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ALCOHOLISM.
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Definition, personal & socioeconomic costs, incidence, causes, age, treatment.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Definition, personal & socioeconomic costs, incidence, causes, age, treatment.

Paper Introduction:
Alcoholism is a major problem in the United States because alcoholics endanger themselves and society. Alcoholism follows a characteristic course with known physical, psychological, and social symptoms. Once addicted, the alcoholic continues to consume alcohol despite the destructive consequences. While the particular symptoms and pattern of drinking problems may vary with the individual, the alcoholic can only regain control over his or her life by abstaining from the substance. Alcohol-related problems are not likely to be reduced by strategies involving single interventions directed solely at the individual. Economic, political, social and environmental forces that work together to encourage and perpetuate alcoholism must also be addressed. In America alone there are an estimated ten million active

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. 96). It is a chronicdisorder that typically takes ten to fifteen years to develop. For example, an alcoholicmight abuse liquor, smoking, and drugs simultaneously. Other than at times ofemergency (withdrawal symptoms, problems with the law, accidents, etc.),they rarely seek treatment simply because they have a "drinking problem."When they do seek help it is more often than not with reluctance afterpersistent pressure from a spouse, a colleague or a member of theoccupational health department at work. Dulfano, C. In California, the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programscollects data on indicators of alcohol abuse. Theincidence of alcohol abuse among youth who have already dropped out ofschool is estimated to be much higher. Alcoholics require medical, psychological, and social assistance.This includes the support, esteem, and encouragement of family, friends,colleagues and fellow alcoholics. " (FitzGerald, 1991, p. Some researchers therefore suggestthat certain alcoholics have an inherited physical predisposition toalcohol addiction: "We know that it is transmitted genetically . Nationwide,about 4 percent of all traffic fatalities (the leading cause of accidentaldeath) are alcohol-related (Alcohol Alert, 1994, p. 4). As musician EricClapton states, "The idea of one drink for me is fascinating and fantastic,but it is also an impossibility because one is too many and a thousandisn't enough" (Psychology Today, 1996, p. . Problems relatedto alcohol abuse are obvious and visible in many communities. In Charles Cozicand Karin Swisher (Eds.) Chemical Dependency, pp. A combination of biological, psychological, and cultural factorscontribute to the development of alcoholism in any individual. San Diego:Greenhaven. Drinking threatens America's youth. (1993).Washington: National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcholism. (1994). 15. AnAAF is the estimated proportion of deaths from disease or injury that iscausally linked to alcohol use and abuse. Actual causes ofdeath in the United States. 2. Reduced or lost productivity and premature death accountedfor 71 percent of this cost; medical care for more than 1 percent; andcrime for nearly 6 percent (Alcohol Health, 1993, p. Statewide, in 1992, a totalof 63,563 persons were admitted to alcohol treatment programs. Indicators of alcohol abuse. 22 8). (1993, November 1 ). 88.) Drinking is sociallyacceptable, but teenaged drinking patterns differ markedly from those ofadults; an example is the consumption of beer: " . 88). (1991). However, most medical and social problems aremultifactorial, and alcoholism is no exception. Involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a self-help group isconsidered essential for the recovering alcoholic. SanDiego: Greenhaven. In CharlesCozic and Karin Swisher (Eds.) Chemical Dependency, pp. The regular consumption of large amounts of alcohol (defined as morethan three drinks per day) is undesirable from the standpoint of health formost individuals. 4). It is an enormous public health problem and hasthe potential to shatter the lives of individuals who succumb toalcoholism. Onceaddicted, the alcoholic continues to consume alcohol despite thedestructive consequences. Journal of the American Medical Association,vol. 122).Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death in America, aftertobacco and diet/activity patterns. Alcoholism is a major problem in the United States because alcoholicsendanger themselves and society. These disorders include alcoholpsychoses, alcohol dependent syndrome, non-dependent use, alcohol liverdamage, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol gastritis, and "other" symptoms.Statewide, in 1992, a total of 32,5 5 persons were discharged fromhospitals for alcohol-related disorders, nearly a third of this number(1 ,473) occurred in the city of Los Angeles (Indicators of Alcohol Abuse,1992, p. 88). Young people tend to drink more heavily than the older population,and drinking among teenagers has reached crisis proportions. For instance, although liquor ads are not permitted ontelevision, they proliferate in magazines, newspapers, and billboards. Mencken notes,"I've made it a rule never to drink by daylight and never to refuse a drinkafter dark" (Psychology Today, 1996, p. Or as writer H.L. Driven to drink. (1992). 27 , no. Unlike most adults, kids drink to get drunk" (Heyman, 1996,p. 88.----------------------- 1 In the UnitedStates, alcohol abuse has become the number one killer of teenagers, manyof whom are killed by their own peers: "Nationally, six drunken teendrivers will kill somebody on a typical day" (Olinger, 1991, p. Once analcoholic stops drinking he or she is said to be "recovering," not "cured"of the disease. . SanFrancisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Andlike all inherited traits, it manifests itself where it will, among richand poor, without respect of person, without the volition of parents orchildren . Psychology Today. With that in mind,the concept of "alcohol-attributable fractions" (AAFs) was developed. NEA Today, p. The traditional method of reporting thismortality rate was to tabulate only those deaths in which alcohol was theprimary cause. In Los Angeles, during that same period,9, 9 alcohol-involved accidents resulted in 324 fatalities, 37 percent oftotal accidents (Indicators of Alcohol Abuse, 1992, p. 96-1 . For example, some people maydrink abusively during a personal crisis and then resume normal drinking.To date, researchers have not been successful in developing an acceptableset of criteria to distinguish between those alcohol problems which willabate and those which are likely to accumulate and worsen with the passageof time, leading to alcoholism or alcohol dependence. 