directed tied to alcoholism or excessive alcohol consumption that include both direct and indirect causes of death such as death caused by drunk driving, alcohol-related falls, liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, complications of diabetes that are related to alcohol consumption, and also stroke.

It appears that females have a faster progression of the symptoms of alcoholism then men which makes it critical that anyone, especially women who have a suspicion that they may be suffering from alcoholism be evaluated by a medical professional.

The illness spreads through family units as children of parents who suffer from alcoholism have a significantly higher risk for starting to drink during the teen years and then to develop alcohol related disorder because of the early drinking.

Alcoholism will follow a very predictable path that will become progressively worse over time. The disease makes the individual feel as if they can’t possibly function normally unless they consume greater and greater amounts of alcohol, leading to more severe symptoms of health related problems. The disease can progress to the point of being fatal.

The younger the individual starts the drinking habit the difficult the disease is to treat. Those that have a good deal of difficulty dealing with stressful situations or those who have mental issues tend to be at a higher risk for developing alcoholism.

Alcohol does not just affect the person’s health it can have devastating affects upon the person’s financial affairs due to the cognitive affects alcohol has on the ability to reason, remember or on cognitive abilities. Individuals who suffer from alcoholism often forget to record financial transactions resulting in overdrawn accounts, spend money without remembering they have done so, or use money needed for other budgeted items on alcohol instead that may deprive the family of food, clothing or shelter. Alcoholism can also have a negative impact on the individual’s ability to perform well at work or even to show up at work on a consistent basis which may lead to getting fired and the loss of income can be devastating to the individual and any other family members. Alcoholism can also put a huge strain on relationships as family members, especially spouses and children try to understand the symptoms of alcoholism and why the individual behaves the way they do while drinking or why they have such strong cravings or withdrawal symptoms as a result of the disease.

Alcohawk PT500

The Alcohawy PT500 (Q3I-PT500-GB) is one of the flagship models in the Alcohawk series.  The PT models feature PT Core fuel-cell sensors which is less prone to interference from acetone compared to the semi-conductor oxide models of breathalyzer.  The PT500 is menu-driven and will allow you to monitor blood alcohol concentrations up to 0.400 % (BAC).

The backlit LCD is large and easy to read (no matter what state you are in), and is the ideal unit for professional testing situations.

The Alcohawk PT500 has obtained FDA 510k premarket clearance for consumer use.

Using the PT500 is easy.  Turn the machine on using the On/Off button, and press enter.  The unit will calibrate, and then display a blow now signal.  The person then takes a deep breath and blows into the mouthpiece for around 5 seconds.   The unit will then show you the test result on the large LCD screen.

The majority of people who reviewed this item on Amazon gave it a full 5 out of 5 score.  The only negative review was from someone who said the unit never worked – maybe a defective unit?

Alcohawk ABI digital breathalyzer

The Alcohawk ABI digital alcohol breath tester (Q3I-10000) promised quick and accurate results.  It is operated with a single button press with results being displayed in seconds on the 2 digit display.  This model features an innovative airflow sensor to make sure that the breath sample is from the deep lung air needed to give an accurate test result.

The machine is sensitive in the the range of 0 – 0.400% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) with a quoted accuracy of +/- 0.01% at 0.02% BAC.  The Alchoawk ABI uses semi-conductor oxide technology.

The Alcohawk range of breathalyzers have a technology built in (called sensor recognition) to look for various abnormalities in the sensors.  This all adds to the accuracy of this range of tester.

The Alcohawk ABI is cleared for consumer use by the FDA, DOT and NHTSA.

The majority of people who left reviews on Amazon about this unit were satisfied with its performance, though on or two were less happy, with a couple of people complaining that it needed recalibration quite quickly and there is no way to do that yourself – you need to take it in for a service and that costs money.

Alcohawk Elite Digital Alcohol Detector

The Alcohawk Elite model of breathalyzer quickly gives accurate results with professional quality.  The Elite model is cleared by the Department of Transport (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have cleared this model as a breath alcohol screener.

The machine makes sure that the air breathed into it is deep lung air, which is essential to accuarate measurements as this is where the alcohol in the breath is mainly found.

