The World Health Organization has estimated that as of 2016, there were 380 million people with alcoholism worldwide (5.1% of the population over 15 years of age). One support group is Alcoholics Anonymous. Various forms of individual or group therapy or support groups are used to attempt to keep a person from returning to alcoholism. Mental illness or other addictions may complicate treatment. The medications acamprosate, disulfiram or naltrexone may also be used to help prevent further drinking. These can be taken while admitted to a health care institution or individually. One common method involves the use of benzodiazepine medications, such as diazepam. Due to medical problems that can occur during withdrawal, alcohol cessation should be controlled carefully. Treatment of alcoholism may take several forms. It can be attempted by regulating and limiting the sale of alcohol (particularly to minors), taxing alcohol to increase its cost, and providing education and treatment. Prevention of alcoholism may be attempted by reducing the experience of stress and anxiety in individuals. Further information is then collected to confirm the diagnosis. Questionnaires are usually used to detect possible alcoholism. Medically, alcoholism is considered both a physical and mental illness.

After a person stops drinking alcohol, they may experience a low level of withdrawal lasting for months. People may continue to drink partly to prevent or improve symptoms of withdrawal. High stress levels and anxiety, as well as alcohol's inexpensive cost and easy accessibility, increase the risk. Environmental factors include social, cultural and behavioral influences. Someone with a parent or sibling with an alcohol use disorder is three to four times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder themselves, but only a minority of them do. Stress and associated disorders, including anxiety, are key factors in the development of alcoholism as alcohol consumption can temporarily reduce dysphoria. In a small number of individuals, prolonged, severe alcohol misuse ultimately leads to cognitive impairment and frank dementia.Įnvironment and genetics are two factors in the risk of development of alcoholism, with about half the risk attributed to each. Women are generally more sensitive than men to the harmful effects of alcohol, primarily due to their smaller body weight, lower capacity to metabolize alcohol, and higher proportion of body fat. Drinking during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcoholism can result in mental illness, delirium tremens, Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, irregular heartbeat, an impaired immune response, liver cirrhosis and increased cancer risk. Įxcessive alcohol use can damage all organ systems, but it particularly affects the brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system. Predominant diagnostic classifications are alcohol use disorder ( DSM-5) or alcohol dependence ( ICD-11) these are defined in their respective sources. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word alcoholism, it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Stress, anxiety, inexpensive, easy access Īlcohol cessation typically with benzodiazepines, counselling, acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone ģ80 million / 5.1% adults (2016) Īlcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Mental illness, delirium, Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, irregular heartbeat, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, suicide Psychiatry, clinical psychology, toxicology, addiction medicineĭrinking large amounts of alcohol over a long period, difficulty cutting down, acquiring and drinking alcohol taking up a lot of time, usage resulting in problems, withdrawal occurring when stopping 1915: 'Ah! When will we be rid of alcohol?' Alcohol addiction, alcohol dependence syndrome, alcohol use disorder (AUD) Ī French temperance organisation poster depicting the effects of alcoholism in a family, c.

Drivers ed 2 page paper about alcohol