Chy
04-16-2008, 07:29 AM
Alcohol Abuse
What does the term abuse mean?
The term ‘Abuse’ differs slightly from ‘addiction’. The usage of an illegal substance or usage of a legal substance in a wrong way is called substance abuse. One can abuse a drug substance for example alcohol but that does not signify that the person has an addiction to it.
Alcohol Abuse
The term ‘Binge drinking’ is very much important before discussing alcohol abuse. Binge drinking is the common problem among young people. It basically means simply drinking to get drunk. When a person’s consumption of alcohol starts to cause problem and eventually the habit of alcoholism continues, then Binge drinking turns into alcohol alone. When one continues the consumption of alcohol despite social, legal, interpersonal problems then it is alcohol abuse. The consequences of alcohol abuse can lead to mismanaging time at work, educational institutions, and even neglecting household responsibilities and children. It also affects socially.
When does alcohol abuse become alcohol dependence?
Alcohol abuse turns to alcohol dependence when the alcoholics start to have a craving for alcohol, have withdrawal symptoms when they stop consuming alcohol and lose control over their consumption. Alcohol dependence is a progressive disorder that induces strong need to consume alcohol in spite of the negative consequences.
Is alcoholism an inherited disease?
Scientific study on alcoholism shows that genetics play a vital part in problems related to alcohol development. The research also indicates that for a person to become an alcohol dependent the environment of the person and peer influences play a major role. Most of the scientific studies indicate the important role of heredity in alcohol development. Having said that, a family with history of alcoholics does not doom a member of that family into turning an alcohol addict. A person if properly managed can very well overcome the genetic tendency.
Symptoms Related to Alcoholism
There are vast varieties of symptoms associated to alcoholism. Alcoholism is generally perceived as a progressive disorder or disease, which means the effects and symptoms of alcoholism become increased over a period of time. Person, who consumes alcohol, may show initial signs of problem and then over a period of time, symptoms would progress and will be able to witness symptoms of alcohol abuse. If the consumption persists then they show symptoms related to alcoholism.
Symptoms Related To Alcohol Abuse
The primary symptom of alcohol abuse happens when the person repeatedly consumes, even after the person’s consumption level reaches a stage that causes continuous problems. Thus alcohol abuse can be confirmed, when the person continues the intake of alcohol, even after the drinking leads the person to miss school, work, drunken drive, social responsibilities and lands the person in trouble with the law. When blood Alcohol content (BAC) test is conducted a heavy drinker shows the following results. The results include increased carbodydrate deficient transferring, elevated GGT2, moderate increase of ALT and AST and a ratio of 2:1 (AST: ALT), and enlarged MCB known as macrocytosis.
Treatment
The prime focus of the most treatments for alcohol problems is to help the affected person discontinue the alcohol consumption. This is coupled with supporting the person socially so aft to aid them withstand a return to consumption of alcoholic beverages. As a part of the treatment, it is important for the person to get detoxified. Detoxification is an abrupt stop of intake of alcohol coupled with the replacement of drugs that have same effects to stop alcohol withdrawal.
How is the alcoholic treated mentally?
The detoxification treats the physical effects caused due to long term usage of alcohol. But the treatment should have an approach towards the psychological issues related to that particular person. For this purpose psychotherapy or group therapy, which deals with the mental state of person, can be employed. Mutual help group helps the affected person to maintain sobriety. Apart from that treatment, rationing and moderation programs play a vital part to manage the person from relapse to alcoholism.
Varying Medications for Alcoholism
The medications can be considered as part of treatment for alcohol addicts. The medication for alcoholism varies widely. There is medications for detoxification and withdrawal and Medication for long-term usage. Benzodiazepines drugs are the most suitable drugs to reduce the effects of withdrawal symptoms. Baclofen acts as a GABA B receptor agonist, which helps to increase detoxification. The drugs for long-term medication include Antabure, Naltrexone, Acamprosate, Topiramate. It has been known that sodium oxybate which is the sodium salt of GHB – gamma – hydrobutyric acid can be an efficient medication for both alcohol withdrawal and for long term usage.
