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Alcoholism Cause Effects
Alcoholism Cause Effects: Causes of Alcoholism Why can one person drink and never have to worry about developing the disease called alcoholism, while another person is in jeopardy by merely taking one sip, what causes Alcohol Addiction in one person and not another? Like the onset of many other diseases, Alcohol Addiction may afflict one person and not another because of individual factors or circumstances. Alcohol is brain altering Other causes of Alcohol Addiction are alcohol alters the balance of some brain chemicals. For example, gamma-aninobutyric acid (GABA) controls impulsive actions, but under the influence of alcohol, that function is decreased. Another chemical is glutamate which stimulates the central nervous system. Alcohol alters the levels of dopamine, which contributes to the pleasurable “click” that people with the disease experience when taking the first drink. As the brain chemistry is changes, the body begins to crave alcohol, thus more and more drug is needed to “feel good.” This is another of the causes of alcoholism. Trying to feel good People naturally want to feel good, and when something makes you feel good, such as taking a drink, it’s understandable you will want to repeat the experience. That “click” is the first warning sign of potential problems. The disease progresses as alcohol changes brain chemistry. When brain chemicals are increased or decreased, the body craves more and more alcohol that’s why a person can become addicted at any age. The body “needs” the alcohol to feel good. Alcohol Addiction has set in. What risk factors are causes of alcoholism Alcoholism Cause Effects: There are several possible causes of Alcohol Addiction and risk factors for the disease. The individual is the determining factor when assessing risk of contracting the disease. One or more of these causes/risk factors can indicate the presence of alcohol abuse or addiction. Alcoholism Cause Effects: Genetic: If your parents or grandparents were addicted to alcohol, the chances are strong that you will be vulnerable to the disease. Healthcare professionals will take a family history to look for risk factors for many diseases. Alcohol Addiction is no different. Children of alcoholics will not necessarily become alcoholics themselves, but the medical history indicates a possibility. Alcoholism Cause Effects: Emotional Makeup: People may use alcohol to block the pain in the life. Alcohol is used as a coping device and there are certain stress hormones that may contribute to the progression of the disease. Alcoholism Cause Effects: Psychological: People suffering from depression or low self esteem may be more likely to develop a drinking problem. They are more likely to try to “fit in” with their friends, who “enable” the problem to continue. Alcoholism Cause Effects: Social: Alcohol is legal, readily available and drinking is socially acceptable. Alcohol is promoted heavily in the media, and having a few beers before, during and after a sporting event is part of American culture. There is a peer pressure to drink, to be a part of the crowd. Alcoholism Cause Effects: Frequency: Drinking alcohol regularly can cause alcoholism. People who drink regularly over time may be at risk of developing a physical dependence on alcohol. If studies show that one/two drinks per day for the average person (15 per week for men, 12 per week for women) is within safe limits, then it follows that going beyond that limit can produce problems. Alcoholism Cause Effects: Age: Young people are at greater risk of developing alcoholism, especially if they start drinking by age 16 or sooner. Alcoholism Cause Effects: Gender: Men are more likely to develop the disease than women. If a person has risk factors at play, that does not mean they are automatically going to develop the disease; it’s not necessarily a causes of alcoholism. It’s possible, likewise, for a person with no risk factors at all, no family history, to develop the disease. It’s important for people to know the risk factors and the causes of the disease to avoid getting into trouble with alcohol. It can’t happen to me! Another common mistake people make is assuming “it won’t happen to me.” In a society that glorifies alcohol consumption, from beers at sporting events, to fine wines at upscale establishments, the risk factors are obvious. Two martini lunches and bourbon on the rocks after office hours are indicators that Americans embrace alcohol use. Alcohol is everywhere. Education is important, to understand how the disease progresses, how it can be managed or avoided, and how it impacts our society in general. Not everybody who drinks develops the disease, but it’s important to understand that it’s possible and that moderation is a key element in maintaining a healthy balance and avoiding alcohol addiction and dependence. If there are risk factors present, if a person begins to use alcohol more frequently, or daily, then there may be a problem. (See signs and symptoms.) LINK Everywhere in our culture Because alcohol is so prevalent in our society, because it’s so widely accepted if not embraced, it’s difficult to see when a person is slipping from social drinking into something more problematic. The individual who is on the downward slide is not likely to recognize any of the signs and therefore needs others to intercede.