The Alcohawk Elite was developed for personal use as well as professional use, though perhaps the fuel-cell technology breathalyzers would be a better option for professionals.  The Elite model has a temperature display to make sure that the test is performed under optimal conditions.

The Alcohawk Elite works with a simple one button press. The blue lit LCD display will then show the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).

I would strongly urge you to read customer reviews of the Alcohawk Elite breathalyzer on Amazon because the majority of people who purchased this unit at the US site were not happy with it.  Comments like the unit not even registering any alcohol after a drink, and don’t waste your money, must give you cause for concern.

Alcohawk Precision Digital Alcohol Breath Tester

The Alcohawk Precision is a quick and accurate way of determining blood alcohol concentration (BAC). It operates with a single button press, and has an airflow sensor to ensure sufficient breath is captured for an accurate reading.  It can measure BAC in the range 0.000 – 0.400% using its semiconductor sensor and 4 digit ruby red L.E.D. digital display.

The machine is well built and robust because of the impact resistant material used to build it – are thinking that drunk people will drop it a lot   At least one review on Amazon did question the build quality though.

The Alcohawk Precision is a fine instrument to carry in your car, in case you go to a party and need to make sure you are under the legal limits for driving.

The machine comes with 5 mouthpieces which can be disposed of if required, though washing them is more economical.  You’ll also get a carry case.

This model meets the DOT / NHTSA specifications and has FDA 510K clearance.

I highly recommend that you read the reviews on Amazon before purchasing.  The majority of people are very happy with the Alcohawk Precision, but a few are not so pleased with their purchase.

Alcohawk Pro

The Alcohawk Pro (Q3I-11000) is the professional model in the Alcohawk semi-conductor technology range.  It comes with 5 disposable mouthpieces (though I suspect most people will wash them rather than just use the once), a carry case, wrist strap, battery, car adaptor etc.

This model is simple to use with a single push button.  The Alcohawk Pro has an innovative Flow Check breath monitoring technology to make sure the breath is sufficient for an accurate measurement (from the deep lungs required for accurate testing).  If the machine detects that the breath was not sufficient for an accurate reading, an error message is displayed and the test needs to be re-administered.

The Alcohawk Pro is used by a range of professionals including the police, hospitals, schools and personal use. because it is one of the most accurate semi-conductor based breathalyzers available.  Accuracy levels of +/- 0.01% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at 0.1% BAC are quoted.

This model is DOT / NHTSA approved & 510k certified by FDA.

Before buying an Alcohawk Pro, I would read some of the reviews at Amazon, as some people are not convinced of its accuracy, while others seem very happy with the product.

FAQ – Breath alcohol level detectors

What is a breathalyzer?

A breathalyzer is a machine that can estimate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) based on the concentrations of alcohol in a sample of deep lung air.   The word breathalyzer is actually a brand name, but has become a word in common usage to describe any machine that can measure BAC.

The police have been using breathalyzers for some time to detect alcohol in drivers bloodstream.  It is vital that the machine are accurate, since high levels of alcohol in the blood can make the driver very dangerous on the roads.  It is undoubtedly more accurate to take a blood sample and analyze that, but this really isn’t practical in the field.  The same applies to urine samples which can be used to find the concentration of alcohol in the blood.  They are also not very practical.  Therefore breathalyzers offer the best compromise, giving accurate estimates of blood alcohol concentration without invading a person’s body.

How do breathalyzers work?

When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed into the blood.  As the blood passes through the lungs, some of the alcohol will pass through the capillary network of the lungs into the alveoli (alveoli are small spaces in the lungs which give the lungs its large surface area.  They are responsible for gaseous exchange).  The concentration of alcohol that passes into the lungs is obviously related to the concentration of alcohol in the blood.  The higher the blood alcohol concentration, the higher the concentration of alcohol found in the lungs.  The ratio of breath alcohol to blood alcohol is something like 2000 : 1.

When a person breaths into a breathalyzer, the air from deep in the lungs passes over sensors in the breathalyzer.  These sensors measure the concentration of alcohol in the breath, and then using a calculation, can estimate how much alcohol there is in the blood.

How accurate are breathalyzers?

The accuracy of the breathalyzer depends upon the machine itself, but generally the more expensive the breathalyzer, the more accurate it will be.  Some figures quoted for the Alcohawk range of machines suggest these machines are accurate to +/- 0.01%.  However, you should read the specifications from the manufacturer of  of your particular machine.

