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Understanding What Alcohol Abuse Is And How To Recognise It

By: The alternate Medic. The consumption of alcoholic beverages dates back to the beginning of time. Unfortunately some of us are affected by the excessive consumption of alcohol in a very negative way. Hence the problem of alcohol abuse which has disrupted lives, societies and civilizations over the generations..

Today it is the norm for all of us to enjoy a drink at the end of a hard day's work or with our friends and colleagues.. It has become the social norm. When consumed in moderation, it can be a relaxing tonic. Unfortunately, it is difficult to know, though, when that relaxing drink has taken over your life and when you become dependent on it? Alcohol abuse in today's society is a serious problem. In days past it was believe that alcohol abuse was a characteristic of weak people, but now it is seen as a serious disease that can affect us all.

Alcohol Abuse Statistics

It will probably surprise you that 1 in 13 people are affected by alcohol abuse, It is reported by the online health guide, WebMD that in the United States alone, 12 to 14 million adults suffer from alcohol abuse and each year, around 100,000 adults will die from alcohol abuse. Not only that but it has been proven that alcohol abuse is largely responsible for contributing to the country's car accidents, suicides and homicides. Alcohol also affects many other areas of daily life, including increased rayes of job absenteeism, increased reports of domestic violence and child abuse.

Recognizing the Signs of Alcohol Abuse?

Having the odd glass of wine or occasional drink at home or with friends does not mean that you have a problem with alcohol. As a guideline it should be noted that:

- in women, a key indication that there is a degree ofalcohol abuse is if you consume more than seven drinks a week and more than three in a social gathering. - In men, the rate of consumption would have to equal more than 14 drinks per week or anexcess of four drinks while with friends.

Other signs include: - alcohol cravings, - a loss of control when drinking, which leads to the person unable to stop drinking. - -Tolerances built up to alcohol can be another sign of alcohol abuse, - physical dependence on alcohol, such as nausea, sweating and headaches if no alcohol is consumed.

The scientific community are in agreement that many other factors are involved with drinking, such as family history of drinking, family genetics, stress levels, and social and environmental factors.

In today's modern society alcohol abuse is reaching dramatic levels that are escalating all over the western world. Alcohol abuse is a treatable disease, but does prove quite difficult to cure and it can affect anyone. As there are so many factors that make some people more susceptible to it than others. Whilst many of us drink and enjoy ourselves in moderation, it is important that we all keep the message in mind and keep our consumption to recognized levels.

Unfortunately modern society has raised the spectre of alcohol consumption to levels of absurdity as the fashion of Binge Drinking has become the norm amongst many of the young. This bad influence can only lead to more and more of us suffering from alcohol abuse.