It’s everybody’s problem. An addict might say: “I’m not hurting anybody. I’m only hurting myself.” However, we can quickly see that the statement is false, because there is no such thing as an addict who is only hurting him/herself. This problem is found everywhere, from the rich and privileged, to the lost members of society. If you drink too much for your body to handle you will likely become and alcoholic… end of story! For over 30 years the United States government has had its “War on drugs and alcohol,” but in that time frame we have seen in increase in crime, increase in healthcare costs and an alarming increase in the use of dangerous drugs and alcohol such as cocaine, heroin, crack and methamphetamine.  The “War on drugs and alcohol” has also brought on new research, a greater number of treatment facilities, new and sometimes controversial theories on treatment, advances in drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction medications, but are we winning? The effects of drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction are far reaching and can be seen in the home, on the job, in churches and in schools. This section contains some topic areas. To get to more detailed information, just click the headline and that will link you to the next page. br> Alcoholism Cause Effects: What are the Effects of Alcoholism on health? If left unchecked, the drug is going to win. Drug abuse and Alcohol Addiction is a disease of the brain, and the drugs and alcohol change brain chemistry, which results in a change in behavior. Aside from the obvious behavioral consequences of addiction and alcoholism, the negative effects on a person’s health are potentially devastating. While addicts use drugs and alcohol to “feel better,” the unintended consequences include but are not limited to overdose, HIV/AIDS, stroke, cardiovascular disease and a host of related maladies. To understand this better you may want to read "Get Sick to Feel Better" a story of the negative Effects of Alcoholism...Darci's story of the Effects of Alcoholism on her life! Depression is also an effect of addiction and alcoholism; To learn more about Effects of Alcoholism -- Depression click here.
One of the saddest aspects of the insidious nature of drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction is that by the time an addict realizes he/she has a problem, that problem has already taken a heavy toll on the family. Parents in treatment centers tell counselors and therapists that they want to “get their kids back,” as drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction has taken over to the point where the courts have been forced to remove the children from the home. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, and sadly children are all impacted. Families can be sources of strength and support, or they can passively enable the addiction and Alcohol Addiction to advance. Families can share in the victory over drug addiction and alcoholism, or they can be the victims of it. What are the Effects of Alcoholism on society? The National Library of Medicine estimates that some 20% of all people in the United States have used prescription medication for non-medical purposes. We’re not talking about cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine use, but doctor-prescribed medication. You can easily see that if you group the two together, illegal drug use and prescription drug misuse, we have a huge problem. What are the Effects of Alcoholism on the Law? The news media reports daily struggles with theft, drive-by shootings, drug busts, illegal trafficking and manufacturing of drugs and alcohol, and arrests for crimes ranging from child neglect to murder. Look closer and chances are great that you will uncover a drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction component to any of these stories. What are the Effects of Alcoholism on the economy? Beyond the personal health issues, beyond the devastating effect on families, beyond community crime statistics, drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction has a major impact on the American economy. The National Institute on Drug abuse and Alcohol Addiction reported that some $67 billion per year is the impact that drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction has on this country. This total includes the cost of law enforcement, incarceration, treatments, traffic injuries, lost time in the workplace, etc. Drug addiction and Alcohol Addiction causes impaired reasoning, and therefore the crime rate is dramatically impacted by drug use. Addicts have a much higher likelihood of committing crimes than others. Put some of the factors together-- the alcohol-related deaths on our streets and highways, the abuse of the healthcare system by addicts showing up at Emergency Rooms looking for drugs and alcohol, the absenteeism on the job and the serious risk of HIV infection for those using needles, and you can quickly realize this problem is enormous. We encourage you to examine these risk factors and causes of Alcohol Addiction to see if there is a problem in your life, or with someone you love, or someone you know. If there is, please seek the help of an alcohol treatment professional. For more Causes of Alcohol Addiction click for Intervention HOW TO USE THIS SITE:This site contains five MAIN pages that EVERYONE should read: RECOVERY… Yourself... Your Family... Your Friends... Your Community... The rest of the pages are there for your reference to explain important topics in more detail.
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