Alcoholism

The term alcoholism has been used for hundreds of years, and has been given multiple and conflicting definitions.  The historic use of the term describes it as a condition resulting in the ongoing consumption of alcoholic beverages.  While doing this, the individual has no recognition of negative social consequences, and does not pay attention to potential health problems.  The modern medical definition shows that alcoholism is a disease, and the potential addiction develops due to the consistent use of alcohol despite all the consequences involved.  Ever since the 19th and 20th centuries, the term alcoholism has typically been defined as a compulsion to drink to the point where that individual’s abilities have been impaired, and/or negative consequences have been neglected.  Throughout all of the different definitions developed over the years, there has never really been any mention of long term effects, due to excessive and continual alcohol use.  As well with this, there is no mention of the potential life threatening withdraw symptoms because of heavy alcohol use.

No matter what definition you look at, alcoholism is a very real and serious problem.  Alcoholism will develop numerous physical and psychological effects such as:  cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, dementia, anxiety, depression, and psychosis, and these are only some of the physical and psychological symptoms.  The long-term use of alcohol only increases the intensity of these effects, and will cause other problems such as, the loss of family, friends, and loved ones.  The risk of suicide increases drastically, leading to further deterioration of the individual’s mental health.

When a heavy user of alcohol makes any attempt to stop drinking, they will experience dangerous and potentially life threatening withdraw symptoms.  The common symptoms experienced are, dangerous seizures, delirium tremors, anxiety, hallucinations, and potential heart failure, leading to death.  In these severe cases, where the individual is an extremely heavy user of alcohol, they will typically attend a medical detox. Medical detoxes are designed to medically withdraw a person of alcohol safely, and prevent these symptoms from occurring.

The development of alcoholism doesn’t happen over night.  There have been numerous studies taking into account many different factors such as:  quantity, frequency, regularity, etc.  Other studies have talked about genetic and biological factors, and have also looked at certain risk factors as, social environment, stress, emotional health, age and gender.  Either way, the solution to handle alcoholism is attending an in-depth rehabilitation program.  That is the only real way alcoholism can be overcome, and it is also the best starting point to handle the problem.