Alcohawk Slim Digital Breathalyzer

The Alcohawk range of breathalyzers are one of the most popular and accurate with a model for everyone.  The Alcohawk Slim digital (Q3I-2500) is one of their semi-conductor technology breathalyzers, meaning its easily affordable and compact, so its slim enough to fit into a shirt pocket.  It requires 2 AA batteries for operation.

The Alcohawk Slim is operated with a single push button, and provides fast and accurate readings.  It has an electronic airflow sensor built into it to ensure that the sample that is breathed in is a deep lung sample (required for accurate calculation of blood alcohol concetration – BAC).

The Alchohawk Slim can detect blood alcohol between 0.000 – 0.400% BAC with a B.A.C. sensor accuracy of +/- 0.02% and displays the results with a 2-digit display.

The folding mouthpiece on the Alcohawk Slim is replaceable, and packs of 50 can be bought separately.  However, if you are using the tester for your own personal use only, there may be no need to buy extra mouthpieces, as the ones that come with the machine can be washed and re-used.

This model is perfect for anyone wanting to personal alcohol breath tester with professional accuracy.  The Alcohawk Slim meets DOT/NHTSA model specs for breath alcohol screeners and has FDA 510k pre-marketing clearance.

Customer reviews of the Alcohawk Slim Digital breathalyzer have been very favorable over at Amazon.  With its automatic calibration when its turned on (taking around 60 seconds, though sometimes a little longer), quick accurate readings and low cost, people are loving this breath alcohol tester.

A lot of people who bought the Alcohawk Slim, did so for peace of mind.

Alcohawk Digital Alcohol Tester

The Alcohawk breath alcohol level detectors are quickly becoming one of the most popular breathalyzer products to meet a range of personal and professional needs.

Breathalyzers are digital alcohol breath testers that can accurately measure the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from a breath sample.  They work by measuring the breath alcohol content (BrAc) when the user blows into the mouthpiece.  Breath passes over sensors which measures BrAc, and the breathalyzer converts this data into BAC using a simple equation which relies the fact that the alcohol level in the breath of the lungs is a known proportion of the alcohol level in the blood.

Most breath-testers come with replaceable mouthpieces, so they can hygienically be used by several people.  Of course the law enforcement people rely on this.

Choosing a breathalyzer is not as straight forward as you would imagine as there are many different makes and models, each designed with slightly different applications in mind, but most can provide quite accurate measurement of blood alcohol levels.

These machines range from heavy duty professional units, to home units and even keychain breathalyzers.

Here we are just concerned with the Alcohawk models, and there are two series of Alcohawk breathalyzer:

Alcohawk SC Series alcohol detectors, which use semi-conductors for a lower cost personal and home unit.  These come in a range of models called:

• Alcohawk Slim – sleek & compact breath alcohol tester.  One button operation and folding mouthpiece make it an good one to carry around with you.
• Alcohawk Slim 2 – Another compact digital alcohol tester with folding mouthpiece.  This model has increased accuracy over the Slim Alcohawk.
• Alcohawk Precision – This model meets DOT standards with 4 digit LED display.
• Alcohawk ABI – This model meets DOT standards with 3 digit LED display.
• Alcohawk PRO – Dot standard breathalyzer with state of the art semiconductor oxide sensor.  The PRO has a sensor to check that the breath ws sufficient for accurate measurement of alcohol.
• Alcohawk Elite – Similar to the PRO but with a temperature sensor and blue-lit LCD screen.

Alcohawk PT Series alcohol detectors, which utilize fuel-cell technology for increased accuracy.  These units are recommended for professional use to test for the presence of alcohol at threshold blood alcohol levels like 0.02% or 0.08%.  These units come in a variety of models called:

• Alcohawk PT400 – the basic fuel-cell sensor breathalyzer model.
• Alcohawk PT500 – All the features of the Alcohawk PT400, but with pressure sensor to test for adequate pressure during the test.  This meets DOT standards.
• Alcohawk PT500P – Similar to the Alcohawk PT500 but with wireless printing.
• Alcohawk PT750 – Similar features to the others in the Alcohawk PT series, but with 1000 test memory, password protection, air blank tests, USB port, etc.

