Alcohol is a drug that people may misguidedly turn to in an attempt to ease emotional or physical pain. The sad irony of this is that alcoholism itself is the cause of suffering for alcoholics as well as for those whose lives are affected by them. The cost to society in terms of increased medical hardships, family dissolution and workforce losses is enormous. Alcoholism that has progressed to advanced stages is heartbreaking to witness and difficult to treat.
Obsession with Drinking
The late-stage alcoholic revolves her life around alcohol, while all else falls by the wayside. Responsibilities that detract from drinking, such as family and career, suffer as a result. The alcoholic may avoid environments and situations where signs of intoxication will be noticed and criticized. She may become shunned by others and socially isolated due her behavior. Bankruptcy, divorce and homelessness are common consequences of late-stage alcoholism. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence states that prolonged periods of intoxication lasting several days at a time are common occurrences in the final stage of alcoholism.
Physical Dependence
For the late-stage alcoholic, the disease is not just inflicting irreparable social and psychological damage, but it has begun to destroy the body as well. The late-stage alcoholic may experience extreme symptoms upon any sudden, unsupervised attempt to withdraw from alcohol. Delirium tremens is a condition experienced when alcohol withdrawal initiates a severe brain disturbance. Within two to four days after ceasing or decreasing alcohol consumption, the alcoholic's blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and body temperature may rise. Uncontrollable shaking can overtake the hands, head or body. New York University's Langone Medical Center warns that the mind may be wracked by nightmares, delusions and hallucinations while a patient is undergoing delirium tremens. Other psychological symptoms include anxiety, agitation and confusion.
Disease
Alcoholism is known to cause liver disease. The overburdened liver of an alcoholic can become scarred and cirrhotic to the point of causing death, but that's just one of the mechanisms by which alcohol contributes to an individual's physical demise. A report by Meghan Andreycak and colleagues, of the University of Maryland School of Social Work, points out that late-stage alcoholism is commonly associated with other physical ailments such as brain damage, esophageal cancer and cardiovascular disease.
References
- Augusta State University: What Are the Signs of Alcoholism?
- University of Massachusetts: Alcoholism--What Does It Look LIke?
- University of Maryland School of Social Work: Impact of Alcohol Dependence on Women's Parenting Sense of Competence
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Delirium Tremens (DTs)
- Villanova University Counseling Center: Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
