Alcohol Abuse

What is Alcohol Abuse? Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that involves one or more of the following problems within a one-year period: * Failure to carry out major responsibilities at work, school, or home; * Drinking in physically dangerous situations, such as while driving; * Legal problems related to using alcohol; and * Continued drinking despite ongoing problems in relationships with other people that are related to alcohol use.

Health Continuing to drink even though you have health problems that are affected or caused by your drinking Financial issues Paying bills late; collection agencies calling Inability to keep track of your money Risky behavior Putting yourself or others in danger Family and friends Feeling annoyed when other people comment on, or criticize your drinking habits Social life Scheduling your day around drinking Focusing recreational activities around obtaining alcohol, drinking or recovering from alcohol use Few Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Behaviorally, alcohol consumption is related to internal or external feedback. Internal feedback is the internal state a person experiences during and after alcohol consumption. External feedback is made up of the cues that other people send the person when he or she drinks. Biologically, repeated use of alcohol can impair the brain levels of a "pleasure" neurotransmitter called dopamine. Genetic studies have isolated a gene that causes alcohol dependence and that is usually transmitted from affected fathers to sons. What Causes Alcohol Abuse?

What Are the Treatments? Medications—disulfiram (Antabuse®), naltrexone (Depade®, ReVia®), and acamprosate (Campral®)— are currently approved to treat alcohol dependence. Nutrition and diet are treatments for alcohol abuse. Poor nutrition goes with heavy drinking. Alcoholics are often deficient invitamins A, B complex and C; folic acid; carnitine; magnesium, selenium, and zinc Non-drug treatment discussion of the adverse effects of alcohol consumption, comparison to national drinking norms, specific recommended drinking limits, prescription to "cut down on drinking," patient education material from the NIAAA,

Substance-related disorders are disorders of intoxication, dependence, abuse, and substance withdrawal caused by various substances, both legal and illegal. These substances include: *alcohol *amphetamines *caffeine *inhalants *nicotine *opioids (morphine, heroin) marijuana (cannabis) *cocaine *hallucinogens *and phencyclidine (PCP). All of the substances listed above, with the exceptions of nicotine and caffeine, have disorders of two types: substance use disorders and substance-induced disorders.

Facts About Alcohol Use And Abuse * Almost 14 million Americans (1 in 13 adults) have problems with drinking alcohol. About 8 million of these people are alcoholic. *About 50 percent of American adults have been affected by alcohol abuse or dependence in their family. *Alcohol abuse and dependence occurs about two to three times more often in males than females. *First experiences with getting drunk often occur in adolescence. The earlier people start drinking heavily, the higher the chance they will develop serious medical problems later. *Alcohol abuse and dependence can occur in all racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, but some groups are at higher risk than others.