Alcohol is part of our
society. People use it to celebrate, socialize, relax, and enhance the
employment of meals. Nearly 90 percent of adults in Cross River States report
that they drank alcohol at some points of their lifetime, and more than half
report drinking in the last month. Although most people drink in moderation,
nearly 40 percent of Nigerian adults drink in excess of the low-risk guidelines
established by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NAAA).
Alcohol misuse has wider ranging adverse consequences. In the Cross River
State, nearly 88,000 people per year die from alcohol related causes. Globally,
alcohol accounts for 3.3 million deaths 5.9 percent of all deaths each year.
Alcohol misuse also contributes to poor performance at school, work and family
problems, unprotected sex and sexually transmitted disease, violence, memory
black outs, unintentional injuries, accidents, and overdoes, and organ damages
and diseases. It can lend to alcohol use disorder (AID).
DEFINITION OF ALCOHOLISM
Now known as alcohol use disorder, is a condition in which a person
has a desire to consume alcohol even though it has a negative impact on their
life. It also describes a strong, often uncontrollable desire to drink.
Sufferers of alcoholism will often place drinking above all other obligations
including work and family.
Individuals struggling with alcoholism often feel as though they
cannot function normally with alcohol. This can lead to a wide range of issues
and impact, professional goals, personal matters, relationship and overall
health, over-time; the serious side effects of consistent alcohol abuse can
worsen and produce damaging complications.
There are many treatment options available to help people overcome
alcohol abuse and achieve long-term sobriety.
WARNING SIGNS OF ALCOHOLISM
Sometimes the warning signs
of alcohol abuse are very noticeable. Other times, they can take longer to
surface. When alcohol addiction is discovered in its early stages, the chance
for a successful recovery increases significantly. Common signs of alcoholism
include;
1. Being unable to control alcohol consumption.
2. Craving alcohol when you’re not drinking.
3. Putting alcohol above personal responsibilities.
4. Spending a substantial amount of money on alcohol.
5. Behaving differently after drinking.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE DRINK
Many factors can
increase the risk of alcohol abuse. People may turn to alcohol for one reason
and gradually develop a dependence on drinking example drinking during
difficult times, death in the family or jobs loss can potentially trigger
long-term alcohol abuse.
While there are
various reasons as to why people start drinking, some of the most are to
a.
Relieve Stress: Relying on alcohol to reduce daily life stressors can
impact the likelihood of developing alcoholism since alcohol is a depressant
and a sedative, drinking produces feelings of pleasure. However, frequent
drinking builds tolerance, requiring you to consume more alcohol in order to
achieve the same effects.
b.
Cope With Loss: Losing a family member or friend can take a toll on you
emotionally, physically, and mentally. Alcohol can ease the grief you are
feeling and is used to get through difficult times depending on alcohol even
temporarily can spiral into a drinking problem.
c.
To Feel Good: Consuming alcohol can provide some people a break from reality. It
offers a sense of relief from underlying issues your mind may be trying to
escape from. However, continual alcohol use to get through the day or weak can
turn into a serious drinking problem.
CAUSES OF ALCOHOLISM
The cause of alcohol
use disorder is still unknown. Alcohol use disorder develops when you drink so
much that chemical changes in the brain occurs. These changes increase the
pleasurable feelings you get when you drink alcohol. This makes you want to
drink more often, even if it causes harm.
Eventually, the
pleasurable feelings associated with alcohol use go away and the person with
alcohol use disorder will engage in drinking to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
These withdrawal symptoms can be quite unpleasant and even dangerous.
Alcohol use disorder
typically develops gradually overtime it’s also know to run in families.
RISK AND FACTORS
Although the exact cause of alcohol use disorder is unknown, there
are certain factors that may increase you risk for developing this disease..
Known risk factor include having
i.
More than 15 drinks per week
if you’re male.
ii.
More than 12 drinks per week
if you’re female.
iii.
More than 5 drinks per day at
least once a week (binge drinking).
iv.
A parent with alcohol
disorder.
v.
