Alcohol abuse causes many long-term problems, including about 35,000 deaths annually in the United States from "chronic disease alcohol-attributable deaths," according to "Healthy People 2010," a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alcohol abuse increases the risk of heart disease as well as several cancers and neurological diseases, harms fetuses and causes as much as 80 percent of family violence in the United States, the "Essentials for Health and Wellness" book reports.
Identification
You don't have to be an alcoholic to abuse alcohol, according to a 2007 report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. You are considered an abuser of alcohol if drinking causes you to be irresponsible at home, school or work. You can be an abuser of alcohol if you're a social drinker if you drink at inappropriate times, including while driving, pregnant or taking medications such as aspirin, painkillers and sedatives. About 17.6 million Americans, roughly one of 12 adults, abuses alcohol.
Symptoms
You could be becoming an alcohol abuser if you exhibit one or more common problem behaviors, according to "Essentials for Health and Wellness." Problem behaviors include sneaking drinks, planning events around alcohol, drinking alcohol before a social event so you're prepared to drink at the event, frequent alcohol-related accidents, getting drunk frequently and undergoing behavioral or personality changes after drinking alcohol.
Diseases
Alcohol abusers are more likely to suffer from cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis and hypertension than people who don't abuse alcohol. They also suffer blackouts, dementia, hallucinations and seizures, according to "Essentials." Long-term, heavy drinking also increases the risk of colon, esophagus, larynx, lip, liver, lung, oral cavity, pancreas, pharynx, rectum, stomach and tongue cancer. In addition, women who abuse alcohol have more gynecological problems than nondrinkers.
Warning
Moderate drinkers have higher levels of good cholesterol, a factor in reducing heart-disease risks, according to the "Controlling Cholesterol" book and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. However, the institute warns that heavy drinking increases coronary disease risks. Alcohol abuse also causes irregular heartbeats and harms heart muscles, the "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" book says.
Impact
Family and marital relationships are harmed by a person's alcohol abuse, according to "Essentials." The book reports that you're far more likely to get divorced if your spouse abuses alcohol and far more apt to be victimized by violence. In addition, alcohol causes more than one-third of suicides, a devastating experience for surviving family members. Children of alcohol abusers are more likely to have difficulty relaxing, and be compulsive and "mercilessly self-critical."
Innocent Victims
Alcohol abuse often affects the children of abusers. Fetuses can have 10 times more alcohol in their blood than their mother. "Even a couple of drinks early in pregnancy can endanger normal fetal development," according to "Essentials." Fetuses who have a lot of alcohol in their blood have fetal alcohol syndrome. This condition is the third-leading reason newborns have birth defects or are mentally retarded.
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: FAQ for the General Public
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse
- "Essentials for Health and Wellness"; Gordon Edlin, Eric Golanty, Kelli McCormack Brown; 2000
- "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program For Reversing Heart Disease"; Dr. Dean Ornish; 1996
- "Controlling Cholesterol"; Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper; 1989
