About Alcholism

Alcoholism is described as a physical dependence on alcohol. Consuming too much alcohol alters certain chemicals in the brain, which inhibits the ability to control impulses. Drinking alcohol also raises levels of dopamine in the body, causing an individual to crave alcohol to achieve a feeling of euphoria. Alcoholics increasingly tolerate consuming greater quantities of alcohol, but eventually lose control over their drinking. Physical dependency, serious health problems, domestic problems and abuse, motor vehicle accidents, and suicide are just a few of the harmful consequences of chronic alcoholism.

Causes

• Studies have suggested a genetic disposition for alcohol abuse. Family history seems to play a role because the children of an alcoholic parent have a greater risk of becoming alcoholics themselves. A study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health has identified genes linked to substance abuse (see References). While previous research indicates that alcohol abuse tends to run in families, this study lends more support to the theory that the disease is hereditary. Culture seems to play a part as well, especially in societies where drinking alcohol is socially acceptable. Stress sometimes leads individuals to drink, and in many cases, depression or low self-esteem have been reported as the reasons for drinking. Abusers of alcohol often suffer from anxiety or other mental disorders, frequently abusing tobacco products and illegal drugs in addition to heavy drinking.

Men and Alcoholism

• Studies show that twice as many men than women are alcoholics. Research also indicates that heavy alcohol use can affect male fertility by impairing production of testosterone (see References). Testicular atrophy is another side effect shown to occur in about 75 percent of male alcoholics, causing impotence and infertility. Reduced levels of certain hormones in the body can reduce sperm count in men who drink too much alcohol. However, more research is needed on the effects of heavy alcohol use during puberty and the early teen years, particularly as related to development of the reproductive organs.

Women and Alcoholism

• Evidence suggests that alcoholism has been on the rise among women in recent decades. Drinking alcohol affects women differently than it does men. U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that women drink no more than one alcoholic beverage a day. Since women typically weigh less than men, a woman's body is exposed to greater concentrations of alcohol before it is metabolized. Women who drink while pregnant can have a child born with birth defects. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can damage the brain of a developing fetus, increasing the chance that the child will have lifelong cognitive problems, including learning disabilities. Another concern is that female alcoholics seem to develop chronic health problems related to alcohol abuse faster than men. However, women generally become alcoholics later in life because they have a tendency to use alcohol as a means to cope with stress.

Teens and Alcoholism

• Considering that adolescent and teen females drink at about the same rate as boys their own age, the consequences of teen alcohol abuse have a number of dangerous implications. Teenage girls who drink are at greater risk of being sexually assaulted or of becoming pregnant as the result of unplanned sex. Teen deaths also occur as the result of drinking and driving. Whether a young person has easy access to alcohol or gives in to peer pressure, the younger a teenager is when he or she begins to drink, the more probable it becomes that the individual will abuse alcohol later in life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of the high school students responding to a survey about alcohol use reported drinking alcohol (see References).

The Elderly and Alcoholism

• Drinking alcohol can have serious adverse reactions if taken in combination with prescribed medications. Like so many other factors, age seems to reduce a person's ability to handle alcohol, causing an older individual to feel the effects of alcohol sooner. Another problem is that health care providers often mistake the symptoms of alcohol abuse in the elderly for other age-related conditions. Therefore, the alcoholism usually goes untreated.

Myths About Alcoholism

• Common myths about alcoholism focus on the alcoholic having no will power; that alcoholism is a choice and not an addiction. The truth is that alcohol alters brain chemistry, affecting the way the brain sends and receives messages. As a result, some people feel compelled to drink. Similarly, alcoholism has serious, long-term consequences and health effects, just the same as the addiction to drugs or nicotine.