Drugs and Alcohol Abuse Info

Alcohol abuse can be a tricky term to use, considering that ‘abuse’ can have different meanings to different people. However, it is often understood as referring to the excessive use of alcohol, and causing problems or negative consequences. While it may not automatically mean addiction to alcohol, alcohol abuse remains as one of the topmost public health concerns facing our society today and is in fact, the most common substance that often causes chemical dependencey.

Is it alcohol abuse or alcoholism?

Can you have an alcohol problem is still not be labeled as an alcoholic? Some experts say yes, alcohol abuse can occur without a person actually becoming an alcoholic. In alcohol abuse, the intake of alcohol can occur often and in big quantities but may not often result to alcohol dependency.

Alcoholism, on the other hand, is characterized by physical and psychological dependence, the lack of control over the frequency and amount of drinking, along with the strong craving to drink. Alcoholism is also marked with tolerance, a state where the amount of alcohol needed by the body to get the feeling of ‘high’ continually increases. Alcoholism is also chronic and may exhibit certain withdrawal symptoms.

Can alcohol abuse be inherited?

There are certain research studies that show the tendency of alcoholism or alcohol abuse to occur in families. It seems that a gene exists that predisposes an individual toward addiction to substances such as alcohol. However, this is not always the case. While certain genes may be to blame for alcohol abuse, lifestyle and the environment are also strong contributing factors.

Is there a specific group of people who are more likely to develop alcohol abuse?

Alcohol abuse does not depend on sex, race or nationality. However, certain generalities exist. More men, for example, have alcohol problems than women. There is also a higher incidence of alcohol abuse among people between 18 to 29 years old compared to people 60 years old and older.

Young people who start drinking alcohol earlier, say, at 13 or 14 years old, are more likely to develop alcohol problems when they get older, compared to people who start drinking when they are already adults.

Is there such thing as safe drinking?

Alcohol isn’t all bad, provided it is taken in moderate amounts. By moderate, we mean 1 to 2 drinks a day for men and less for women and people who are older. This type of alcohol drinking is possible if you do not have the proclivity toward addiction.

People taking medication or have certain diseases, for example, are advised to stay away from alcoholic drinks. For informational purposes one serving of alcoholic drink should consist of:

1.5 oz. of 80-proof drinks (few people measure with tis accuracy)

5.0 oz of wine

12 oz. of beer, wine coolers and mixed spirits

Is there a cure for alcoholism and alcohol abuse?

There is no magic pill, drug, cream or ointment that will cure alcohol abuse. However, it can be treated, although the efficacy of treatments is highly dependent upon an individual’s willingness to avoid or control alcohol intake and the frequency of exposure to circumstances that lead to alcohol use.

Chronic alcohol abuse symptoms can show early signs of real potential health problems such as loss of muscle tissue, loss of memory, and loss of testosterone, just to name a few.

Alcohol also affects every cell within your body, and if this condition stays chronic, it will start to kill cells, and once a cell is dead, it stays dead.

Alcohol is a toxin and will travel through your bloodstream into every organ and cell in your body. Liquid vitamins and minerals, because of their superior absorption into our systems can be a very strong asset to someone that consumes too much alcohol.

Alcohol is the most abused drug by the world as a whole, but other drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine can affect the desired results of vitamins, but by far and way alcohol is the largest nutritional threat to the majority of people.

Chronic alcohol abuse prevents the absorption of vitamins and is often associated with a poor, and in some cases, a very poor diet. Your body needs vitamins and minerals to function normally, and they must be in the correct balance to do so.

Dehydration that is often caused by chronic alcohol abuse will interfere with the narrow limits of each ion in our body, such as calcium, sodium, and potassium.

A reduction in these ions by abuse can and often does lead to excess thirst which may lead to muscle cramps, as well as the potential for sudden dizziness or fainting spells.

If you are prone to getting cramps, especially in the middle of the night, you might want to revisit your alcohol intake.

Although the loss of vitamin B12 is the deficiency most associated with chronic alcohol abuse symptoms, there are several other critical vitamins and minerals that are affected by abuse of this drug.

Folic acid is a nutrient that helps your body to make new cells, including red blood cells, which are critical for carrying oxygen in your body. Vitamin B12 helps to maintain the red blood cells as well as the nerve cells, but folic acid is also a major contributor.

Also at risk with a loss of this nutrient because of chronic alcohol abuse symptoms is folic acid deficiency anemia, a condition where you don’t have enough red blood cells. Most people will be affected by this condition simply because they don’t eat enough of the proper foods that contain folic acid, or you have a hard time in absorbing it.

Pregnancy also puts you at a risk of this deficiency, and chronic abuse of alcohol during pregnancy can severely place the fetus at risk of birth defects.

