According to the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, more than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking, and more than nine million children live with a parent dependent on alcohol and/or illicit drugs. Alcoholism affects a wide circle of people close to the alcoholic – relatives, friends, neighbors, employers, co-workers, classmates, teachers, doctors, community workers – and is closely linked to many of America’s most difficult social problems, including crime, homelessness, teen pregnancy and domestic violence. Yet 82% of doctors admit that MDs avoid addressing alcoholism in their patients.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, sponsoring April as Alcohol Awareness Month for the 16th year, says it’s important that people see alcoholism not as an issue of morality or “will power,” but as a public health issue. What’s the truth about alcohol, and how do you know if you’ve got a problem? Here are some straight answers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that includes the following four symptoms:
Craving: A strong need, or urge, to drink. Loss of control: Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun. Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety after stopping drinking. Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get “high.” Is alcoholism a disease? Yes. The craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. Like many other diseases, alcoholism lasts a person’s lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced both by a person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle.
Is alcoholism inherited?
Research shows that the risk for developing alcoholism runs in families. The genes a person inherits partially explain this pattern, but lifestyle is also a factor. Your friends, the amount of stress in your life, and how readily available alcohol is also are factors that may increase your risk for alcoholism. But remember: Risk is not destiny. Just because alcoholism tends to run in families doesn’t mean that a child of an alcoholic parent will automatically become an alcoholic too. Some people develop alcoholism even though no one in their family has a drinking problem. By the same token, not all children of alcoholic families get into trouble with alcohol. Knowing you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take steps to protect yourself from developing problems with alcohol.
Can alcoholism be cured?
No. Even if an alcoholic hasn’t been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages.
Can alcoholism be treated? Yes. Most alcoholics need help to recover from their disease. With support and treatment, many people are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. Alcoholism treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. A range of medications is used to treat alcoholism: some are used during the first days after a person stops drinking to help him or her safely withdraw from alcohol. These medications are not used beyond the first few days, however, because they may be highly addictive. Other medications help people remain sober by reducing the craving for alcohol or by making the person feel sick if he or she drinks alcohol.
Does alcoholism treatment work?
Alcoholism treatment works for many people. But just like any chronic disease, there are varying levels of success when it comes to treatment. Some people stop drinking and remain sober. Others have long periods of sobriety with bouts of relapse. And still others cannot stop drinking for any length of time. With treatment, one thing is clear, however: the longer a person abstains from alcohol, the more likely he or she will be able to stay sober.
Do you have to be an alcoholic to experience problems?
No. Alcoholism is only one type of an alcohol problem. Alcohol abuse can be just as harmful. A person may drink too much and too often but still not be dependent on alcohol. Some of the problems linked to alcohol abuse include not being able to meet work, school or family responsibilities; drunk-driving arrests and car crashes; and drinking-related medical conditions. Under some circumstances, even social or moderate drinking is dangerous – for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medications.
Are specific groups of people more likely to have problems?
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and nationality. Nearly 14 million people in the United States – one of every 13 adults – abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. The incidence of problems with alcohol is highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. We also know that people who start drinking at an early age (14 or younger) greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives.
Can a problem drinker simply cut down?
It depends. If that person has been diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is “no.” Alcoholics who try to cut down on drinking rarely succeed. Cutting out alcohol (abstaining) is usually the best course for recovery. People who are not alcohol dependent but who have experienced alcohol-related problems might be able to limit the amount they drink. If they can’t stay within those limits, they need to stop drinking altogether.
How Do I Get Help?
Morningside Recovery understands that those suffering from drug addiction, alcoholism, and/or co-occurring disorders have unique problems and situations, all of which deserve exclusive rehabilitation and different approaches to therapy. Morningside Recovery’s extended care treatment center offers a wide range of treatment programs that help point out issues concerning the residents addiction and dual diagnosis. Between individual drug rehab therapy and group therapy, residents will be able to discuss life issues within a supportive environment, while learning about their addiction and/or mental illness, and re-structuring their lives to help in their recovery process. Some of these rehab programs include Transitional Employment Program, College Recovery Program, Dual Diagnosis Program, Family Program, and Aftercare Program. A few unique therapies that Morningside Recovery offers are Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Dramatherapy, and allowing residents of our facility to have small pets, which helps during recovery. While the admission staff closely evaluates and works with each individual, the admission process and assessment will help determine what drug rehab program and therapy that best suits the individual.
