Alcohol Abuse: Treatment, Prevention, and Resources

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Found in fermented beverages, the substance commonly referred to as alcohol, is really ethanol. Ethanol is produced when sugar goes through the fermentation process. Alcoholic beverages are enjoyed by people in a variety of different contexts, including abstaining from consumption altogether. Some cultures enjoy alcoholic beverages during regular mealtimes, others just as festive events, and others still in the context of religious ritual.

The 20th and 21st centuries have seen a rapid and intense increase in dangerous substance usage and addiction along with the related medical, physiological and social dangers. The epidemic, as it is called by many experts in the field and others, is one of the most prolific, fast spreading, destructive and costly known in the modern era. An alcoholic or drug-related addiction can be defined as any activity that causes the sufferer to be overly preoccupied with the acquisition and use of alcohol or drugs or the compulsive usage of these substances even when the dangerous and adverse results and consequences are well known to the taker. Another sign of substance addiction is the tendency for sufferers to relapse into previous addictive habits even after having undergone treatment regimes. Alcohol and drug dependencies are classified as diseases because excessive use can lead to loss of control. This, in turn, can lead to the sufferer causing harm to self as well as to others.

The Immediate Effects of Alcohol Abuse

Regardless of how people choose why alcohol is consumed, there is supporting evidence that suggests that some alcoholic beverages have positive medicinal effects when consumed in moderation, such as heart health and longevity. However, when individuals cannot restrain the amount of alcohol they consume, and it begins to alter their behavior, it is considered to be alcohol abuse.

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In addition to behavior modification, becoming intoxicated is also considered alcohol abuse. Getting drunk indicates that too much alcohol has been consumed, and is alcohol abuse in its most basic form. Intoxication can cause someone to engage in behavior that is not only harmful to themselves, but to the lives of others, as well. Violence, unprotected sexual activities, irresponsible spending, or driving while intoxicated are all signs that someone has a problem with alcohol.

Signs of Alcohol Abuse in Family Members or Friends

If concerned about a friend or family member who may be at risk for alcohol abuse, there are several signs that can be spotted. These include drinking more than he or she has in the past, drinking during in appropriate times, such as first thing in the morning, or if he or she is struggling to get to work or school on time. A good rule of thumb for spotting alcohol abuse in someone you care about is to measure how it affects their daily functioning. When behaviors are modified in conjunction with alcohol consumption, it may be time to suggest help for the person who is struggling.

People who do not struggle with alcohol abuse personally sometimes wonder why the person with the problem does not just quit drinking. But dealing with alcohol abuse is not as simple as cutting intake out of a person’s life. Alcohol is addictive, and one’s tolerance for sustaining amounts of alcohol grows over time. Over time, the amount of alcohol needed for the person to achieve the desired emotional and physiological effect becomes harder to achieve, so the quantity of consumption increases.

Alcohol delirium acts on what receptor?

One of the results of associated reactions and loss of control associated with alcohol dependency (alcoholism) is a condition known as alcohol delirium or delirium tremens. Often referred to as DT’s, delirium tremens are acute and violent bouts of delirium accompanied by often violent body seizures and pain, vivid hallucinations and other side effects. These are caused when the body is deprived of alcohol’s addictive element, ethanol. Delirium tremens are an associated side effect of alcoholism. Only those suffering from alcoholism and those who are still alcohol dependent are at risk of experiencing delirium tremens.

Medical research has still to determine which receptors in the brain are affected by ethanol abuse and thus produce reactions such as delirium tremens. However, some research suggests that the benzodiazepine-GABA-chloride receptor grouping which is responsible for the supply of the neurotransmitter GABA could be adversely affected by the excessive and constant intake of ethanol-based substances. Other biochemical research appears to show a correlation between ethanol, the adenosine receptors and delirium tremens.

Ethanol also acts on the M-methyl D-aspartate receptors. When deprived of levels of ethanol to which they have become accustomed these neuroreceptors become excited and produce compounds that lead to the effects associated with delirium tremens. These are extreme agitation, loss of bodily function control, hallucinations, seizures, tachycardia, loss of breathing function and hypothermia. Sufferers who have have repeated bouts of delirium tremens are more liable to suffer further episodes that also increase in severity.

Delirium tremens have a mortality rate of up to 25% if the condition is left untreated. However, early identification, intervention and treatment reduce the expected mortality rate to only 5%. Caucasians are far more susceptible to delirium tremens than non-white individuals. Additionally, males are more likely to develop the condition than females. This statistic can be attributed in part to the fact that there is only a 3% alcoholism rate among women as opposed to 7% among males. Alcohol abuse is far higher among young adults. But the development of delirium tremens usually occurs far later into adulthood as the establishment of the disease is progressive and dependent on a constant and regular excessive intake of alcohol.

To date, science has found no cure for alcoholism. The only way to avoid the onset of the disease is to refrain from excessive alcohol use and abuse. Once an individual is clinically diagnosed as being alcohol dependent, his or her body will always be at risk from alcohol intake. Alcoholics can be weaned of alcohol and lead alcohol-free lives. However, even the ingestion of minute quantities of alcohol can lead to a return to previous addiction habits. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous exist to assist alcoholics overcome their dependency and remain alcohol-free.

Long-term Health Risks of Alcohol Abuse

Beyond the immediate health risks that appear with alcohol abuse, there are long-term effects, as well. The bloodstream can only filter out certain amounts of alcohol at one time. Beyond that, damage occurs to the liver, the organ in the body that filters the blood. This damage cannot be reversed and is linked to various liver ailments, including cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver occurs when, over time, the healthy tissue is replaces with scar tissue. Eventually, the sustained damage causes the liver to fail, which ultimately results in death.

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

While some people have the ability to simply cut back on their consumption of alcohol, there are other options that may provide more long-term prevention of alcohol abuse. If someone attempts to limit alcohol intake on his or her own, the temptation and social pressure to drink can often be difficult to withstand without additional preparedness.

Outside help exists through a variety of easily accessible programs. A family physician can recommend treatment options, as can community resources, such as a local anonymous group or community counseling center. The unfortunate prevalence of alcohol abuse has allowed for almost every community to have available free or low-cost options for those who struggle with addiction to alcohol. Many of these programs have individual counseling, family counseling, inpatient treatment courses, and outpatient options for continued support, depending on the severity of the drinking problem and the patient’s unique needs.

Some alcoholic support groups insist that abstinence is the only remedy for alcoholics. Others believe that people can control their drinking with planning and support. If a moderate approach to controlling alcohol abuse does not work, abstinence may be considered as a last resort.

Alcohol Abuse Resources

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism information and publications

Genetics and Alcoholism: Relationship Between the Y Chromosome and Alcohol Abuse

Substance Abuse Treatment Locator: Find treatment facilities in your area

Alcohol and Drug Information from the U.S. Department of Health

Drug Abuse: Facts, Studies, and Resources

Drug Abuse Resources and Information

Resource by AnnaBelle

Annalise Kaylor is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant specializing in search engine optimized content for the web. As a writer, her work has appeared across the United States in print ads for Whirlpool, Maytag, Home Depot, and Lowe's, among others. As a consultant, she has worked primarily in the education sector, helping universities increase their web visibility and construct and implement social media strategy. Annalise is an avid reader, knitter, organic gardener and baker, as well as the author of the popular baking blog, Knead To Be Loaved. Annalise enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hiking.

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