The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research explains that alcohol abuse does not mean that a person has a physical dependence on alcohol, although it can lead to alcohol dependence. A person abuses alcohol when he drinks too much, or when his drinking causes problems in his daily life. Although people who abuse alcohol usually do not experience physical symptoms of withdrawal when they are unable to drink, alcohol abuse can cause a number of other serious problems.
Health and Safety Risks
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic warn that a person who abuses alcohol is at increased risk of health problems like cancer, digestive issues, bone loss, heart disease, and trouble with the nervous system. Excessive drinking can cause low blood-sugar levels in diabetics, affect a woman's menstrual cycle, and cause birth defects in a developing fetus. Each time a person drinks in excess, he also risks alcohol poisoning, a condition that affects breathing and can lead to death if not treated immediately. Adverse affects can occur when mixing alcohol with prescription medications, or with certain over-the-counter medicines. Individuals who drink excessively for a long period of time can eventually suffer damage to the liver or other vital organs. Alcohol slows the reflexes and can make it difficult to concentrate, effects that can impair an individual's ability to drive or operate heavy machinery safely.
Daily Performance
Statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 50% of American adults reported drinking alcohol regularly in 2008. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in every 12 of those adults either abuses alcohol or are alcoholics. The NIAAA points out that one need not be an alcoholic for alcohol to interfere with your life and cause problems. People who abuse alcohol may frequently skip work or school. Heavy drinkers may also have problems getting along with others, and may have trouble keeping a job.
Relationship Problems
Alcohol abuse can cause problems at home, setting off arguments, which sometimes escalate into physical violence. The American Psychological Association notes that people who drink heavily are more likely to neglect their children, as well as physically or sexually abuse their spouses and children. Individuals who abuse alcohol are also more likely to have marriages that end in divorce, according to the American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Legal Problems
The CDC reports that in 2008 more than 1.4 million drivers in the United States were arrested for driving under the influence of either alcohol or narcotics. While a DUI arrest is just one of the potential legal problems a person who abuses alcohol may face, it is not uncommon for chronic drinkers to have more than one arrest on their records. Public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and drinking arrests involving minors are some of the arrests that result from losing control of one's judgment. Sometimes individuals commit other, more serious crimes while under the influence of alcohol.
