| People drink alcoholic beverages to celebrate special | | | | drink heavily on the weekends. This is referred to as |
| occasions with friends or loved ones. They drink to | | | | binge drinking. Other abusers may require several |
| enhance enjoyment of social activities, to complement | | | | drinks at a specific time of the day, such as |
| certain meals, and to participate in religious ceremonies. | | | | immediately after work. Some alcohol abusers try to |
| In broader terms, people often drink to relax and | | | | control the addiction by consuming steady, controlled |
| reduce the stress of daily responsibilities. | | | | doses throughout the day yet never overdrinking. This |
| Despite its association with happiness, alcohol is | | | | is called "maintenance drinking" whereby people learn |
| classified a depressant in the medical community | | | | ways to avoid a sudden drop in their blood alcohol |
| because it slows down the central nervous system. | | | | level. Yet, over time, tolerance to alcohol increases, and |
| Shortly after consuming alcohol, depressed nerves can | | | | the individual has no choice but to increase |
| cause slurring of speech, inferior motor coordination, | | | | consumption in order to achieve intoxication or a blood |
| involuntary eye movements, unsteady walking, and | | | | alcohol level that makes them feel comfortable. |
| impaired attention. Alcohol is lethal in high doses | | | | Regardless of the level of consumption, all of these |
| because it depresses nerve functioning in the brain to | | | | drinking patterns are signs of alcohol abuse and |
| the point where breathing stops and cardiac arrest | | | | perhaps even dependence. To determine if you or |
| ensues. | | | | someone you know is abusing alcohol, there are |
| Contrary to common belief, alcohol dependent people | | | | several standardized screening questionnaires to |
| are not individuals who are continuously intoxicated. | | | | identify the severity of the problem. For instance, there |
| Rather, they depend on drinking to cope with stressful | | | | is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test |
| situations and negative emotions on a consistent basis. | | | | (AUDIT), the CAGE, and the Michigan Alcoholism |
| This is called alcohol abuse. Today an estimated 90 | | | | Screening Test (MAST). Laboratory tests are often |
| million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse, making it | | | | used to screen for alcohol dependence, and they are, |
| the number one health problem today -- both in the | | | | by and large, liver function tests. The MCV, or Mean |
| United States and in more than forty countries around | | | | Corpuscular Volume, measures the size of red blood |
| the world. | | | | cells. For instance, when red blood cells are enlarged, |
| Heavy drinking and public drunkenness are not the only | | | | the causes are generally chronic drinking. |
| signs of alcohol abuse. When you observe someone | | | | The most sensitive liver enzyme test is the GGT, or |
| with a drinking problem, he or she may appear to be | | | | Gamma Glutamyl Transferase, which detects alcoholic |
| fully functional, going to work and living life. Such a | | | | drinking at the earliest stage. In this test, liver enzyme |
| person may seemingly have nothing wrong with them, | | | | levels seem to go up earlier, remain up longer, and |
| and by all measures will appear normal. | | | | come down slower than in other liver function tests. |
| This is typically the case with alcohol-dependent | | | | AST or Aspartate Aminotransferase (formerly |
| individuals. Most fly under the radar, unnoticed. Yet, | | | | SGOT) is also helpful as is the alkaline phosphatase |
| they are everywhere in our society. These people are | | | | test. |
| your family members, close friends, professional | | | | All of these tests can be valuable tools to assess a |
| co-workers, and even spiritual advisors. Perhaps | | | | drinking problem. In conjunction with testing, it is wise to |
| someone close to you right now is abusing alcohol, and | | | | consult with your physician for a complete health |
| you do not even know it. Surprisingly, only a small | | | | assessment. Then, one can determine the precise |
| percentage of problem drinkers are in such an | | | | severity of the problem as it affects one's behavior |
| advanced stage where bystanders can clearly | | | | and health as well as the negative impact it may be |
| recognize their abuse. | | | | having on family members and loved ones. |
| Some who abuse alcohol may not drink all week, yet | | | | |