Things to look for when choosing a breath alcohol detector:

1. DOT (Department of Transport) approval.
2. FDA 510k clearnace for personal testing.

You can find some reviews of these breathalyzers by clicking the links to the individual models listed above.  We’ll try to provide more information on each unit as well as an indication of price and shipping.

The Causes and Risk Factors for Alcoholism

Is it important for you to know the causes and risk factors for alcoholism? Perhaps you have a teen daughter or son and want to know in advance what you may run up against regarding alcoholism and teens or perhaps you have a family history of alcoholism and want to know if you or your children are at risk for alcoholism. There are many reasons why individuals should know the causes and risk factors for alcoholism so no matter what your reason for making this inquiry, you should be able to find some good answers in this article.

Although the cause for alcoholism has yet to be established there has been a lot of valuable research done to try to determine what the cause(s) may be for alcoholism resulting in some good information that you can use. There is plenty of evidence that there may be some genetic or biological predisposition for developing the disease, alcoholism. The downside is that the research has sparked controversy between those that believe that there is an established connection between the increased risk for alcoholism among children with at least one parent suffering from alcoholism and the statistics that show raw data supporting the theory. Complicating the matter is that there are various factors that may contribute to an individual developing the disease of alcoholism.

The factors that contribute to the development of alcoholism include social factors such as family influence, peer pressure and society expectations as well as the availability of alcohol. There are also psychological factors that may contribute to the development of alcoholism including increased levels of stress, and inadequate skills at copping with the pressures of life that are reinforced by alcohol use in others. An individual may also have different factors that allow the behavior that contributes to the disease of alcoholism to continue.

Some chemicals in your brain contribute to the dependence on alcohol because of the alterations that take place the more alcohol you drink. One such brain chemical is gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits impulsiveness and also the chemical glutamate, which excites the nervous system. The chemical in the brain that triggers "feeling good" is also triggered when an individual drinks.

The physical addiction to alcohol occurs slowly over time as the individual continues to drink in increasingly greater amounts. The brain chemicals allow the individual to feel good while drunk and the individual likes “feeling good” and strives to bring back that feeling each time he/she drinks. They will require larger and larger amounts of alcohol in order to achieve the level chemicals that will allow that feeling to occur and the more alcohol the individual drinks the more intense the symptoms of alcoholism become.

The common risk factors that are associated with alcoholism are having a family history of alcoholism, experiencing high levels of stress, feeling anxious a good deal of the time, individuals who are always going through emotional turmoil and those who have low-self esteem or those who are suffering from depression as well as those who succumb to social pressures to "fit in".

The Consequences of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is the preoccupation or compulsion towards consuming alcohol and an impaired ability to drinking despite the knowledge that alcohol has caused serious health problems and that the individual will continue to drink alcohol because he/she is unable to ignore the cravings for alcohol even in the face of withdrawal symptoms should alcohol not be readily available, the desire to drink will still persist. Alcoholism being a disease has symptoms, causes and consequences.

The consequences of being an alcoholic are many and involve physical, emotional and mental effects of drinking. Alcohol is a drug as as such there are documented effects of alcohol. Those who have been diagnosed with alcoholism and those who have been misdiagnosed or those who have yet to be diagnosed with alcoholism but who suffer just the same feel the consequences of alcoholism. A recent study concluded that medical doctors miss the correct diagnosis of alcoholism 94% of the time. It would seem that education is in order for the medical community as well as for consumers regarding alcoholism. Alcohol is a universal cellular toxin and the toxic effects of alcohol are frequently still being felt years after the drink has been downed.

Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and the individual’s behavior may change drastically from what is normal behavior. Effects of alcoholism touches the entire body including the central nervous system (CNS), psychiatric issues, lymph and immunological, skin, eyes, cardiac, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, liver, urinary, pancreas, sexual dysfunction, endocrine, pancreas, muscle issues, reproductive problems, bone, peripheral nervous system, and joint problems.

