Alcohol has been consumed for thousands of years by almost all civilizations. Americans have been drinking alcohol since the country was founded and in moderation, it can be a relaxing beverage. Many people come home from a hard day of work and unbind with a drink. How do you know, though, when that relaxing drink has taken over your life? How do you know when you become depend on it? Alcohol abuse in America is becoming a serious problem. Many people used to believe that alcohol abuse was a characteristic of a weak person, but now it is known that it is really a serious disease that has a chance of affecting us all.
Statistics on Alcohol Abuse
A surprising statistic is that 1 in 13 adults is affected by alcohol abuse. The online health guide, WebMD reported that in the United States alone, 12 to 14 millions adults abuse the substance and each year, around 100,000 adults will die from alcohol abuse. It has also been proven that alcohol abuse is a large factor in most of the country’s car accidents, suicides and homicides. It also affects many other things in daily life, including increased rates of job absenteeism, and increases reports of domestic violence and child abuse.
What are the Signs of Alcohol Abuse?
Occasional drinks at home or with friends does not mean that you have a problem with drinking. In women, a key indication that there is alcohol abuse is if you consume more than seven drinks a week and more than three in a social situation. In men, the rate of consumption would have to equal more than 14 drinks per week or access of four drinks while with friends. Recognizing the signs in the elderly and in teenagers is often more difficult. Other signs include alcohol cravings, a loss of control when drinking, which leads to the person unable to stop drinking. Tolerances built up to alcohol can be another sign of alcohol abuse, as well as physical dependence on it, such as nausea, sweating and headaches if no alcohol is consumed. Scientists are discovering that many factors are involved with drinking, such as family history of drinking, family genetics toward drinking, stress levels, and social and environmental factors.
Alcohol abuse is a very serious disease that is escalating in America. This is a treatable disease, but not curable and it can affect anyone. Many factors make people more susceptible to it than others. Many people drink and enjoy themselves, but in moderation. Please listen to Budweiser and “drink responsibly” and alcohol abuse can be avoided.
There are a number of tests and tools used to identify possible alcoholism symptoms. Many of these tools are self-administered or professionally administered questionnaires. These are designed to help the alcohol abuser identify his or her own symptoms of addiction.
There are five major tests used by addiction counselors and alcohol abuse programs. These include the CAGE questionnaire, the Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Paddington Alcohol Test. To learn more about each one, keep reading.
The CAGE
The CAGE Questionnaire is an acronym based on the four simple questions that it uses. It is a popular test because it’s simple and often takes seconds to administer. To identify or diagnose addiction, a respondent must answer “yes” to two of the following questions. Have you ever thought you should cut down on drinking? Have your family and friends ever addressed or criticized your drinking? Do you feel guilty about your drinking? Do you ever need a drink to start your day or to alleviate a hangover?
The person is then initially diagnosed with alcoholism if answering “yes” to two or more of the above questions. It’s designed specifically for alcoholism and […]
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September 2008 - The destruction and pervasive effects of alcoholism are almost impossible to comprehend, unless you are directly confronted by them. Recent studies, surveys and relevant statistics regarding the extended use of alcohol consumption, have detailed the dangerous effects of alcohol abuse on the human body quite overtly. Researchers at the University of Chicago recently presented one of the largest studies of its kind, and found that women who drink alcohol increase their risk for breast cancer. Alcohol has a negative influence on estrogen and progesterone receptors, which are both found in most breast cancer tumors.
Abusing alcohol, and other substances for that matter, can lead to insurmountable problems unless a fully customized alcohol rehab program can be initiated. Alcoholism not only affects the abuser0s mental and physical condition, but also his or her immediate environment. Addictions affect everyone, including the addict0s family, friends and co-workers; in some cases even strangers, who can be hurt, or even killed if an individual, under the influence of alcohol, causes a fatal accident.
Cliffside Malibu, an elite Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment Center, is located north of Zuma Beach, California. Overlooking the warm, and sandy beaches of the Pacific coastline, the exquisite beachfront property […]
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