Alcohol abuse and alcoholism impacts over 18 million Americans in a given year, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Alcoholism is a condition involving the development of a physical and psychological dependence on the substance despite the harmful consequences continued use may bring. Several signs indicate the presence of alcohol abuse and the condition is often described as a progressive disorder with stages of severity.
Blackouts
Alcohol blackouts are short episodes of amnesia during which the intoxicated individual continues to engage in activity without remembering the events or that he was involved in the events. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that blackouts are more common amongst social binge drinkers and occur from ingesting large quantities of alcohol. Experiencing an alcohol induced blackout is potentially dangerous because judgment is significantly impaired. The result can make an individual susceptible to engaging in high risk behavior, which may not be immediately recalled by the drinker after the intoxication level is lowered.
Long Term Memory Impairment
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism indicates that the brain regions of the hippocampus, the primary site of memory formation, and the frontal lobes, the site of short-term memory retrieval, are damaged from chronic use of alcohol. A condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is signified by mental confusion and persistent learning or memory problems, is a risk with significant impact on individuals with alcoholism. The NIAAA explains that up to 80 percent of alcoholics are thiamine deficient, resulting in development of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Signs of Progression
Initial use of alcohol is infrequent and typically occurs in social settings. The progression of casual alcohol use to abuse has subtle signs such as expressing a desire to drink to relax, or drinking alone and outside of social settings. An occasional beverage alone does not indicate alcohol abuse, unless more alcohol is required in order to achieve intoxicating effects. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that the tolerance to alcohol changes because the reward chemicals in the brain require more alcohol to experience the pleasurable feelings, which were once experienced by smaller amounts. As alcohol abuse worsens, the individual may start showing inconsistent behavior such as breaking promises, not showing up to work or displaying abnormal mood swings.
Functional Impairments
Alcoholism severity occurs differently per the individual and there is no particular time frame when a drinker progresses from an alcohol abuser to a severe alcoholic. However, indicators of detrimental alcoholism become apparent when daily functions and obligations are no longer managed by the drinker. Functional impairments primarily occur in work and personal relationships. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that in some cases legal problems, such as driving while intoxicated, eventually result from abusing alcohol. Conflict with spouses over excessive drinking, missed time from family gatherings and isolation from social activities are all signs of progressive alcoholism.
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Alcohol's Damaging Effects on the Brain
- Cleveland Clinic: Alcoholism
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: What Happened? Alcohol, Memory Blackouts and the Brain
- University of New Hampshire Health Services: Blackouts
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Alcoholism