Alcoholism can have the following adverse effects:

• Aggressiveness
• Anxiety
• Cognitive disabilities
• Depression
• Delusions
• Euphoria
• Hallucinations
• Irritability
• Memory disturbances
• Panic
• Restlessness

CNS effects that include headaches, atrophy of the cerebrum, ataxia, seizures, subdural hematoma, blurred vision, loss of vision, and color vision abnormalities. Other physical effects include, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, edema, hypertension, risk of stroke when heavy drinking incurs, pneumonia, asthma and other acute respiratory distress, gastritis, ulcers, diarrhea, constipation, liver problems, pancreatitis, electrolyte imbalances, urinary tract infections, sexual dysfunction, myalgias, cramping, joint inflammation, gout, bone ischemia, necrosis iron deficiency anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, dermatitis, flushing, urticaria, bruising, sweating, altered glucose tolerance, unstable diabetes, menstrual cycle irregularities, immune system impairment, neoplasms, upper digestive or respiratory tract irregularities, liver disease, and increased risk of breast and colon cancers.

Alcoholism can also effect the way medication works by altering the effect medications have certain drugs like those prescribed for gastric emptying can be adversely affected. Those who binge drink can lead to toxicity on the cellular level. Alcohol can also have an adverse effect on drugs such as benzodiazepines and older antihistamines and other serious adverse drug events, even serious ones.

Alcohol can create a dependency that increases adverse effects. Severe withdrawal from alcohol can result in death. In an effort to prevent withdrawal symptoms the person suffering from alcoholism may drink small amounts of alcohol in the morning to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Understanding What Alcoholism Is

Many individuals are misinformed when it comes to alcoholism. Alcoholism is a chronic disease in which the individual is dependent on alcohol. The person becomes obsessed with the need for alcohol and is unable to control the amount of alcohol they drink, not even being able to stop when they realize that alcohol is causing them to experience serious health problems. Alcohol can also cause relationship, financial and work-related problems.

What can be confusing is that individuals can have a problem with alcohol but not outwardly show the characteristics of the disease, alcoholism. When someone has a problem with alcohol but does not crave it or have it become something they need to have it is said that they are suffering not from alcoholism but from alcohol abuse because they merely drink too much, which can cause problems but they do not crave alcohol. The excessive drinking that a person does that is abusing alcohol can also cause problems with health or relationships but the difference is that when a person has the disease, "alcoholism" they have an uncontrolled need to consume alcohol and when alcohol is denied them or not available they experience physical withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, being anxious, or experience trembling or they can feel waves of nausea.

Because alcoholism is a chronic disease, it is handled just like other diseases in that it has symptoms, causes, risk factors, complications, treatments and preventions.

Symptoms:

There are recognizable symptoms that can be experienced and observed and which are utilized by doctors to help make the diagnosis of alcoholism. The symptoms of alcoholism include drinking in secret or often drinking alone, not being able to limit the amount of alcohol consumed or to stop drinking, experiencing "blackouts", making ritual times to drink such as before or after dinner and becoming irritable or greatly disturbed if these ritualistic drinking times are disrupted, having a strong compulsion to drink that can not be ignored, drinking large quantities of alcohol in order to become intoxicated intentionally so that a feeling of "normalcy" or "feeling good" can be achieved, encountering legal problems or relationship or financial problems as a result of alcohol, building up a tolerance for alcohol that is ever increasing in order to feel the same level of intoxication, experiencing withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is withheld or unavailable.

Individuals who abuse alcohol and are not alcoholics can also experience some of the same symptoms as listed above. The difference is that a person who suffers from alcoholism as symptoms along with the ability to not be able to ignore the craving for alcohol and is unable to control the amount of alcohol they are consuming or to stop drinking alcohol even when they are experiencing serious health issues because of the alcohol.

There are four causes of alcoholism:

• Cultural or social factors such as strong media pressure to drink
• Emotional state including anxiety, emotional pain or stress
• Genetics
• Psychological factors such as low self-esteem or depression

Risk Factors:

There are several risk factors for alcoholism including:

• Age (those who started drinking before age 16)
• Emotional disorders may increase the chance for the need for alcohol such as being severely depressed, or having attention-deficit disorder or hyperactivity
• Family history such as being raised in an environment where alcohol is accepted as a norm of life
• Genetic makeup may predispose a person to being susceptible to alcoholism
• Men are more likely to become dependent on alcohol than women

Complications:

There are quite a few medical complications that can arise when a person suffers from alcoholism including birth defects (when mom is an alcoholic), bone loss, cardiovascular problems, divorce and domestic violence, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes complications, poor work performance or poor performance at school, sexual function, problems with menstruation and also a higher rate of suicide and homicide.

