Drinking And The Problems It Causes Society tends to aid in the development of alcoholism by making alcohol seem glamorous, showing that by drinking, you will become more popular, more glamorous and more worthy of respects from others. The physical effects of alcoholism are somewhat gruesome. Excessive in take and prolonged use of alcohol can cause serious disturbances in body chemistry. Many alcoholics exhibit swollen and tender livers. The prolonged use of large amounts of alcohol without adequate diet may cause serious liver damage, such as cirrhosis of the liver. Alcoholism also causes loss of muscular control. It is no exaggeration to suggest someone displaying any of these extreme signs should get help for their drinking problem. Treatment is available in many forms ranging from help from your GP to a stay in an alcohol recovery centre.

Generally speaking, the signs of alcoholism are unclear to many people. It is not unusual to have questions as to what alcohol dependency is exactly, how is different from alcohol abuse, and when an individual should look for treatment due to their drinking problem. The following information will provide you with the answer to these questions and many others you many have. Alcoholism addiction (also known as alcohol dependence) is characterized by several signs: Cravings - A strong need, or compulsion, to drink. Loss of control - The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion. Physical dependence - Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. Tolerance - The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get high.

Accepting the problem: Some people deny to themselves that they have a problem. The sort of thoughts that some people deceive themselves with include: "I can cope", "I'm only drinking what my mates drink", "I can stop anytime". Accepting that you may have a problem, and seeking help where necessary, are often the biggest steps to cutting back on alcohol, or cutting it out completely. Self help: Some people are helped by books, websites, leaflets and their own determination. It is thought that about 1 in 3 people who have a problem with alcohol return to sensible drinking, or stop drinking, without any professional help. See the end of this leaflet for a list of resources.

Other medication sometimes used for alcohol problems: Vitamins, particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine), are often prescribed if you are alcohol dependent. Especially during detox. This is because many people who are dependent on alcohol do not eat properly and can lack certain vitamins. A lack of vitamin B1 is the most common. A lack of this vitamin can cause serious brain conditions called Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's psychosis. Acamprosate is a medicine which can help to ease alcohol craving. This may be prescribed to some people after a successful detox to help them stay off alcohol. Disulfiram is another medicine which is sometimes used following a successful detox. When you take disulfiram you get very unpleasant symptoms if you drink any alcohol (such as flushing, vomiting, palpitations and headache). So, in effect, the medicine acts as a deterrent for when you are tempted to drink. It can help some people to stay off alcohol.

Despite the fact that drinking is illegal for anyone under the age of 21, the reality is that adolescent girls drink. Research shows, for example, that about 41 percent of 9th grade girls-usually about 14 years old-report drinking in the past month. (This rate is about the same for 9th grade boys.) Even more alarming, a little more than 20 percent of these same young girls report having had 5 or more drinks on a single occasion during the previous month. Consequences of Unsafe Drinking Drinking under age 21 is illegal in every state. Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of teen death. Drinking makes young women more vulnerable to sexual assault and unsafe and unplanned sex. Young people who begin drinking before age 15 have a 40 percent higher risk of developing alcohol abuse or alcoholism some time in their lives than those who wait until age 21 to begin drinking. This increased risk is the same for young girls as it is for boys.

Young women in their 20's and early 30's are more likely to drink than older women. No one factor predicts whether a woman will have problems with alcohol, or at what age she is most at risk. However, there are some aspects of a woman's life experience that seem to make problem drinking more likely. Heavy drinking and drinking problems among white women are most common in younger age groups. Among African American women, however, drinking problems are more common in middle age than youth. A woman's ethnic origins-and the extent to which she adopts the attitudes of mainstream vs. her native culture-influence how and when she will drink.

Aging seems to reduce the body's ability to adapt to alcohol. Older adults reach higher blood levels of alcohol even when drinking the same amount as younger people. This is due to an age-related decrease in the amount of body water in which alcohol is dispersed. Even at the same blood alcohol level, older adults feel some of the effects of alcohol more than younger people. Alcohol problems among older persons are often mistaken for other aging-related conditions. As a result, alcohol problems may be missed and untreated by health care providers, especially in older women. 

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Drinking Causes problems. Learning the correct information and the correct sources can really make a difference. Start looking up alcohol treatment centers.

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