A mental health problem, such
as depression, anxiety or schizophrenia.
You may also be at a greater risk for alcohol use disorder if you
are a young adult experiencing peer pressure.
i.
Are a young adult
experiencing peer pressure.
ii.
Have low self-esteem.
iii.
Experience high level of
stress.
iv.
Live in a family or culture
where alcohol use is common and accepted.
v.
Have a close relative with
alcohol use disorder.
HOW TO PREVENT ALCOHOL USE
DISORDER
You can prevent alcohol use disorder
by limiting your alcohol intake. According to the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism, women shouldn’t drink more than one drink per day and men
shouldn’t drink more than two drinks per day.
See your doctor if you
begin to engage in behaviours that are signs of alcohol use disorder or if you
think that you may have a problem with alcohol. You should also consider
attending a local AA meeting or participating in a self-help program such as
women for sobriety.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of alcohol use
disorder are based on the behaviours and physical outcomes that occurs as a
result of alcohol addiction. People with alcohol use disorder may engage in the
following behaviours;
1. Not eating or eating poorly.
2. Drinking more to feel the effect of alcohol (having a high
tolerance).
3. Making excuses to drink.
4. Giving up important social occupational, recreational activities
because of alcohol use.
5. Being unable to control alcohol intake.
a. Experience the following physical symptoms
6. Withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, including shaking, nause and
vomiting.
7. Alcohol craving.
8. Lapses in memory (blacking out after a night of drinking).
HOW IT IS TREATED
Treatment for alcohol
use disorder varies, but each method is meant to help you stop drinking altogether.
This is called abstinence. Treatment may occur in stages and can include the
following;
a. Medications to help control addiction.
b. Counseling to address emotional problems that may cause you to
drink.
c. Medical treatment for health problems associated with alcohol use
disorder.
OUTLOOK FOR A PERSON WITH
ALCOHOL USE DISORDER
Recovering from alcohol use
disorder is difficult. Your outlook will depend on your ability to stop
drinking. Many people who seek treatment are able to overcome the addiction. A
strong support is helpful for making a complete recovery.
Your outlook will also
depend on the health complications that have developed as a result of drinking.
Alcohol use disorder can severely damage a person liver. It can also lead to
other health complications including;
i.
Bleeding in the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
ii.
Depression/high blood
pressure.
iii.
Damage to brain cells.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE
BODY
Alcohol’s impact on your body
starts from the moment you take your first sip. While an occasional glass of
wine with dinner isn’t a cause for concern, the cumulative effects. A glass a
day may cause little damage to your overall abnormal activation of digestive
enzymes produced by the pancreas. Buildup of these enzymes can lead to
inflammation known as Pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis can
become a long term condition and cause serious complications.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL IN INFLAMMATORY
DAMAGE
The liver is an organ which
helps breakdown and remove harmful substances from your body, including
alcohol. Long term alcohol use interferes with this process. It also increases
your risk for chronic liver inflammation and liver disease. The scaring caused
by this inflammation is known as Cirrhosis. The formation of scar tissue
destroys the liver as the liver becomes increasingly damaged. It has a harder
time removing toxic substance from your body.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL IN THE
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
One of the easiest
ways to understand alcohol’s impact on your body is by understanding how it
affects your central nervous system. Slurred speech is one of the first signs
you’ve had too much to drink. Alcohol can reduce communication between your
brain and body as alcohol causes more damage to your central nervous system you
may experience numbness and tingling sensations in your feet and hands.
Drinking also makes it
difficult for your brain to create long-term memories.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL IN
INDEPENCY
Some people who drink
heavily may develop a physical and emotional dependency on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal
can be difficult can life threatening. You often need professional help to
break an alcohol addiction as a result, many people seek detoxification to get
sober. It’s the safest way to ensure you break the physical addiction.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL IN THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The connection between
alcohol consumption and your digestive system might not seem immediately clear.
