When asked what ‘sobriety’ means, most people-even former addicts-will respond that it is the condition of abstaining from alcohol or other addictive substances and behaviors. When asked to define a ‘dry drunk,’ the same respondents may answer ‘a person who abstains from alcohol or other addictive substances and behaviors but who is not sober.’
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One of the most prevalent myths about substance abuse is that it’s a problem only for the disadvantaged and the poor. In reality, white-collar workers are just as likely to develop a problem as someone who is at a socioeconomic disadvantage, and research has shown that lawyers are twice as likely to abuse substances, with a particular pre-disposition toward alcohol abuse. With almost 100,000 deaths from alcohol every year, the potential damage done by the condition afflicting the legal profession is substantial. The biggest issue, however, is difficulty in recognizing the issue or convincing attorneys to take steps to improve their health.
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Although alcohol abuse is known primarily for its ability to damage the liver, people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol also significantly increase their risks for several serious lung ailments, including pneumonia and a condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). People infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) also have increased risks for a variety of serious lung ailments. Although no one is quite sure how the lung effects of alcohol abuse and HIV overlap, current evidence indicates that the combined presence of these two health problems may contribute to a significant increase in lung damage.
As a result of findings made during a series of scientific studies conducted throughout the 2000s, doctors and researchers now know that exposure to certain types of stress can play a critical role in the development of alcohol dependence or alcoholism. They also know that a specific neurotransmitting chemical in the brain, called neuropeptide Y, helps combat the effects of stress. Current evidence indicates that an increase in the brain’s neuropeptide Y supply helps deter the development of drinking patterns that ultimately result in alcoholism. In the future, researchers may be able to use this knowledge as the basis for the creation of new anti-alcoholism medications.
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A startling report on the use of alcohol done by the World Health Organization provides a glimpse into the danger alcohol presents worldwide.
The WHO collected hard figures in 2005 and used them to calculate probably statistics for 2010. The report sounds a warning bell that alcohol use is a global killer.
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Seizure is the general term used to describe changes in body control or behavior brought about by chemical/electrical abnormalities in communication between nerve cells in the brain. They range in severity from minor, transient episodes to major, long-term events that can last 30 minutes or longer and seriously endanger a person’s life. Alcohol abuse is a known cause of seizure activity. Most alcohol-related seizures occur during alcohol withdrawal, but they can also occur in active drinkers. In some cases, alcohol abuse can worsen the effects of the seizure disorder epilepsy, or even trigger the onset of an epileptic state.
Disulfiram is the common name for tetraethylthiuram disulfide, a medication with a long history of use as a treatment for alcoholism. The form of this medication currently available in the United States is known by the trade name Antabuse. Disulfiram does not directly address the effects of alcohol dependence inside the brain; instead, it disrupts the metabolism (breakdown) and elimination of alcohol inside the body. In turn, this disruption produces a highly unpleasant feeling that deters the desire to drink. Doctors carefully control doses of disulfiram in order to avoid the possibility of medication-related poisoning.
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Sometimes it’s important to face reality. Ideally, alcoholics who realize they have a problem will be able to identify the issue and stop drinking. Realistically, things don’t always work out like that. Abstinence is a difficult goal to accomplish, and relapse is pretty common. It can happen for a whole host of reasons, and most treatment programs-whilst trying to prevent it-accept that it is often a part of the process. The problem is that abusive drinkers often have abusive patterns, and although the aim is simply to get drunk, the ways in which people drink often create collateral damage that can be avoided fairly easily.
Family history is a critical factor in understanding both the environmental and genetic risks that can create the perfect storm for an alcohol use disorder. In addition to genetic causes, the frequent misuse of alcohol in family networks may influence risky behaviors related to alcohol.
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Though often overlooked, the holidays can mean anxiety, fear and high levels of stress for someone who has recently completed rehab or is working through an alcohol or drug addiction.
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