By

Sarah James

Winter 2003

For many who drink alcohol, it is a pleasant accompaniment to social activities. Moderate drinking or up to 2 drinks a

day for men and 1 drink a day for women, is not harmful to most adults. The problem

comes when alcohol is abused which can lead to serious

problems.

Nearly 14 million Americans-1 in every 13 adults-abuse alcohol or are alcoholics.

Several million more adults engage in risky drinking (binge drinking, heavy drinking etc.) that could lead to alcohol problems.

The Stats…

Young Drinkers Over three million teenagers are out-

and-out alcoholics.  Several million more have a serious drinking problem that they cannot manage on their own. 

The three leading causes for death in 15-24 year olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides and alcohol is a leading factor in all three

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% of High School Seniors That Have Drunk Alcohol at Least Once

31 percent of college students met criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse and 6 percent for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence in the past 12 months, according to questionnaire-based self-reports about their drinking

What is Alcoholism?

Alcoholism: a disease (“alcohol dependence”) that includes four symptoms:

• Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink

• Loss of control: The inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion.

• Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.

• Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to “get high.”

Dependence on alcohol and other drugs is also associated with psychiatric problems such as

depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder or antisocial

personality disorder.

What is Alcohol Abuse?Unlike alcoholism, alcohol abuse does

not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control over drinking, or physical dependence. It is a pattern of drinking that results in one

or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:

Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities

Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery

Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk

Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking

Alcohol Related Accidents

Slows down brain activity affecting alertness, judgment, coordination, and reaction time, increasing chance accidents such as falls, drowning, burns, and fires

The higher the BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) the greater the risk of single-vehicle fatal crash

The BAC limit for most adults who drive after drinking at 0.08 percent but drinking skills are affected at much lower levels

Interaction With Medication:

Mixing medication and alcohol can cause problems such as drowsiness, increasing the chance for accident, serious liver damage, and death

More than 150 medications should not be mixed with alcohol

Alcohol-Related Birth Defects:

• Drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause a variety of birth defects including fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Children with FAS have severe physical, mental, and behavioral problems

• Children exposed to alcohol before birth significantly increases the risk for lifelong learning and behavioral problems

Arguments with or separation from spouse and other family members

Social and Legal Problems

• Loss of employment due to decreased productivity

• Strained relationships with coworkers

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murders rapes childabuse

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Alcohol Plays a Role in _____% of…

Long-Term Health Problems:

Alcohol permanently damages the brain and central nervous system as well as the heart, liver, kidneys, stomach, and pancreas

Significantly increases the risk of cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, larynx, colon, rectum, and breast cancer

• Cause forgetfulness and confusion, which may seem like Alzheimer’s disease

• Women may develop alcohol-related health problems sooner than men, even when they drink less alcohol than men

What Can Be Done?

Prevention such as education of the effects of alcohol, laws and policies against the use of alcohol, identifying alcohol abuse and alcoholism at earlier stages will be the best way to prevent alcohol problems

NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are sponsoring promising research in vital areas

Counseling, therapy, and programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) provide help and recovery for alcohol abusers and alcoholics