15). (1996, September/October). Clearly, alcohol has a negative impact on society, and will continueto do so in the future. 118-122. While the particular symptoms and pattern ofdrinking problems may vary with the individual, the alcoholic can onlyregain control over his or her life by abstaining from the substance.Alcohol-related problems are not likely to be reduced by strategiesinvolving single interventions directed solely at the individual.Economic, political, social and environmental forces that work together toencourage and perpetuate alcoholism must also be addressed. Heyman, R. In California,according to Highway Patrol data, of 31,496 alcohol-involved trafficaccidents, 1,565 resulted in death in 1992. The views of these tworespected writers is representative of America's prevailing attitude towardalcohol use. These views must be changed with public education. In the cityof Los Angeles, 6,8 8 persons were admitted to treatment programs duringthat same period. and Foege, W. Alcoholism follows a characteristiccourse with known physical, psychological, and social symptoms. References Alcohol alert, no. Given the wide divergence ofalcoholism rates from culture to culture, this is certainly plausible.Part of the lack of attention paid to the problem of alcoholism in theUnited States is the cavalier attitude that the media fosters toward thesubject. 25. Social and cultural factors are assumed to play a role inestablishing drinking patterns in alcoholism. Granted, it is possible to abuse alcohol for a short or containedperiod of time without developing alcoholism. The difficulties encountered in helping alcoholics arecompounded by their reluctance to seek assistance. In Los Angeles, 4,16 such deathsoccurred. . All disciplines and influences must beharnessed to help those at risk. Although many teens start drinking because they are rebellious,others are lured by the portrayal of alcohol as absolutely normal by themedia, especially the entertainment industry. It is impossible to estimate the number of non-alcoholics affected by the disease. A great numberof the hallucinations have a persecution theme, the belief that thealcoholic is being chased by demons or other entities with evil intent. Olinger, D. Sosevere are the withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism that some individualsprefer continued alcohol use, at the risk of certain death, rather thanwithdraw. These fatalities accounted for42 percent of total accidents. Consequently, numerous filmand music celebrities drink, often to excess, with some becomingalcoholics, like Melanie Griffith or Bonnie Raitt. kids who drink beerdon't drink it to quench their thirst or to feel good - they drink it toget smashed. Sacramento: State ofCalifornia Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs. The AA twelve-step program combined with strictabstention from all alcohol has been found to be the best way to endaddiction. In the United States, between 1985 to 199 , theeconomic cost of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems rose 4 percent to$98.6 billion. Althoughthere is no conclusive indication of how the alcoholism of family membersis associated, studies show that the majority of all alcoholics have had aclose relative who is an alcoholic. Alcoholism is a disease. 1). 18. Alcohol health & research world, vol. In California, 13,328 alcohol-related deaths (AAFs) occurred in 1992. The syndrome, known as delirium tremens, includesagitation, tremors, hallucinations, and possibly seizures. Heavy and chronic drinking is associated with liverdisease, cardiovascular diseases, pancreatitis, a predisposition toinfectious diseases, an increased risk of cancer, disorders of thereproductive organs, and alcohol-related birth defects. (1991). Alcoholism is a disease with no reliable cure. Accidents account for a substantial portion of all alcohol-relateddeaths, alcohol and driving being a particularly lethal mix. 15). 133). (1992). He or she denies the existence of a drinking problem and becomesfrustrated at the inefficacy of the drugs prescribed. Families, alcoholism, & recovery. McGinnis, J. Thefollowing quote about drinking is attributed to writer William Faulkner, "Aman shouldn't fool with booze until he's fifty; then he's a damn fool if hedoesn't" (Psychology Today, 1996, p. Psychology Today, p. In America alone there are an estimated ten million active alcoholics(Dulfano, 1992, p. FitzGerald, K. The AAF methodology presents amore comprehensive picture of the pervasive impact of alcohol use and abuseon health than the traditional method. In a 1995survey, 3.5 percent of high school seniors said they used alcohol everyday, with 1 to 2 percent drunk every day (Heyman, 1996, p. The State also collects data on the number of hospitaldischarges for alcohol-related disorders. Another health indicator used by public health officials is thenumber of alcohol-related deaths. . The long and windingroad to recovery and renewal. Even when confronted with physicalabnormalities such as failing vision, bouts of vomiting, or muscle cramps,the alcoholic often refuses to associate these symptoms with alcoholintake. The view of AA is thatalcoholics have an inborn trait which predisposes them to lose control overdrinking if their life circumstances bring them into contact with alcohol.Thus a nondrinking alcoholic is still an alcoholic, and if he or sheresumed drinking he or she would continue to experience worsening problemsdue to drinking. 12). Washington: National Institute ofAlcohol Abuse and Alcholism. . (1996, April). The economic costs of alcoholism include the costs ofmedical bills, road accident damage, law enforcement expenses, unemploymentand premature death. Nationally, alcohol contributed to 1 , deaths annually(McGinnis and Foege, 1993, p. 17, no. Once drinking ceases, the onset of an acute withdrawalsyndrome occurs. This number includes the batteredspouses and children of alcoholics, the victims of drunk driving, and theemployers whose alcoholic employees perform their work tasks withdiminished capacity.

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