Alcoholism

Abstract

Alcohol dependence is a major cause of mortality and is associated with psychiatric

conditions, neurologic impairment, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and malignant

neoplasms. Psychiatric conditions associated with alcohol dependence include major

depression, dysthymia, mania, hypomania, panic disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety

disorder, personality disorders, any drug use disorder, schizophrenia, and suicide.

Psychiatric problems, in turn, are associated with alcohol-related symptoms of greater

severity. Excessive alcohol consumption causes brain damage, which is proven by brain

imaging, and related neurologic deficits, including impairments in working memory,

cognitive processing of emotional signals and gait and balance. Whereas moderate

alcohol consumption does not severely affect the cardiovascular system, heavy drinking

is associated with increased risks of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and ischemic

stroke, possibly due to alcohol-induced health problems. Chronic excessive alcohol

consumption is a strong risk factor for various types of cancer, particularly cancers of the

aerorespiratory tract, but also cancers of the digestive system, liver, breast, and ovaries.

Heavy drinking is associated with various forms of alcoholic liver disease, such as

cirrhosis. (People with alcohol dependence die from cirrhosis at a much higher rate than

is found in the general population.) Alcohol dependence also increases the risk of injury,

possibly due to alcohol-related factors such as diminished coordination and balance,

increased reaction time, and impaired attention, perception, and judgment.

Alcoholism

There is a drug that is used by over 14 million people in the United States. It is not

cocaine, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, LSD or prescription pills. Mothers,

fathers, sisters and brothers often fall victim to abusing this drug because it is so easy. By

abusing this drug people can become addicted and ultimately destroy their lives. This

drug is legal, liquid and comes in many flavors. The drug is alcohol. People have been

brewing and fermenting alcoholic drinks since the dawn of civilization. Consumed in

moderate amounts, alcoholic beverages are relaxing and in some cases may even have

beneficial effects on health. Consumed in excess, alcohol is poisonous to human systems

and is considered a drug. Alcohol is often consumed during times of celebration,

disappointment, or just casually. There is a very thin line between enjoying alcohol and

abusing alcohol. A person who abuses alcohol is an alcoholic and an alcoholic suffers

from the disease called alcoholism. Usually, a variety of factors contribute to the

development of a problem with alcohol. Social factors such as the influence of family,

peers, and society, the availability of alcohol, and psychological factors such as elevated

levels of stress, inadequate coping mechanisms, and reinforcement of alcohol use from

other drinkers can contribute to alcoholism. Alcoholism is often diagnosed more through

behaviors and adverse effects on functioning than by specific medical symptoms. Alcohol

dependence