| Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, and potentially | | | | problems. Alcoholics may become less productive at |
| fatal disease. Once it has developed, the victim loses | | | | work and may eventually lose their jobs. Marriages |
| control over his or her drinking habits, and family and | | | | may not endure the strain, and children may suffer |
| social relationships are greatly disrupted. The cause of | | | | emotionally and sometimes physically from a parent |
| alcoholism seems to be the interaction between a | | | | who is an alcoholic. An alcoholic abuser may feel a |
| possible hereditary predisposition, the effects of ethyl | | | | general sense of loss of control over his or her life. |
| alcohol (the basic ingredient in alcoholic drinks), and the | | | | Question: What about alcoholism treatment programs? |
| use of alcohol as means of coping with life. There are | | | | In the past, one of the barriers to successful treatment |
| over 10 million Americans who suffer from alcoholism. | | | | of alcoholics was the social stigma attached to the |
| Approximately 55 million family members and friends | | | | disease. People were not only reluctant to admit they |
| are directly affected by these people. Many health | | | | had an alcohol problem, they were even less likely to |
| professionals now consider alcoholism to be the | | | | risk social embarrassment by seeking help. In recent |
| largest single medical problem in the U.S. | | | | years the social stigma has greatly relaxed due in |
| Question: What are some of the danger signs of | | | | large part to the realization by many Americans that |
| alcoholism? | | | | alcoholism is a disease like any other, afflicting millions |
| There may be few outward signs during the early | | | | of people of all ages and all walks of life. |
| stages of alcoholism. The victim may be able to | | | | Today, many new and innovative treatment |
| function fairly normally. Some personality changes may | | | | techniques are being used to counteract alcoholism. |
| be apparent, for example, increasing conflict with family | | | | Some alcoholics may benefit from outpatient or |
| members and an inability to handle stress. Another | | | | inpatient treatment programs. Occasionally, alcoholics |
| early symptom is an increase in the amount of alcohol | | | | may benefit from pharmacological intervention to treat |
| a person needs to drink in order to get the same | | | | depression or help maintain sobriety. Medical |
| effect a lesser amount produced in the past. The | | | | supervision is usually advisable to treat coincidental |
| alcoholic may also experience lapses in memory | | | | medical problems. Advancements in biochemistry are |
| ("blackouts") and a feeling that a drinking pattern is | | | | being applied to treat patients through nutritional |
| getting out of control. | | | | therapy. This means that vitamins can be used to |
| In the final stages of alcoholism, the victim, while rarely | | | | repair the liver and other damaged body parts. |
| deriving pleasure from alcohol, is unable to go for very | | | | Experimental research is underway to try and |
| long without a drink. One of the prime symptoms of | | | | diagnose early stage alcoholism, and work in being |
| alcoholism, and the symptom that makes the disease | | | | done to unlock the key to hereditary predisposition to |
| so hard to treat, is denial. The alcoholic is unlikely to | | | | alcoholism. |
| admit, either to himself or herself or to others, that a | | | | Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), has been instrumental in |
| problem with alcohol exists. The chronic drinker will | | | | providing the long-term, therapeutic treatment |
| probably attribute alcohol-related problems to some | | | | recognized as vital in rehabilitating alcoholics. A.A. is an |
| other cause. Family members and friends may also | | | | international fellowship of alcoholics and recovered |
| deny the problem by looking the other way when | | | | alcoholics that meets regularly to provide support to |
| destructive behavior is exhibited. This denial can lead to | | | | members and to share experiences with alcohol. A.A. |
| a worsening, physical and mental condition. | | | | facilities are listed in local telephone directories, as are |
| Question: What are some of the problems associated | | | | numerous self-help support groups that have been set |
| with alcoholism? | | | | up to help family members of alcoholics. |
| Alcoholism is physically destructive, giving rise to many | | | | Educational programs are seen by many as crucial to |
| other forms of disease, for example, cancer of the | | | | any satisfactory solution to the problem of alcoholism. |
| liver, esophagus, colon, stomach, and breast. Chronic | | | | Many schools and community organizations have set |
| alcohol abuse can also lead to hypertension, stroke, | | | | up programs to alert people (especially young people) |
| heart attack, and brain damage. Pancreas and kidney | | | | to the dangers of alcohol. Legal remedies, like the |
| disease, along with a host of other physical | | | | raising of the drinking age to 21 and the increased |
| disorders-hepatitis, cirrhosis, esophageal bleeding, blood | | | | enforcement of drunk-driving laws, have also been |
| disorders-may also result from alcoholism. | | | | undertaken in an attempt to limit access to alcohol. |
| Alcoholism can also trigger a host of personal | | | | |