Overview Factors that lead to Alcoholism Genetic factors Depression and Anxiety

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1 Overview Alcoholism a progressive, chronic, and often fatal disease is viewed as a primary disorder and not a symptom of diseases or emotional problems contradictory to what the majority think of. The chemistry or components of alcohol allows it to affect almost any type of cell in the body, these includes the cells located in the central nervous system. Study shows that due to long exposure to alcohol, the human brain adapts to the presence of alcohol and becomes dependent to it. Signs of alcoholism or alcohol dependence include the following: People considered as alcoholics have very little or no control over the quantity, frequency and duration of the alcohol they consume. For alcoholics, it is common to have a history of accidents, marital and work instability, as well as other alcohol-related health problems. These people are preoccupied with drinking and deny their own addiction furthermore; they continue to drink even though they are fully aware of the dangers it posses. Some people in the course of time become tolerant to the effects of drinking and soon require more alcohol to feel intoxicated, thus creating the illusion that they can "hold their liquor." These people tend to have blackouts and frequent hangovers after drinking that leads them to miss work and other normal activities. Alcoholics tend to drink alone and have the tendency to start drinking early during the day. The only indication of early alcoholism may be the unpleasant physical responses of withdrawal that occur during brief periods of abstinence. They also have episodes of violence and abusive incidents which involve their spouses and children, they also have some history of frequent and unexplained accidents brought about by their dependence in alcohol. They periodically quit drinking and switch from beer to hard liquor or wine, but these periods rarely last. History shows that people have been drinking alcohol for perhaps 15,000 years. Consistent and drinking steadily over time has a tendency to cause dependence, this also causes withdrawal symptoms during periods of abstinence; bear in mind however that this physical dependence, is not the only cause of alcoholism. Factors such as genetics, biology, culture and psychology are also some factors why alcoholism develops. Factors that lead to Alcoholism Genetic factors plays a significant role in alcoholism. Genetics account for about half of the total risk for alcoholism, due to its complexity however, it is unlikely that any single gene will ever be identified as a major culprit as the sole cause of alcoholism. Depression and Anxiety. Severely depressed and anxious people have high tendencies to be alcoholics. One study involving 2000 participants shows that the risk for heavy drinking in the female population who are severely depressed was 2.6 times greater than the risk in women who are not depressed. Anxiety and depression play a major role in the development of alcoholism in the older bracket; these people are often subjected to dramatic life changes, examples of which

2 are retirement, death or loss of a spouse or friend, and health problems. Major depression, in fact, accompanies about one-third of all cases of alcoholism. Mental and Emotional Stress. Alcohol is perceived as a loyal friend when human relationships fail; this is due to the fact of its ability to block out emotional pain. It is also associated with freedom since it offsets the boredom of daily routines. The brain seeks to restore what it perceives to be its equilibrium when the alcoholic tries to quit drinking. And almost always the brain's best weapons to achieve this are anxiety depression, and stress, these feelings are usually produced by brain chemical imbalances. Unfortunately, these negative moods continue to tempt alcoholics to return to drinking even long after the physical withdrawal symptoms have abated. Social and Cultural Pressures. Due to advertising and promotions we are made to believe that drinking is a pleasurable activity. Also, media publicizing the health benefits of moderate drinking provides ex-drinkers the excuse of returning to drinking alcohol. We as individuals should use better judgment and analyze whether the messages are just an industry's attempt to profit from a potentially great harm to individuals. How it affects and why is it an issue in our society: Excessive and heavy consumption of alcohol have both long and short term severe impacts to the brain. Aggressive behaviour brought about by alcoholic consumption are due to the effects of alcohol to the various parts of the brain. Alcohol... Affects the gamma-aminobutyoric acid receptor (GABA) complex in the brain that is the cause of aggressive behaviors by creating anxiety over socially inappropriate behaviours. Affects the dopaminergic system which is the system which controls the psychomotor stimulation and when affected leads to the increase in the intensity and level of aggression. Lowers the blood sugar and study shows that a low blood sugar in the brain contributes to a heightened level of aggression (Graham, Wells, & West, 1997, p. 626). Alcoholics use aggression as an over react to situations they find unpleasant. And with excessive alcohol use, they lose the capacity to exhibit self control over their emotions and feelings. These people use alcohol as a reason to unleash their emotions and negative feelings. While for some alcoholics, they use alcohol as a way of burying negative feelings of guilt and depression. Graham, Wells, and West have shown that the general state of mind of an alcoholic is usually moody and hostile, that leads to increased chances of violent and aggressive behavior on slight provocation. Alcohol affects the individuals ability to function effectively. Alcoholics do not care about their surroundings. They behave improperly without being aware of their actions its consequences. Because they are only conscious of obvious externalized social cues, they are likely to be sensitive to their reactions. Because they are deprived of their ability to think clearly and deeply, people under the influence of alcohol no longer realize that they can behave in alternative ways. What is even more dangerous is that alcoholics have the tendency to show off; they have the belief that they are very powerful and is often not the case. And due to this belief they