Treatments:

Counseling and drugs are the two most commonly used treatments for alcoholism and treatment can be dispensed in a detoxification program where psychological support and psychiatric treatment is available and emphasis is placed on abstinence and acceptance of the disease. Drug treatments include the use of a alcohol-sensitizing drug "disulfiram" (Antabuse). and other medications such as naltrexone, and acamprosate.

Preventions:

Education is the best prevention for alcoholism and it must start with the youth so that they are taught and encouraged to avoid situations that will put them at risk for alcoholism.

How Does Alcoholism Effect Women?

Women drinkers can face many health risks that men may not necessarily face. Women drinkers are more likely to face brain damage, heart disease, and liver disease as a direct result of the alcohol they consume. Statistics show that women are twice as likely as men to die from alcohol-related causes such as accidents, diseases and suicide then men who drink.

Women who drink are also at risk for menstrual problems and infertility issues. They can also experience early menopause. Women who drink in the teen years can experience problems associated with puberty, growth problems, and poor bone health. When a woman drinks heavily she is more vulnerable to sexual assault, and violence as well as to have unprotected sex with makes her vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

The chemical makeup of her body is very different from the male body because her body has more fat and less water; alcohol that she consumes is less diluted and becomes more highly concentrated in her blood. Women also do not process alcohol in the stomach as well as males do which means more alcohol reaches her bloodstream causing her to become intoxicated faster then males. Researchers have also discovered that women while menstruated can become intoxicated more easily.

Women are told not to drink when pregnant or nursing for good reason. Alcohol is a drug, a teratogen to be exact which is a substance that can harm a fetus during pregnancy because it can cross the placental barrier and enter the bloodstream of the fetus. The alcohol content of the fetus’s blood can actually exceed that of the mom’s. If a woman drinks alcohol it can harm her fetus at anytime during the pregnancy even early in the pregnancy before she even knows that she is pregnant which is why women who are trying to conceive or those who think they may be pregnant should not drink alcoholic drinks.

Women nursing a baby should also not drink any amount of alcohol because the alcohol can pass through the breast milk to the baby.

Women have many reasons not to drink including safety reasons, health reasons, to protect their unborn children and to protect their fertility (ability to have children) as well as to protect a nursing baby. Unfortunately advertising today makes drinking seem glamorous or in style and to many women image is important. Women should educate themselves about the danger of alcohol so that they can protect not only themselves but also their children from the dangers of alcohol. Every young girl should be taught about alcohol and how alcohol can effect her differently because she is a female so she understands how alcohol can effect her life now and in the future should she chose to drink alcohol.

Causes and Effects of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease in which an individual has the inability to control the strong craving for alcohol. Individual who suffer from alcoholism often need the aid of alcohol in order to feel "normal". They crave alcohol much like any other drug addict craves a "fix". The cravings can be so severe that the individual can feel as if the need for alcohol is greater than the need for food or for water. It may become so severe that they feel that they cannot go a day without consuming alcohol.

The Character of alcoholism:

The disease alcoholism is not characterized by the type of alcohol or even by the amount of alcohol that is consumed by the individual but rather by the need to satisfy the craving for alcohol. It is characterized by the loss of control that is felt by the individual when the craving for alcohol is not satisfied. Alcoholics (individuals who suffer from alcoholism) often build up a tolerance to alcohol over time so that they need more and more alcohol in order to feel "normal". They thus consume more and more alcohol, and this is what puts the individual at risk for serious health problems. There is also a psychological manifestation of the illness (alcoholism) as well as the physical symptoms of the disease.

The Difference between Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are two different things entirely. When a person abuses alcohol they do not display a loss of control over their need to drink. An individual who is abusing alcohol acts irresponsibly while under the influence of alcohol, even putting themselves and others at risk when they drink and drive or drink and operate machinery. Alcohol abuse is also a serious alcohol-related problem because it can lead to job loss, loss of property and can lead to relationship problems and encounters with the law due to alcohol related traffic accidents or property destruction. Alcoholism is a disease where alcohol abuse is not drinking responsibly. Both can lead to serious consequences that are alcohol related.

