About Alcoholism Information

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Alcoholism has become a considerable problem in industrialized countries throughout the world.  Paradoxically, the more "developed" and technologically advanced a country becomes, the more it appears at risk and susceptible to the societal and personal obstructions that are directly or indirectly caused by alcoholism.

This is indeed perplexing due to the fact that post-industrial nations have known about the negative effects of excessive drinking and alcohol abuse for centuries.

To come to the point, the people of the world need much more relevant alcoholism information if they are to become more informed about and steer clear of the unhealthy, dreadful, and the deadly consequences of alcoholism addiction.

For Most Individuals, Drinking Alcohol Is Pleasurable

For the vast majority of people, drinking alcohol is a pleasant experience.  This is especially the case when people are engaged in recreational and social activities and when their drinking behavior can be considered as "moderate."

Moderate alcohol use can be defined as having up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.  In most instances, moreover, drinking in moderation is not harmful for most adults.

A relatively large number of individuals, however, simply cannot have any alcoholic beverages because of the difficulties they experience when drinking. Since roughly 14 million Americans abuse alcohol or suffer from alcoholism addiction, this group of people who should not or can not drink alcohol is a sizeable and a meaningful amount of people.  Obviously, this kind of alcohol abuse and alcoholism information can not be ignored in a civilized society.

To drive the point home more forcefully, consider the following: according to recent alcoholism addiction research, it has been found that about 53 percent of the adults in the United States have stated that one or more of their close relatives has a drinking problem that requires professional alcoholism help.

Apparently there is a fairly sizeable group of American people who without a doubt have a "drinking problem" and who need access to accurate and helpful alcohol abuse and alcoholism information. 

The Damaging and Destructive Effects of Alcoholism

The consequences of alcoholism are not only pernicious, but are frequently deadly.

For instance, excessive drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, such as cancer of the esophagus, liver, kidneys, throat, larynx, rectum, and the colon. too much drinking can also lead to harm to the fetus while the mother is pregnant, brain damage, cirrhosis of the liver, and immune system problems.

Painfully, it appears that many people are not aware of this kind of information about alcoholism.

Moreover, drinking alcohol increases the risk of death from motor vehicle accidents as well as work-related and recreational and accidents and injuries.  Not only this, but homicides and suicides are more likely to committed by individuals who have been drinking alcohol.

In basic economic terms, alcohol-related issues and difficulties cost the people in the United States around $200 billion per year.  In human terms, the cost of the following alcohol-related issues are, however, impossible to calculate: injuries, failed health, traffic fatalities, broken homes, child abuse, injuries, wife battering, illnesses, and destroyed lives.

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Info and Statistics

Regrettably, the full scope of the deleterious results of alcoholism are not easily comprehended unless relevant statistics are presented.  In short, alcoholism info and alcoholism statistics are the kind of information about alcoholism that makes a real affect on people's awareness.  With this in mind, the following alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics are articulated below:

• Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States.
• In the United States during 2004, 16,694 deaths occurred as a result of alcohol-related motor-vehicle crashes.  This amount was around 39% of all traffic fatalities.  This amounts to one alcohol-related death every 31 minutes.
• Every day in the United States more than 13,000 children and teens take their first drink.
• The 25.9% of underage drinkers who are alcohol abusers and alcohol dependent drink 47.3% of the alcohol that is consumed by all underage drinkers.
• The 9.6% of adult alcoholics drink 25% of the alcohol that is consumed by all adult drinkers.
• American youth who drinking before the of age 15 are four times more likely to become alcoholics than young people who do not drink before the age of 21.
• According to a study undertaken in 2002, at least 762,000 children that are born each year have been exposed to alcohol during the mother's pregnancy.
• 3 million Americans over the age of 60 are alcoholics or have serious drinking obstacles.
  3.1 million Americans, roughly 1.4% of the population 12 and older, received treatment for alcoholism and alcohol-related problems in 1997.
• Every year in the U.S. more than 150,000 college students develop health problem that are alcohol-related.
• Alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse cost the United States an estimated $220 billion in 2005.  This dollar amount was more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) and obesity ($133 billion).
• Every year, 1,400 American college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries, including motor vehicle accidents.
• 66% of the population in the United States consumes alcohol.

Alcoholism Information: The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Many people incorrectly think that alcohol abuse and alcoholism are the same.  In a word, this is incorrect alcoholism information.  More specifically, alcohol abuse, unlike alcoholism, does not include the loss of control due to drinking, an extremely strong desire for alcohol, or physical dependence.

Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that outcomes in one or more of the following situations in a twelve-month time period:

• Drinking in instances that can result in physical injury.  Examples include driving a vehicle or operating machinery.
• Failure to attend to important responsibilities at work, home, or school.
• Continued drinking in spite of ongoing relationship problems that are the result of drinking. 
• Experiencing recurring alcohol-related legal problems.  Examples include getting arrested for damaging someone's property, driving under the influence of alcohol, or for physically hurting someone while drunk.

What is Alcoholism?  What is Alcoholism Addiction?

A Definition of Alcoholism.  Also known as alcohol addiction, alcohol dependence, and alcoholism addiction, alcoholism is a progressive debilitating disease that includes the following symptoms:

• Tolerance: The need to drink increasing amounts of alcohol in order to "feel the buzz" or to "get high."
• Craving: A strong and continuing compulsion or need to drink.
• Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms when a person stops drinking after a period of excessive drinking.  Such symptoms include: anxiety, sweating, nausea, and "the shakes."
• Loss of control: The inability to limit one's drinking over time or on any given occasion.

The Need for Alcoholism Treatment

It is important to point out the following:  if you observe your friends or family members exhibiting any of the above symptoms or behaviors, consider the fact that they may need alcoholism help.  More precisely, they may need to enter into a hospital or a treatment center for alcoholism rehab if they are to recover from their addiction or "drinking problem."

Often, people who are not alcoholic do not fully understand why an alcoholic can't simply use willpower or self-control to stay away from drinking.  In the vast majority of circumstances, however, alcoholism has little to do with willpower, being strong, and fighting the temptations to drink.

In reality, alcoholics are caught in the compelling grip of an uncontrollable need for alcohol that takes precedence over their ability to quit drinking.  Indeed, the need to drink for the alcoholic can be as strong as his or her need for shelter, food, or water.

An Alcoholism Cure?  While there is no known cure for alcoholism, recovery from alcoholism is, fortunately, possible.  While some individuals are able to recover from alcoholism without professional help, according to the research literature, many, if not most, alcoholics need medical treatment or counseling for their addiction.  The good news, however, is this: through rehab, counseling, treatment, and support, many alcoholics are able to refrain from drinking and re-establish their lives.

Alcoholism Videos

We have included some alcoholism videos so that you can see and hear directly from various people about their struggles, experiences, and concerns with this disease.

If you, a family member, or one of your friends has a "drinking problem," seeing what others have gone through and how they attained successful recovery is much more "real" and meaningful than any information you can read about in a book or on a website.

Furthermore, watching these videos may help you empathize with and understand what others with a drinking problem are feeling.  So make sure it a point to take the time and take a look at these excellent videos!

Information About Alcoholism:  Conclusion

Sadly, alcoholism has become a critical problem in the United States AND in other developed countries in the world.  Oddly, the more technologically advanced and "developed" a nation has become, the more it seems exposed to the societal and personal obstructions that are directly or indirectly the consequence of alcoholism.

In summary, the people of the world need better alcoholism information and more relevant information about alcoholism addiction if they are to become more aware of ways to forgo or substantially reduce the dangerous, unhealthy, and at times, the terminal outcomes of alcoholism.

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