What does the term abuse mean?
The term ‘Abuse’ differs slightly from ‘addiction’. The usage of an illegal substance or usage of a legal substance in a wrong way is called substance abuse. One can abuse a drug substance for example alcohol but that does not signify that the person has an addiction to it.
Alcohol Abuse
The term ‘Binge drinking’ is very much important before discussing alcohol abuse. Binge drinking is the common problem among young people. It basically means simply drinking to get drunk. When a person’s consumption of alcohol starts to cause problem and eventually the habit of alcoholism continues, then Binge drinking turns into alcohol alone. When one continues the consumption of alcohol despite social, legal, interpersonal problems then it is alcohol abuse. The consequences of alcohol abuse can lead to mismanaging time at work, educational institutions, and even neglecting household responsibilities and children. It also affects socially.
When does alcohol abuse become alcohol dependence?
Alcohol abuse turns to alcohol dependence when the alcoholics start to have a craving for alcohol, have withdrawal symptoms when they stop consuming alcohol and lose control over their consumption. Alcohol dependence is a progressive disorder that induces strong need to consume alcohol in spite of the negative consequences.
Is alcoholism an inherited disease?
Scientific study on alcoholism shows that genetics play a vital part in problems related to alcohol development. The research also indicates that for a person to become an alcohol dependent the environment of the person and peer influences play a major role. Most of the scientific studies indicate the important role of heredity in alcohol development. Having said that, a family with history of alcoholics does not doom a member of that family into turning an alcohol addict. A person if properly managed can very well overcome the genetic tendency.
Symptoms Related to Alcoholism
There are vast varieties of symptoms associated to alcoholism. Alcoholism is generally perceived as a progressive disorder or disease, which means the effects and symptoms of alcoholism become increased over a period of time. Person, who consumes alcohol, may show initial signs of problem and then over a period of time, symptoms would progress and will be able to witness symptoms of alcohol abuse. If the consumption persists then they show symptoms related to alcoholism.
Symptoms Related To Alcohol Abuse
The primary symptom of alcohol abuse happens when the person repeatedly consumes, even after the person’s consumption level reaches a stage that causes continuous problems. Thus alcohol abuse can be confirmed, when the person continues the intake of alcohol, even after the drinking leads the person to miss school, work, drunken drive, social responsibilities and lands the person in trouble with the law. When blood Alcohol content (BAC) test is conducted a heavy drinker shows the following results. The results include increased carbodydrate deficient transferring, elevated GGT2, moderate increase of ALT and AST and a ratio of 2:1 (AST: ALT), and enlarged MCB known as macrocytosis.
Treatment
The prime focus of the most treatments for alcohol problems is to help the affected person discontinue the alcohol consumption. This is coupled with supporting the person socially so aft to aid them withstand a return to consumption of alcoholic beverages. As a part of the treatment, it is important for the person to get detoxified. Detoxification is an abrupt stop of intake of alcohol coupled with the replacement of drugs that have same effects to stop alcohol withdrawal.
How is the alcoholic treated mentally?
The detoxification treats the physical effects caused due to long term usage of alcohol. But the treatment should have an approach towards the psychological issues related to that particular person. For this purpose psychotherapy or group therapy, which deals with the mental state of person, can be employed. Mutual help group helps the affected person to maintain sobriety. Apart from that treatment, rationing and moderation programs play a vital part to manage the person from relapse to alcoholism.
Varying Medications for Alcoholism
The medications can be considered as part of treatment for alcohol addicts. The medication for alcoholism varies widely. There is medications for detoxification and withdrawal and Medication for long-term usage. Benzodiazepines drugs are the most suitable drugs to reduce the effects of withdrawal symptoms. Baclofen acts as a GABA B receptor agonist, which helps to increase detoxification. The drugs for long-term medication include Antabure, Naltrexone, Acamprosate, Topiramate. It has been known that sodium oxybate which is the sodium salt of GHB – gamma – hydrobutyric acid can be an efficient medication for both alcohol withdrawal and for long term usage.