The side effects often only appear after there has been damage and the more you
drink, the greater the damage will become. Drinking can damage the tissues in
your digestive tract and prevent your intestines from digesting food and
absorbing nutrients and vitamins. As a result, malnutrition may occur. People
who consume too much alcohol may also be at risk for cancer. People who drink
frequently are more likely to develop cancer in the mouth, throat, esophagus,
colon or liver.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL IN THE
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
You may think drinking
alcohol can lower your inhabitations and help you have more fun in bed. But the
reality is quite different. Men who drink too much are more likely to
experience erectile dysfunction. Heavy drinking can also prevent sex hormone
production and lower your libido.
Women who drink too
much may stop menstruating. That puts them at a greater risk of infertility.
Women who drink heavily during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature
delivery, miscarriage, or still birth. Women who drink alcohol while pregnant
put their unborn child at risk like;
i.
Learning difficulties.
ii.
Physical development
abnormalities.
iii.
Increased emotional problems.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THE
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Drinking heavily
reduces your body’s natural immune system this makes it more difficult for your
body to fight off invading germs and viruses. People who drink heavily over a
long period of time are also more likely to develop pneumonia or tuberculosis
than the general population. About 5 percent of all tuberculosis cases in
Nigeria can be tied to alcohol consumption.
Drinking also
increases your risk for several types of cancer, including mouth, breast, etc.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON OUR
TEETH
People who have alcohol use
disorder tend to have higher plaque levels on their teeth and are three times
as likely to experience permanent tooth loss. Aside from the sugar content,
dark colored soft drinks can stain or discolor the teeth. Remember to rinse
your mouth with water between drinks.
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL IN THE
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Alcohol can affect your heart
and lungs. People who are chronic drinkers of alcohol have a higher risk of
heart-related issues than people who do not drink. Women who drink are more likely
to develop heart diseases than men who drink. Circulatory system complication
include;
1. High blood pressure.
2. Irregular heartbeat.
3. Difficulty pumping blood through the body, stroke, heart attack.
ALCOHOLIC LIVER CIRRHOSIS
The liver is a large organ
with an important job in your body. It filters the blood of toxins, break down
proteins, and creates bile to help the absorb facts. When a person drinks
alcohol heavily over the course of decades, the body starts to replace the
liver’s healthy tissues with scar tissue. This is condition is called alcoholic
liver cirrhosis. As the disease progress and more of your healthy liver tissues
is replaced with scar tissues your liver will stop functioning properly between
10 and 20 percent of heavy drinkers will develop cirrhosis. Alcoholic liver
cirrhosis is the most advanced form of liver disease.
CONCLUSION
Admit drinking is causing the
problems. People drink to forget about problems but alcohol has never resolved
a single problem for anyone. If anything, drinking only makes problems worse
you will feel good when you make changes, many, many people successfully
change.
Seek help and you are
far, far more likely to succeed. If you are a heavy drinker who drinks every
day, you need cut down before stopping, or you need to see your alcohol
specialist about having a detox.
Otherwise, you will suffer withdrawal symptoms, which can be a
dangerous shock to your body. Some people have fits, hallucinations, and
experience extreme anxiety.
Look after yourself; eat as well and healthy as you can. So many
are caused by poor diet.
Set clear and achievable goals, write them down, and use a drinking
diary, keep busy so you do not think about drinking as much.
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Inc., 1989.
Darkeford, John W., Integrity Therapy. Nashville Broadman Press,
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Dinebell, Howard J., Understanding and Counseling the Alcoholic
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Dunn Jerry G., God is for the Alcoholic. Chicago: Moody Press,
1965.
Williams, Roger J. Alcoholism: The Nutritional Approach. Austin
University of Texas Press, 1961.
Mayo Clinic (2015). Alcohol Use Disorder, October 2016.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2016 Alcohol
facts and Statistic, November, 2016.
Mental health America, Alcohol Substance use and Depression,
October, 2018.
Distance Learning Center for Addiction Studies. Chronic Physical
Effects of Alcoholism, November 2016.
US National Library of Medicine (2015) Alcohol Withdrawal, October
2016.