| A recent study showed that millions of Americans are | | | | individual is considered addicted to alcohol if they are |
| turning to alcohol and drugs to relieve the discomfort | | | | unable to predict when they will stop, or how much |
| of their stress-filled lives. However, like stress itself, | | | | they will drink, or what the results of their drinking will |
| these "pain-killers" are far from being considered a | | | | be.As a nation we are materially rich and |
| new approach. In our society alcohol is the most widely | | | | technologically brilliant. We are, also, a nation of drug |
| used drug today, but certainly not the only one.For the | | | | users. In homes across America we will find medicine |
| majority of users alcohol seems to be a relatively safe | | | | cabinets with large quantities of drugs both over the |
| relaxant, but not for all. In fact, for that small group who | | | | counter and those prescribed by physicians. The mass |
| cannot control their drinking; the price of alcohol abuse | | | | media will call into action its vast arsenal of resources |
| is enormous. The pain that it may relieves is nothing | | | | to inform the public of the danger of cocaine, heroin, |
| compared to the pain it causes them as they slowly | | | | and crack-cocaine. Yet, the same mass media seems |
| become addicted to alcohol. Sooner or later alcohol will | | | | impotent when it comes to educating the public on the |
| weaken and destroy those components of the self | | | | danger of alcohol abuse. It appears that alcohol, the |
| that give life meaning.No one really knows how long | | | | drug that is used more blatantly than any other drug in |
| man has used alcoholic beverage as part of his social | | | | man's history, is relegated to the back burnerEvery |
| activities, What is known, however, is that booze, or | | | | indicators shows that among our youth, especially |
| alcohol was in use many thousands of years before | | | | college students, the switch is from a variety of |
| the World Health Organization declared alcohol a habit | | | | unfamiliar and esoteric drugs to the drug commonly |
| forming and addicting drug.For example, neolithic man | | | | found in the most respectable and law abiding homes. |
| discovered and used beer and berry wine since about | | | | In this society we use alcohol for a variety of reasons; |
| 6400 BC; There are those who have suggested that | | | | to be sociable, to be accepted, to relax, to gain |
| the use of some form of alcoholic beverage go as far | | | | courage, to improve self-esteem, and yes, to add |
| back as 300 or 400 BC. A by product of honey called | | | | romance to our lives. And, too often, for many of us |
| mead are said to be the oldest of all alcoholic | | | | alcohol is used to escape from depression, fears, |
| beverages known to man. It is further suggested that | | | | anxiety, and other inadequacies real or imagined. it is |
| mead first appeared during the paleolithic age. | | | | for these and other reasons the abuse of alcohol is on |
| Nevertheless, it has been established that beer drinking | | | | the rise.It is estimated that 18.5 million American exhibit |
| by Native-Americans was well on its way when | | | | signs of alcoholism or alcohol dependence. while |
| Columbus reached these shores.Fruits and cereal | | | | another 7.2 million shows persistent patterns of drinking |
| grains are the most common products that are | | | | behaviors associated with impaired health and social |
| fermented to produce alcoholic beverages in this | | | | functioning. A report completed in 2000 indicated that |
| culture. Other cultures commonly use plants as the | | | | alcoholism and alcohol-related problems cost the nation |
| base for fermentation of alcoholic beverages. During | | | | an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, |
| his expedition to Mexico in 1518, Cortez commented | | | | health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle |
| approvingly on the locally distilled beverage called | | | | accidents and other related cost.In America, |
| pulque. Pulque is made from cactus and has an | | | | alcohol-related problem strikes one family in every |
| alcoholic content of about 6%. Mead has an alcoholic | | | | three. Fetal alcohol Syndrome is one of the leading |
| content of approximately 10-12% and is believed to be | | | | causes of birth defects and mental retardation. One |
| presently available in some culture. The traditional rice | | | | third of all hospitalized patients are found to have |
| wine, of the Far East, called sake is well-known to | | | | some form of alcohol-related problem. Alcohol is |
| many Americans, especially servicemen of World War | | | | closely linked to suicide. Among the causes of death in |
| ll. The alcoholic content of sake is said to be from | | | | identified alcoholics, 20% are due to suicide another |
| 12-18%.A nineteenth century Swedish physician is | | | | 22% are alcohol-dependent. A recent study indicated |
| credited with being the first to use the term | | | | that more than half of all inmates convicted of violent |
| "alcoholism" Ancient Romans were the first to | | | | crimes had used alcohol just prior to the |
| recognize the pattern of drinking between those who | | | | offense.Alcoholism is a disease that directly affects |
| drank to excess by choice and those who could not | | | | those close to the alcoholic, especially family members. |
| control their drinking. Several centuries later, the English | | | | Often the affected family members need appropriate |
| language distinguished the difference between | | | | help to recover as well as the alcoholic himself. Most |
| drunkenness and addition to alcohol.In 1784, Dr. | | | | alcoholism treatment programs include a family |
| Benjamin Rush, the founder of American psychiatry | | | | component with referrals to self-help and support |
| and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, | | | | groups. One out of five children in America lived with |
| described habitual drinking as an involuntary condition, a | | | | an alcoholic while growing up. One out of every ten |
| disease caused by "spirituous liquors." However, the | | | | adult in America had been married to or shared a |
| disease concept was eclipsed by the Puritan belief in | | | | close relationship with an alcoholic or problem drinker. |
| America until the failure of prohibition. Shortly before | | | | Women are more exposed more often to alcoholism |
| the repeal of the 18th Amendment, which outlawed the | | | | in the family than men. Women are more likely than |
| sale and manufacture of alcohol, the first edition of the | | | | men to have been in a marriage with an alcoholic.Like |
| American Standard Classified Nomenclature of | | | | other diseases, alcoholism can be overcome with |
| Disease was published. It listed both alcohol addition | | | | proper treatment, prevention, and more research. |
| and alcoholism as an illness. A few years later | | | | Educating the public about the disease of alcoholism is |
| Alcoholic Anonymous was founded and also | | | | the first line of defense. Acute awareness and |
| embraced the disease concept.The National Council on | | | | understanding of the early signs of problem drinking is |
| Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American | | | | vital. Recognizing that alcohol is a drug and it use or |
| Society of Addiction Medicine defined alcoholism in this | | | | abuse includes certain risks are critical to personal |
| manner; Alcoholism is primary a chronic disease with | | | | prevention. Other preventive measures are, avoiding |
| genetic, psychological and environmental factors | | | | high-risk drinking, know your family's history with alcohol, |
| influencing its development and manifestations. The | | | | and know your own history with alcohol use.Dr. William |
| disease is often progressive and fatal. It is | | | | Smith is a psychotherapist and personal consultant |
| characterized by continuous or periodic impaired | | | | with over 30 years experience working with individuals |
| control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug | | | | and groups. Dr. Smith specializes in working with Adult |
| alcohol, and the use of alcohol despite adverse | | | | Children of Alcoholic, Survivors of Incest, Childhood |
| consequences, and distortions in thinking, the most | | | | Sexual Trauma, Rape Survivors, and individuals |
| notably denial.Generally speaking, the individual is | | | | experiencing symptoms of Depression, anxiety, |
| considered an alcoholic when his drinking become | | | | smoking-related symptoms; and Relationship problems. |
| unmanageable and causes trouble in the drinker's | | | | Dr. |
| personal, professional, family, and social life. Also, the | | | | |