For a number of years alcohol dependency exploration has demonstrated the fact that there is strong relationship between alcohol addiction and life-threatening health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.
As an illustration, in 2005, scientific exploration and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics demonstrated the fact that that alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion annually. It can be stressed that this gigantic alcohol-related cash disbursement was substantially more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is pertinent to give emphasis to these facts, it is also important to emphasize the point that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health issues.
More precisely, chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism are also highly interrelated with obesity and with cancer.
Indeed, substance abuse investigation has demonstrated the fact that alcoholism can increase the risk for different kinds of cancer, especially cancer of the kidneys, rectum, colon, voice box (larynx), esophagus, throat, and the liver. Excessive and recurring drinking can also lead to immune system problems and deformity to the fetus during pregnancy.
Abusive and Excessive Drinking Enfeebles the Drinker’s Organs and Systems
What is more, if alcohol dependency continues over a period of years, the person’s body organs will more likely than not be affected in an unsafe manner. For example, chronic, excessive drinking is especially harmful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been consumed. Extreme amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and destroys the ability of liver cells to regenerate. This medical circumstance results in a progressive inflammatory injury to the liver that can in the end lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a grave and potentially deadly medical problem. Excessive, long-term drinking not only can lead to dangerous liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this serious may be irreparable and may, in turn, result in serious illness or an early death.
The Significance of Alcohol Rehabilitation
It is imperative, consequently, to know how to recognize the various alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol dependent individual can be given the opportunity to get the professional alcohol rehab he or she needs.
Alcohol Dependency and Sophisticated Brain Research
Fortuitously, scientific research is constantly discovering original and significant information. Recent alcoholism exploration offers a first-rate illustration. More correctly, for approximately the last ten years, complicated brain-imaging scanning instruments have shown that continuous and long-term irresponsible drinking modifies the constitution of the brain to a significant extent, as a consequence resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or maybe as long as the individual lives.
Stated differently, medical examination has demonstrated that people who have been drinking in an irresponsible manner for a considerable length of time increase their risk for developing long lasting and severe alterations in the brain.
This type of damage may be directly related to severe liver disease, to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.
Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Abusive Drinking
As a final example of different medical conditions that are to a great extent related to alcohol addiction, take into account the fact that according to medical exploration, the abusive and repeated abuse of alcohol can result in erosive gastritis, a condition that decreases the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
This form of organ malfunctioning is related to malnutrition and to an assortment of acute neurological and mental problems including memory loss, sleep disturbances, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical problem is a long-term debilitating medical condition that is exemplified by persistent memory and learning difficulties.
Irresponsible and Abusive Drinking Also Results in Relationship and Friendship Difficulties and Conflicts and Goal Setting Difficulties
In addition to critical health problems, abusive drinking also results in friendship and relationship difficulties. For instance, people who have drinking problems frequently experience sexuality issues, marital problems, affairs, and divorce, and they often go through grief and loss difficulties.
Summary: The Significance of Education
It is obvious that continued, hazardous drinking is directly or indirectly related to numerous severe medical problems that can and do result in serious ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be emphasized and presented to everyone in our society, especially to all students, so that a massive amount of individuals will be able to refrain from hazardous drinking while other individuals who have a drinking problem will get the quality treatment they need.
Let us look at this pragmatically. Yes, alcohol counseling is important, but alcohol therapy is something that is commonly done AFTER the fact. Education, from a different vantage point, is something that is done BEFORE the problem becomes obvious. Stated differently, whereas alcohol counseling is “reactive,” education is “proactive.” It is stated that both approaches are necessary when discussing alcohol dependency and alcohol abuse.
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