Information on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Mental Health > Information on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Alcoholism means a chronic diseased condition marked by psychological and nutritional disorders, caused by the compulsive or habitual consumption of alcoholic liquor. A person who consumes alcohol in a controlled manner for a healthy as well as joyful living is unlikely to be a victim of alcoholism.
As the intake of alcohol into a person’s body increases, its effect turns from a blessing to a curse. Excessive use of alcohol leads to an intoxicating condition. Slowly he becomes dependent on alcohol. The initial voluntary use of alcohol finally leads to abuse of alcohol.
There are various reasons for such addiction. The common reason is association with already addicted friends. Those who grow up in homes where there is alcohol abuse may ultimately be addicted. Certain psychological issues of distress like failure in love affairs, heavy financial loss in gambling, loneliness etc. may drive a person to alcohol addiction.
The results of alcohol abuse may have serious consequences. One may lose his job or may face divorce or separation from wife or family. Excessive drinking may lead to domestic violence, public drunkenness, and loss of friendship. Drunken drivers, all over the world are responsible for 50% of all deaths from vehicular accidents.
Increased use of alcohol leads to sickness like shakiness, vomiting, paranoia, mental depressions. When the addiction is acute, it may cause serious ailments like cancer. People may be unconscious after excessive drinking. Even death can take place.
However, it is possible to treat alcohol addiction. The treatment is carried out according to individual needs. Counseling, psychotherapies are known to be behavioral therapies meant for alcohol addicts. Side by side, medicines are often prescribed to suppress the withdrawal syndrome. Success to these treatments largely depends on the patients' own will power to be recovered from such a pathetic stage of alcohol addiction.