The effect of alcoholism varies from one person to the next. But the most common effects are changes in emotional state or stability, behaviour, and personality. Alcoholics may become angry and argumentative, or quiet and withdrawn or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. They then seek relief by drinking more, not help with their drinking problem, though treatment is readily available.
The condition, delirium tremens (known primarily to heavy drinkers), causes hallucinations along with loss of control of muscular functioning. When this condition develops and the alcoholic slows their drinking, withdrawal syndrome can and often does occur. This may include agitation, tremors, seizures, and hallucinations. Alcoholism also cause's damage to the brain; alcoholics may suffer from lack of concentration. The alcoholic may also experience blackouts, occasional onsets of memory lapses, and possibly complete memory loss. They may also suffer from more serious forms of brain damage.
Detoxification or 'detox' involves taking a short course of a medicine which helps to prevent withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking alcohol. Benzodiazepine medicines such as chlordiazepoxide are used for detox. Many GPs are happy to prescribe for detox from alcohol. A common plan is to prescribe a high dose of medication for the first day that you stop drinking alcohol. You then gradually reduce the dose over the next 5-7 days. This usually prevents, or greatly reduces, the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. You must agree not to drink any alcohol when you are taking the detox medication. Your GP or practice nurse will usually see you quite often during the time of detox. Also during this time, support from family or friends can be of great help.
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.
Stress is a common theme in women's lives. Research confirms that one of the reasons people drink is to help them cope with stress. In laboratory studies, animals consume alcohol in response to stress. However, the role of stress in causing problem drinking in people is not clear. Heavy drinking itself causes stress in a job and family. Many factors, including family history, shape how much a woman will use alcohol to cope with stress. A woman's past and usual drinking habits are important. Different people have different expectations about the effect of alcohol on stress. How a woman handles stress, and the support she has to manage it, also may affect whether she uses alcohol in response to stress.
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.
Drinking Causes problems. Learning the correct information and the correct sources can really make a difference. Start finding up alcohol treatment centers. This and other unique content 'stop drinking' articles are available with free reprint rights.
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