The symptoms of alcoholism:

The disease alcoholism has many symptoms including drinking in secret, hiding the evidence of alcohol consumption, memory loss (blacking out), ritualistic drinking and becoming irritable if the ritual times of drinking are interrupted, craving a drink in order to feel "normal", loss of interest in relationships or activities that would otherwise still hold interest if alcohol was not involved, financial or relationship or legal problems instigated by alcohol, the building of a tolerance to alcohol that requires a higher level of alcohol consumption in order to achieve the same effects, and also experiencing withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is not available for consumption.

Causes of alcoholism:

Scientists believe that there may be some genetics involved in whether or not a person is likely to experience alcoholism at some point in their life. Children of parents who suffer from alcoholism have a higher risk for developing alcoholism at some point in their lives than children of parents who do not suffer from alcoholism.

Studies also show that individuals suffering from psychological problems such as attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, and depression are at an increased risk for developing alcoholism in order to ease the suffering they may encounter dealing with their psychological problems. This need to ease their suffering can turn into dependency on alcohol.

Effects of alcoholism:

There are many effects of alcoholism some are physical in terms of illnesses and other are the effects alcoholism has on the ability of the individual to secure and maintain employment, function at work, home or school, have meaningful relationships with spouses, family members, coworkers, or friends.

Alcoholism depresses the central nervous system and over time this can cause fatigue, muscle paralysis of the eyes and short-term memory loss. Serious health issues that are alcoholism related are bone loss, cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, neurological disorders, sexual dysfunction, and also stroke. There is also increased risk for certain cancers such as cancer of the colon, esophagus, larynx and liver.

The Dangers of Alcohol

There are many serious and dangerous consequences of the disease alcoholism including alcohol poisoning, alcoholic coma and death. Alcohol poisoning can occur when you abuse alcohol even if it is your first time drinking. This is why anyone should be aware of the dangers of alcohol. Those who have the disease, alcoholism are at more risk because of the ever-increasing amounts of alcohol they consume in order to continue to feel intoxicated. This pattern can easily lead to alcohol poisoning.

If you intend to drink or be around those who drink you should learn to recognize the signs of alcohol poisoning. Learning the signs can save a life. A person suffering from alcohol poisoning can go into a coma and die

Alcohol poisoning signs:

• Loss of consciousness can occur after someone has been drinking. When you are unable to wake a person who has fallen asleep after drinking it can signal something more serious than just "sleeping it off".
• Confusion
• Cold, clammy skin
• Pale skin or skin that has a bluish tint to it
• Hypothermia (low body temperature)
• Vomiting that is repeated and uncontrolled
• Slow respirations (breathing pattern) that is less than 13 breaths per minute. If no breathing occurs for 8 seconds or more, call 911 immediately
• Seizures

A person does not have to have all of the above signs in order to have alcohol poisoning. If they lose consciousness for instance they can be suffering from alcohol poisoning and need immediate medical attention.

These signs may be difficult to recognize in yourself because the signs themselves will make it almost impossible for you to have the cognitive ability to recognize what is happening to you.

Alcohol poisoning is serious and anyone exhibiting any of the signs of the condition should receive immediate medical attention. If untreated alcohol poisoning can lead to death. Never leave a person alone when you suspect that the person may be suffering from alcohol poisoning.

Binge drinking is a common cause of alcohol poisoning and is commonly seen at parties.

You can develop signs of alcohol poisoning after you have stopped drinking, so don’t feel that you are someone you know is safe from alcohol poisoning just because they finished drinking for the day/night because your blood alcohol concentration can continue to rise after you have stopped drinking. It can even rise after you have passed out because your stomach will continue to absorb what you drank and then it will enter your blood.

A person who has been diagnosed with alcohol poisoning will be supported and monitored carefully while the body gets rid of the alcohol. The airway will be maintained to prevent choking or difficulty breathing and IV fluids may be given to prevent the person from becoming dehydrated.

The first 24 hours of hospitalization are the most critical. Survival depends on the volume of alcohol consumed and the speed at which the individual receives medical attention.

What Causes or Risk Factors Contribute to Alcoholism?

