According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about 14 million Americans have problems with alcohol abuse or alcoholism. People with alcoholism have a physical dependence on alcohol. Liver damage, cancer and emotional instability are just a few of the adverse effects linked to this disease.
Identification
SAMHSA says several factors can be used to determine whether a person is an alcoholic. Because alcoholism is also defined as an "alcohol dependence," an inability to control one's drinking is one of the first signs of this disease. Those who experience this dependence feel a strong urge or craving to drink. Over time, their tolerance for alcohol will increase, causing them to drink more to feel affected by alcohol. Alcoholics also display their physical dependence when they experience withdrawal; anxiety, shakiness, sweating and nausea are common after a session of heavy drinking has concluded.
Immediate Effects
SAMHSA reports that several physical signs can be immediately detected when an alcoholic is drinking. Many of these effects can cause accidents or other negative behaviors, such as altered emotions and perceptions, or problems with coordination and vision. Hangovers are also seen within a few hours when an alcoholic stops drinking, and will include the signs of withdrawal associated with alcoholism listed in the previous section.
Long-Term Effects
Several adverse effects of alcoholism begin to show after a long period of alcohol abuse. According to SAMHSA, more than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis or alcoholic cirrhosis. Some alcoholics with liver disease display symptoms such as jaundice, fever or severe abdominal pain.
Certain cancers are also linked to alcoholism. The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research link cancer of the breast, head, neck and digestive tract to alcohol abuse. Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, may also result from alcoholism over many years according to SAMHSA.
Personal Life
Alcoholism can affect the personal and professional life of an alcoholic. HelpGuide.org says alcoholics are more likely to live in poverty, have problems with domestic violence or get a divorce than those without a drinking problem. Unemployment is also a problem in some cases in which an alcoholic's out-of-control drinking problem affects their performance at work.
Treatment
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says treatment options are available, even though alcoholics cannot be cured of the physical urge to drink. Counseling programs are often used to help alcoholics overcome their alcohol dependence. A few medications are available that are prescribed to help alcoholics control their alcohol cravings and avoid relapse. Other medications can be prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal when an alcoholic stops drinking.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Alcohol General Information
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Alcohol Side Effects
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Health Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Consumption
- HelpGuide.org: Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: FAQs for the General Public