3 deliberately provoke others or misinterpret others behavior as a challenge to their supremacy (Graham, Wells, & West, 1997, ). Alcoholic parents have negative effects to their children; this is due to the fact that alcohol undermines their capacity to use their parenting skills. Alcoholic parents: Usually lead to inconsistent parenting behaviour. When their child misbehaves in certain ways, the parent may overreact by screaming to the child while ignoring the very same offense in the future. The child then receives mixed signals and gets confused. Creates a very unstable and unpredictable and environment which can affect the child s mental and emotional growth (Windle, 1996,). A study on the effects of alcohol on parents found that alcoholic parents are unable to respond appropriately to a child s improper behavior. It shows that even if the child acts inappropriately, alcoholic parents not only fail to discipline the child, but engage in parental indulgences that are inappropriate for the occasion (Lang, Pelham, Atkeson, & Murphy, 1999,). From the discussion above, it is evident that alcoholism has a long-lasting physiological and social impact to a person. These people places themselves at high risk to various accidents due to their incapacity to function effectively in daily life and in performing their jobs. Worst of all, children who grow up with such parents have a high probability of growing up to be like their parents and also imposes their way to their children. This triggers a never-ending cycle of alcohol abuse. Due to these reasons the people who are very much addicted to alcohol need to abstain from alcohol and they should seek help before they and their families are destroyed. Actions being taken to correct the issue: Treatment Most alcoholics enter treatment reluctantly because they deny that they have a problem and most of the times have to be pressured. Personal intervention helps an alcoholic recognize that there is a problem causing an acceptance to the treatment. People concerned such as a friend or family member, should also discuss interventions with a professional. At present a wide range of treatments are available to help people with alcoholic problems since each treatment is specially made for each individual. Treatments may also involve an evaluation, brief intervention, outpatient program or counselling, and a residential inpatient stay. The first step in the treatment is acceptance of the problem. Should control over intake of alcoholic beverages is still unavailable; the treatment would involve the reduction of alcoholic consumption. Cutting back is ineffective and inappropriate to alcoholics, abstinence is the only solution. However if you are not dependent on alcohol but are experiencing effects due to drinking, brief intervention can easily address the problem. A brief intervention usually involves alcohol-abuse specialists who can establish a specific treatment plan that includes: goal setting, use of self help manuals, behavioral modification techniques, counselling and follow-up care at a treatment centres. In the United States the most common residential alcoholism treatment program are based on the Minnesota model. This approach includes individual and group therapy, Abstinence, family involvement, work assignments, participation in Alcoholics

4 Anonymous (AA), educational lectures, activity therapy and the use of counsellors many of whom are recovering alcoholics and multi-professional staffs. Prevention One of the important steps towards seeking treatment to this problem is to know and recognize the family history of the alcoholic. Early intervention is particularly important for teenagers. Although for many adults it may take years before they develop alcohol dependence many young group of teenagers become addicted more quickly. The use of alcohol is very high during the high school years. Every year in the United States, thousands of teenagers dies or gets disabled due to alcohol-related automobile accidents. It is also is often the cause in other teenage deaths, this includes suicide, drowning fires. For the young people, the likelihood of addiction to alcohol dependent on the influence of parents, peers and other role models, they will also be very susceptible to advertising. Complementary and Alternative Medicine In addition to residential treatment, many other approaches to alcoholism may help, including: Acupuncture, which is the insertion of hair-thin needles under the skin not only have the ability to reduce anxiety and depression but also the ability to relieve cravings for alcohol. Biofeedback which is the method of relieving symptoms of stress through the process of relaxing the muscles. This involves the monitoring of physiological activities such as the heart beat, respiration, skin sensitiveness and temperature change. This method can promote awareness of the body's stress and thus control it. Motivational enhancement therapy is a treatment wherein the therapist helps the client acknowledge a problem exists and guide the client through stages that aim to help the client change his/her behavior. Cognitive behavior therapy is the method used by therapist to identify distorted thoughts and beliefs that arouse psychological stress. Ways on how to cope with traumatic events and alternative beliefs about the events and the impacts on life are taught. Special emphasis is placed on learning to develop a sense of mastery and control of thoughts and feelings. REFERENCES: Tonnesen H, Hejberg L, Frobenius S, Andersen JR. Erythrocyte mean cell volume-- correlation to drinking pattern in heavy alcoholics. Acta Med Scand. 1986;219(5): (Medline abstract) Schwan R, Albuisson E, Malet L, Loiseaux MN, Reynaud M, Schellenberg F, Brousse G, Llorca PM. The use of biological laboratory markers in the diagnosis of alcohol misuse: an evidence-based approach. Drug Alcohol Depend. 11 June 2004 ;74(3): (Medline abstract) Graham, K., Wells, S., & West P. (1997). A framework for applying explanations of alcohol-related aggression to naturally occurring aggressive behavior. Contemporary Drug Problems, 24(4), Lang, A. R., Pelham, W. E., Atkeson, B. M., & Murphy, D. A. (1999, June). Effects of

5 . alcohol intoxication on parenting behavior in interactions with child confederates exhibiting normal or deviant behaviors. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 27(3), Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).