Thiamin or Vitamin B1 is also a nutrient that is threatened by alcohol abuse. This nutrient is especially important in the metabolism of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, as well as the formation of hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is especially important to our bodies as it is a protein that is carried by red blood cells and delivers oxygen from the lungs and delivers it to peripheral tissues.

This delivery system by your body allows for the maintenance of cell viability. Alcohol abuse destroys this process, thus the killing of your cells.

Zinc is yet another nutrient severely affected by chronic alcohol abuse symptoms. Although your body does not require a lot of zinc, next to iron, it is the most plentiful of all the trace elements in your body.

It has been utilized throughout history for wound healing but also plays critical roles in the immune and reproduction systems, and is important to growth, taste, vision, smell, and blood clotting. However, perhaps the most important function of zinc in our bodies is its role in the metabolic process that produces energy.

A loss of this nutrient reduces endurance, and in chronic situations, muscle mass as well. This is one of the major reasons people that have drank too much feel so tired the next day.

But the damages to your body do not just end there with chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol in your body also reduces testosterone which is critical for development and recovery of muscle.

This toxic drug also slows your body’s ability to heal itself.

Alcohol holds very little nutritional value, but it works very effectively in reducing the nutrients in your body, especially if abused. In fact, because of its high calorie content, the body treats it as fat, and as a result it breaks down the sugars in alcohol into fatty acids.

However, chronic alcohol abuse symptoms does more than just destroy nutrients in your body; it affects your appearance as well.

Alcohol can affect your skin, (loss of vitamin A) especially if you are prone to acne or blemishes; it can age you prematurely, dries up your hair, cracks your lips, and will also give your skin a puffy appearance.

It also affects your brain, as it deprives your brain of water cells and glucose, the brain’s food supply. It can also lead to blackouts, diminished memory, stupors, and in severe cases, comas.

Chronic alcohol abuse also causes increased stomach acid production which may lead to heartburn or even ulcers. However, because of the livers role in breaking down alcohol, it is the most effected organ in the body.

Chronic conditions will destroy liver cells which normally are in the state of constant rebuilding, can cause fat accumulation around the liver, and may eventually cause cirrhosis of the liver, which is fatal.

The list of damages to you body by chronic alcoholism alcohol abuse symptoms could go on and on, but maintaining the supply of vitamins and minerals in your body effectively is extremely important if you choose to drink alcohol regularly.

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There are some alcohol abuse symptoms that we should all know about and be on the lookout for, both in ourselves and in loved ones.  Alcohol use and abuse is increasingly common these days and poses a serious risk if it is not dealt with in a timely manner.  Of course, not all alcohol use leads to abuse.  Many people drink in moderation and it is not a problem.  But we should be aware of some alcohol abuse symptoms so that we can recognize them if we see them in ourselves or those we care about and take action when needed.

Some physical symptoms of alcohol abuse to watch out for include:

Developing tolerance- it takes more and more alcohol to get the same effects Withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop drinking, like shaking, sweating, nausea, and vomiting Things like slurred speech, dizziness, or clumsiness while intoxicated Having blackouts while drinking Loss of weight Stomach problems, either pain and/or an upset stomach Redness of the face Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

Some mental alcohol abuse symptoms to watch out for include:

Can’t control drinking- “just one” always leads to one more Engaging in dangerous behaviors while drinking, like driving drunk Avoiding activities that don’t involve alcohol Withdrawing from family and friends Increased irritability Being overly emotional or weepy Difficult sleeping or sleeping too much Missing work or school frequently

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Of course there is a difference between alcohol use and abuse, but it can be a fine line.  In general, if alcohol use is causing problems in a person’s daily life, it may be abuse.  In addition to being on the lookout for the alcohol abuse symptoms listed above, just ask yourself if your drinking is causing problems in your life.  Is it causing problems in your relationships?  Is it making it hard for you to be productive at work or school?  Is it causing you to feel physically ill?  Are you worried about your drinking?  If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you might have an alcohol abuse problem.

If you recognize some alcohol abuse symptoms in yourself, seek help.  You can attend an AA meeting, or you can find a counselor that deals with substance abuse issues.  You might actually want to try both of those things.  Group self-help meetings like AA can be very helpful, but some individual counseling will give you the opportunity to explore your alcohol use and abuse a bit further.

If you recognize symptoms of alcohol abuse in someone you care about, encourage them to seek help.  You should understand, though, that you can’t make someone else stop drinking and you can’t make them get help.  They have to decide to do that on their own.  If they are willing to get help, you can help them find a local AA meeting or a counselor to see.  You could even attend an AA meeting with them (just make sure it is an “open” meeting first; “closed” meetings are for alcoholics only, so you can’t attend with them unless you are an alcoholic, too).

If you are dealing with a loved one who has an alcohol abuse problem, you might also want to check out Al-Anon.  It’s a self-help group for family members and friends of alcoholics.  They can help you deal with your own feelings while you deal with your loved one’s problem.