The Price of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

Those that abuse alcohol clearly drink too much on a regular basis. Abuse can progress into addiction, dependence and finally to the disease of alcoholism. Medical professionals recognize alcoholism as a primary, chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease.

Studies are showing that alcoholism can have a genetic pre-dispostion and that it might be more prevalent in lower income families.

Alcohol suppresses cellular activity in the cerebrum, impairing judgment, memory, reasoning and thought. Alcohol is a drug that affects every organ system in the body. Abuse can cause damage to the nervous system and brain cells. Alcoholism can cause cancer of the esophagus, larynx, colon and liver (cirrhosis). Abuse can also cause inflammation of the stomach and digestive systems, malnutrition and is linked to diabetes. Women who abuse alcohol during pregnancy put their babies at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The syndrome presents with mental retardation, facial abnormalities, poor social skills, learning and behavioral problems. Clinical recommendation is that no alcohol be consumed at any stage or trimester of a pregnancy.

Alcohol is a drug. Drugs are classified according to their potential harm to individuals and society, with alcohol at the top of that list. It is estimated that one out of every thirteen adults suffers from some form of abuse or addiction. There is a mental obsession and physical compulsion to drink, in other words an addiction.

Consumption and abuse is more than twice as prevalent in men than in women. Women do not metabolize alcohol as efficiently, with the effect of the drug coming on faster and lasting longer. Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable death and 20% of all hospital admissions show some form of abuse or addiction. Alcohol is the leading cause of accidental death, especially prevalent in motor vehicle accidents.

Alcoholism is treatable but not considered curable. Most people who have quit or are trying to quit will say they are "in recovery". Those who quit will sometimes relapse. Even after years of recovery the relapse can be intense and devastating. Some who have been in recovery for decades can start drinking again, starting up at the same level they were in the progression of the disease when they quit.

There are different levels of treatment and intervention. If an excessive amount of alcohol has been consumed, a person might need

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