Alcohol does not really need any introduction. It is the most widely used substance in the world, and has been for since time immemorial. What is important to know is alcohol is a potentially addictive substance that can cause alcoholism. Alcoholism is one of the most common psychiatric disorders being a primary, progressive disease by itself and not a symptom of something else. Despite its significant morbidity and mortality, alcoholism is a condition that frequently escapes notice, due to the inattention given to it or social stigma attached to it. However, it is very treatable by both medical and psychological therapy. It is important to notice problem drinking or pre-alcoholism condition, because this can be treated with success by early intervention.
Who is an alcoholic ?
- Your drinking is causing regular and progressive problems in any sphere (such as family relationships, job, financial status or health).
- You continue to drink despite all the problems.
- You have developed a physical and psychological dependence on alcohol.
- The trouble with alcohol addiction is that it is a lifelong disease with a long drawn, relapsing and remitting course. Due to the potentially serious implications of the diagnosis, assessment for alcoholism should be detailed.
What are the causes of alcoholism ?
- It is a heritable disease. Alcoholism is known to be familial; a huge risk factor for developing it is to have one or both alcoholic parent(s). Although both environmental and interpersonal factors are very important, a genetic predisposition definitely underlies alcoholism.
- It is often associated with other substance abuse disorders (predominantly nicotine), or anxiety and mood disorders, and antisocial personality disorders as well.
What are the Symptoms of alcoholism ?
- Tolerance – It is the first red signal to alcoholism.
- Withdrawal Symptoms – if you do not drink, you are anxious, restless, or have nausea and vomiting.
- Point of constant focus – Alcohol drinking slowly pushes out other activities.
- Social Problems – Alcoholism causes a range of social problems like marital discord, domestic violence, recurrent absenteeism, unemployment and declining wealth. It is also associated with acts of violence and accidents.
What are the Effects of alcoholism ?
- Heart- Affects Blood Pressure and heart rate.
- Liver- Alcohol affects liver the most. Severe swelling, hepatitis or cirrhosis can develop.
- Stomach- Gastritis, diarrhoea, bloating, hematemesis (vomiting of blood), peptic ulcers, Indigestion, jaundice & cancer.
- Brain- Mood swings, Black-outs, loss of memory, anxiety, insomnia, chronic fatigue confusion and hallucination.
- Other Effects- Weakness, inability to exercise, anaemia & Erectile Dysfunction.
How do we diagnose alcoholism ?
Elevated Laboratory Test Results as Indicators of Alcohol Misuse.
- Evidence of recent drinking- By breath analysis or checking blood alcohol levels.
- Monitoring heavy drinking in men- Gamma-glutamyl transferase & Carbohydrate-deficient transferring
- Nonspecific association- Mean corpuscular volume & High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Evidence of liver impairment- By checking liver enzyme levels like serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, Alkaline phosphatase & Alanine aminotransferase.
How do we go about treating alcoholism ?
• Detoxification- 4 S’s of detoxification are:
- Sedation (or substitution)- Diazepam and lorazepam
- Symptomatic relief- of the varied withdrawal symptoms
- Supplements- Vitamins & minerals, fluid & electrolyte balance
- Supportive environment- Calm, soothing atmosphere
• Group Therapy
• Counselling & Psychotherapy
Alcoholism has to be addressed and treated by a multi-pronged approach, like pyschosocial methods either with or without recent pharmacotherapies. Screening for alcoholism has to be made an essential part of the routine health care screening for both adolescents and adults, more so in women of child-bearing age, because of the risk of foetal alcohol syndrome to the unborn infant.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
