What is Alcoholism?

What is alcoholism?

Alcoholism is both a brain disorder and a medical disorder. Alcohol is experienced differently for each person dependant upon their genes. These genes affect how pleasant or intoxicating alcohol seems to the person. The genes also affect how likely one is to develop an alcohol disorder. There are two types of alcoholics, the functional alcoholics and the nonfunctioning. The functioning alcoholics are able to still carry on with work and a social life despite this problem. The non functioning alcoholics can not carry on with life, they devote all the time and money into getting and consuming alcohol. The brain has a vast network of brain cells. These cells are crucial to the functions of the brain, they regulate, store information, and perform tasks. Neurotransmitters use chemical signals to communicate from cell to cell. When alcohol enters the body, certain receptors are temporarily changed, and affected. However, these changes are reversed given time and once the alcohol leaves the body. Chronic drinking also changes these receptors, and can permanently damage the receptors, leaving brain communication damaged.
Medically, it is considered a disease. This disease is the abnormal wanting or craving of alcohol, and the affected drinking control. Such problems can be noticed if the life of the person is drastically changed, such as family or work life. However, not only genes are the cause of this disorder, family also factors how one may act later on in life. The family has a big role in the development of a person. The parents actions, are often what the child's actions look like in the future. Because of this, if one's parents are heavy drinkers, the child is exposed to alcohol making he or she more susceptible to alcoholism.

What are the signs/symptoms of alcoholism?

Signs of alcoholism may not be noticeable at first. Most likely they are intentionally hidden from those around. As this liquor that was once enjoyed turns into a chronic problem, many signs emerge. Such signs are the abnormal desire for alcohol in weird rimes or places. Another sign of alcoholism is when one can not control themselves while drinking, or when one can not stop drinking once they begin. This leads to a spiral downward, and then ruined family relations. Detecting these symptoms earlier is the best way to help someone avoid alcoholism.
Chronic drinking can lead to many problems both physical and mental. As stated earlier, brain cells used to communicate can be damaged and blocked. Because of this, an everyday task such as regulating the body can be a real challenge. When the receptors are damaged the body also struggles to direct behavior. Other visible symptoms of alcoholism include: Difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, and impaired memory (Alcohol's Damaging Effects on the Brain). Many alcoholics also develop brain disorders, one common disorder is known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS)(Alcohol's Damaging Effects on the Brain). This disease involves many of the symptoms stated above, however they are more intense and more permanent. Mental confusion as well as paralysis of the eyes are two common symptoms of this disease. Some of these symptoms are reversible within the hour, but when one consumes alcohol for a long period of time, there can be long term effects. Depression and many other psychological problems as well as aggression occur with chronic drinking. Alcohol is a gateway drug, because of this, drinking alcohol can lead to the use of other drugs.

What are the risk factors of alcoholism?

There are many risk factors of alcoholism. A risk factor is an exposure of anything to an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or injury. There are many things that both factor into why people choose to drink, as well as the risk that alcohol puts a person in physically and mentally. Binge drinking as stated before can disrupt the signaling and receiving cells of the persons brain, lowering reaction times and affecting functions of the body. If a person's blood alcohol content (BAC) is even .02, symptoms such as lack of judgement, relaxation, increased body temperature, mood swings, and decreased visual and multitasking abilities begin to show(Drinking and Driving). This is why drunk driving is illegal. There are also risk factors of certain diseases, the most common is liver disease. Women have a higher chance of contracting this disease, due to there higher blood concentrations. Men are able to consume a greater amount of alcohol and experience less side effects. Other physical effects are raised blood pressure, and seizures.
There are also many factors that may influence one to begin drinking. These are family, friends, society. Family as once stated, has a huge impact on a person's future. That is definitely the case with alcohol. Friends also have a lasting impression. Peer pressure, as well as trying to fit in can be big reasons on why someone starts drinking. Many people may not know this, but society has a big affect on how someone may decide something. Society nowadays is pushing alcohol and how it is something done to fit in or be cool. These are the factors that need to be avoided in order to combat this alcohol epidemic.

What are the treatment options for alcoholism?

Many different treatment options for alcoholics are used today. There are behavioral therapies, medications, and even help organizations. Neuroscience medications were created in order to combat the mental effects alcohol triggers. This works by targeting the receptors that are affected by the drug, and dampening the destruction or damage done to them. Personalized medicine is also another medication aimed at dampening alcoholism. Doctors are able to determine what level of alcoholic the person is, and treat them accordingly. They also look at the gene makeup of the person, and how well they react to the treatment. Gabapentin is another example of a drug administered by health officials. This medication can help reduce binge drinking, and the craving for alcohol and helped increase sleep and mood.

Behavioral therapies are another treatment option. These therapies are created to change the person's mind on alcohol or drinking behavior, and to increase the person's motivation as a whole. There are four main groups of behavioral treatments: cognitive, motivational, marital/family, and brief interventions. These groups will be recommended by a health official. Cognitive is therapy usually done in small groups. This from of therapy is focused on identifying the feelings and situations (called cues) that lead to heavy drinking and managing stress that can lead to relapse(Treatment for Alcohol Problems).This process is done in most therapy groups, and works very well.

Why is alcohol prevalent today/what can be done to prevent alcoholism/Relapses?

Alcohol is a social drug, and it is very addicting. Alcohol releases euphoria in and triggers the brain into wanting more. The sensations released while consuming alcohol lead people into a false sense of positive reinforcement. People start to rely on this drug to fix any social anxiety and stress they have, and then without it, they can not function properly. Avoiding drinking at a young age is one way to help prevent alcoholism. Other ways to avoid this problem, is to moderately consume alcohol. Watch how much alcohol is consumed and know the limit.
Relapses are common amongst the sober. A relapse is a temporary set back from sobriety, and is not considered a failure. Relapses most commonly appear in times of stress and when exposed to things relating to the past drinking. Through the therapy and group work, one can work on overcoming such triggers, and defeating alcoholism.

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