Effects of alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse is no less addictive or potentially destructive than addiction to other drugs. It is a nervous system depressant.
Alcohol can initially bring about feelings of euphoria, it is a relaxant
so, in moderation, it can reduce feelings of anxiety and inhibitions, resulting
in increased sociability and confidence. Increased alcohol consumption can
cause slurring of speech, impaired judgment, loss of balance and vomiting.
Alcohol abuse accounts for up to 30,000 deaths a year in Great Britain. Almost 70% of all suicide attempts are linked to heavy drinking. Alcohol is involved in 15% of traffic deaths, 26% of drownings and 39% of deaths in fires.
Street names for alcohol: Booze, sauce, liquor.
Risks of alcohol abuse - top of page
Excessive acute consumption can result in alcohol poisoning, possible coma and death. Long term alcohol abuse can result in many physical and psychological problems ranging from deterioration in family and professional relationships, liver, cardiac and gastric diseases and mental illnesses/psychological problems such as depression. The most serious of the physical implications of chronic alcohol abuse is Korsakoff's syndrome. This is a brain disorder that is usually associated with heavy drinking over a long period. Although it is not strictly speaking a dementia, people with the condition experience loss of short term memory.Addiction / dependency - top of page
Alcohol dependency or alcoholism is the physical and psychological addiction to alcohol. Indicators of addiction may include craving alcohol, an inability to stop drinking and the need for an alcoholic drink in the morning.
Habitual intoxication; prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol such that stopping drinking can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance gradually increases if alcohol is consumed excessively on a regular basis, this will result in more alcoholneeding to be consumed to achieve an intoxicated state. Increased tolerance can be an indication of a developing problem and potential dependency.
Are you suffering the effects of alcohol addiction?
Mild to moderate psychological withdrawal symptoms - top of page
- Feeling of jumpiness or nervousness
- Feeling of shakiness
- Anxiety
- Irritability or easily excited
- Emotional volatility, rapid emotional changes
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Difficulty with thinking clearly
- Bad dreams
Mild to moderate physical withdrawal symptoms - top of page
- Headache - general, pulsating
- Sweating, especially the palms of the hands or the face
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia, sleeping difficulty
- Paleness
- Rapid heart rate (palpitations)
- Eyes, pupils different size (enlarged, dilated pupils)
- Clammy skin
- Tremors
Severe withdrawal symptoms - top of page
- A state of confusion and hallucinations (visual) - known as delirium tremens
- Agitation
- Fever
- Convulsions
- "Black outs" -- when the person forgets what happened during the drinking episode.
When someone who has become "alcohol dependent" decides to stop drinking, they should only do so under medical supervision as they will experience withdrawal symptoms that are potentially dangerous.
"Binge" drinking and heavy alcohol consumption - top of page
Binge drinking and drinking to dangerous levels can result in significant short and long term negative physical, social and emotional problems.
Short term effects can include impaired judgment, clumsiness, acute poisoning (possible coma and death), poor sleep, vomiting, aggression, promiscuity and anxiety.
Long term effects can include loss of appetite, vitamin deficiency, gastric ailments such as stomach ulcers, liver damage, deterioration of relationships, loss of employment and financial difficulties.
Treatment for alcohol dependency
Client's will be given benzodiazepine medication which are very effective at preventing withdrawal symptoms, you will only need these for a limited period and there administration will be supervised by a clinical nurse specialist who will continuously assess you for withdrawals. You may also be given vitamin tablets or injections to help restore depleted stocks of vitamin B1 (Thiamine) a lack of which can result in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
You will also receive medications to help with any specific withdrawal symptoms such as nausea or vomiting.