Those whose lives have been touched by alcoholism often wonder what causes or risk factors contributed to the problem of alcoholism? Was it something that could have been avoided, was it anyone’s fault? Are they at risk for alcoholism? It is important for individuals to be able to get answers to questions about a disease that is as serious as alcoholism is.

Alcoholism has both physical genetic and environmental causes and you can sum up the possible causes for anyone’s alcoholism in the following factors:

Certain genetic factors can make a person vulnerable to the possibility of succumbing to the effects of alcohol and individuals with a family history of alcoholism should be especially careful around alcohol.

A person’s emotional or psychological state can also make them vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. If a person is under high levels of stress, are overly anxious, or in long-term emotional pain they may turn to alcohol or other addictive drugs to ease the stress or pain of their situations. Scientist is exploring the possibility that certain stress hormones may be associated with the disease of alcoholism. Individuals with low self-esteem or those who have suffered from depression may also be at risk for alcoholism especially those who suffer from mental issues like bipolar or depression.

There are also social or cultural factors that may put individuals at risk for alcoholism including living in an environment in which alcohol is a staple, or is made to be a vital part of coping with life by those in close proximity of a young person growing up in such an environment and in which this person learns that alcohol is an accepted way of life. Alcohol is also portrayed in media and advertising to be glamorous and exciting and the accepted thing to do in social situations such as parties, and during downtime or during the holidays. Messages that it is ok to drink to excess can be interpreted as an acceptable way of life especially a life full of stress and pressure.

Individuals can be at risk for developing a dependence on alcohol if they are male and drink more than 15 alcoholic drinks a week or if they are female and drink more than 12 alcoholic drinks a week. The amount of alcohol consumed is just one risk factor for alcoholism other risk factors are age, genetics, sex, family history, and emotional and psychological influences. When one or more of these risk factors combine with consuming large quantities of alcohol in a short time so that dependence is established for alcohol the combination is strong for the development of alcoholism.

If you or someone you love exhibits any of the causes or risk factors for alcoholism and you suspect that they may have problems with being able to limit or stop drinking alcohol, it is important to encourage them to seek professional diagnosis and help.

The Effects of Alcoholism are Short-Term and Long-Term

The effects of alcoholism can be serious even life-threatening and they are both short-term and long-term. There are physiological effects and psychological effects of alcoholism.

The short-term effects of alcoholism can occur as soon as ten minutes after the alcohol hits the lips. The longer the individual drinks the more severe the effects become. The consequences of your drinking may involve events and occurrences that you will later regret. While under the influence of alcohol inhibitions are loosened and individuals do what they might not otherwise do such as engaging in unprotected sex exposing themselves to sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and date rape.

Those who practice binge drinking (drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short time) can lead to unconsciousness, vomiting while unconscious, which can lead to death by suffocation. Another short-term effect of drinking alcohol is blurred vision.

Physiological effects of alcohol consumption for short-term use include loss of muscle control, leading to slurred speech, falls, and stupor, which pretty much mean that the individual is unable to function, and will be disoriented. A person in this shape is not safe to be behind the wheel of a vehicle and when drunks drive innocent persons are injured even killed. If enough alcohol is consumed over a short period of time the individual can even go into a coma. The coma can be serious, even fatal.

Long-term effects of alcoholism (drinking over a long period of time) can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.  It can also lead to digestive problems including gastritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Pancreatitis is another long-term effect of drinking. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Long-term drinking can lead to high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke. Alcoholics are also at risk for certain cancers of the mouth and throat and damage to the brain. They can experience heart failure and neurological problems like epilepsy.

Alcoholism can lead to other medical problems such as obesity, sexual difficulties like erectile dysfunction, infertility, skin problems, and muscle disease.

Psychological effects of alcoholism include becoming overly anxious, depressed, developing problems sleeping, developing mood-swings, and becoming violent or suicidal.

Alcohol and the effects of the drinking behavior for the person suffering from alcoholism reach farther than the individual because the family members are also impacted by the drinking in many ways including financially, emotionally, and mentally because alcoholism damages relationships. The effects on children can lead to living without a parent (the alcoholic) or because of the family history of alcoholism they are at risk for becoming alcoholics themselves someday. The violent behavior seen in some alcoholics often leads to spousal abuse or violence towards others including co-workers, neighbors and friends.