Alcohol abuse can cause devastating effects on the individual, his family and the society in which he exists. The effects of alcoholism impact the user's health, cause the deterioration of social relationships and can put the brakes on career or educational advancement. In some cases, the use of alcohol creates symptoms that are recognizable as a specific disorder, or syndrome.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome
Withdrawal from alcohol poses a varying set of physical and mental challenges for each alcoholic. A range of symptoms can result from alcohol withdrawal. These can be minor annoyances such as insomnia or shakiness, or they can be severe and frightening when the withdrawing alcoholic experiences a seizure or hallucinations. Chronic alcohol use inhibits the uptake of brain chemicals, and withdrawal may result in brain hyper excitability. This can manifest as anxiety, irritability and tremors. The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that up to 2 million Americans may endure the effects of alcohol withdrawal syndrome per year.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Chronic alcoholism inhibits the absorption of vitamin B1. When levels of this vitamin are depleted, brain damage can ensue. Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome are two different conditions, both resulting from vitamin B1 deficiency. Brain damage is present in both conditions, which often occur consecutively. Typically, a patient will manifest the symptoms of Wernicke's encephalopathy first. These include confusion, loss of muscle coordination and changes in vision. When these symptoms go away, the patient may be left with Korsakoff syndrome, which is caused by damage to the memory centers of the brain and is characterized by memory loss, hallucinations and the tendency to make up stories.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Alcohol can ruin the lives of those who drink as well as the children to whom they give birth. KidsHealth notes that alcohol abuse is the number one preventable cause of birth defects in the Unites States. Pregnant women who drink risk giving birth to babies with low birth weight, small heads, facial deformities, epilepsy, poor motor and social skills, behavioral problems and learning disorders. This sad litany of symptoms is characteristic of children born with fetal alcohol syndrome. The problems associated with fetal alcohol syndrome only intensify when the child grows into adulthood, possibly necessitating lifelong supervision due to an inability to live independently.
