Alcohol abuse is one of the four most common causes of death in the United States. Alcohol addiction is a complex disease involving long-term, excessive drinking of alcohol, so that stopping suddenly leads to unpleasant symptoms (withdrawal). Alcoholics are physically addicted to and crave alcohol, become tolerant to alcohol’s effects (tolerance), and can relapse. They continue drinking despite serious medical and psychological harm and life disturbances. Over 17 million Americans overuse alcohol, about half being alcoholic (alcohol dependent).
Certain people prone to developing alcohol addiction are more likely to have relatives with alcoholism. They often have other addictions (e.g., to nicotine).
People often deny that they have a problem or try to hide symptoms. Symptoms may be behavioral, physical, or psychological. Behavioral symptoms include being unable to stop drinking after starting, missing work or appointments, hurting themselves or others, and not remembering what was done while drinking. Physical symptoms can be related to long-term alcohol damage and include unsteadiness, nausea, stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, palpitations, blackouts, and jaundice. Psychological symptoms include depression, anxiety, poor sleeping, and forgetfulness.
The health care provider usually diagnoses alcoholism from the medical history showing behaviors that cause work, social, and psychological problems and signs of tolerance and withdrawal. Blood tests may tell whether alcohol affected the blood, kidneys, liver, and general health.
Treatment varies depending on the degree of addiction and how seriously alcohol has affected the body’s organs. Brief treatment, including education about dangers of binge drinking and alcohol poisoning, can help alcohol abusers. Alcohol addiction treatment may include detoxification (stopping drinking), medications, counseling, and self-help group support.
Successful treatment first requires a belief that a problem exists. Treatment often involves following a 12-step recovery plan (Alcoholics Anonymous) that includes abstinence, education, detoxification, and peer support. Help with housing, jobs, other medical problems, and coping skills is important. Detoxification may cause unpleasant symptoms (e.g., tremors, withdrawal seizures, and even delirium [DTs]), but the health care provider can prescribe medicine for withdrawal symptoms. Medicines used for treatment may include benzodiazepines, acamprosate, naltrexone, and disulfiram.
Contact the following sources:
The best place to get additional information about alcoholism is at your local AA central office. In addition, most mental health centers can also give information, or you can check out the following websites:
Copyright © 2016 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc.
Ferri’s Netter Patient Advisor