Alcohol Addiction

An alcoholic who is having troubling problems in their health, family, occupational and legal affairs may feel that their drinking is both rationalized and justified because their troubles and problems are primarily the fault of the other people in those functions who are exaggerating and over blowing what are minor and irrelevant difficulties. According to the victim of Alcohol Addiction, it is always the doctor, wife, boss, or judge who is unable to ratify their position in relationship to the alcoholic's exceptional and very special situation, and thus is responsible for all the problems.

The individual's Alcohol Addiction has escalated to such levels by this time that they are convinced that they can minimize or completely halt their dependence on alcohol at any time that they see fit, but that right now is not that time. Alcoholism will also convince the alcoholic that since they form a completely unique and sole personal exception to the common form of Alcohol Addiction which afflicts normal people, they are exempt from the responsibility to seek assistance for their case, or even to accept assistance when it is readily available. Such irrational stubbornness often extends even when the assistance is imposed by a court of law, which the alcoholic is convinced "has it out for them" and has passed a judgment which is unfair and created to "single them out" because of their own personal grandeur.

If the alcoholic were actually realize that they did need to submit to the identical basic standard of addiction treatment as everyone else, this decision would demolish the alcoholic's structure of personal grandeur and deflate the alcoholic's self-view that they are special, unique, and do not need to follow the conventional boring and restrictive rules, ethics, laws and regulations that everyone else does.

Alcohol Addiction is a disease and in its effects and treatment is truly no different than any other disease. It is important for the family, co-workers, friends and community to realize that anyone who is suffering from alcoholism truly is involved in a powerful struggle against a devastating nemesis. Everyone must realize that anyone who is suffering from Alcohol Addiction is drinking not because they are in a good mood, or to get themselves into a good mood, but because they are suffering from profound emotional pain and are turning to alcohol as a way to self-medicate that pain.

Both genetic and environmental factors have to be considered when analyzing the basic causes of the affliction of Alcohol Addiction. The environment which surrounds the individual, especially during the very critical formative years of that person's basic psychological profile, can dramatically increase the likelihood of developing Alcohol Addiction.

Research into the environmental risk factors has concluded that there exists a complex and intricate interaction of influences which can determine the feasibility of an individual's future Alcohol Addiction. These influences can be categorized under two separate headings. One centering on being reared by parents lacking the necessary positive parenting skills; the history of alcoholism in the individual's family; and the presence of alcoholism in the home environment at the time the individual is growing up. The other major category of influence centers on the various demographic factors, such as local crime rate, economic position, extent and quality of education, geography and similar aspects.

The signs and symptoms of alcoholism include:

- Anticipation of the next bout of drinking
- Cancellations or rescheduling of plans due to hangovers
- Changes in frustration tolerance
- Changes in sleep
- Decrease in productivity
- Decreased ability to engage in normal daily activities
- Frustration when alcohol is not present
- Increased traffic offenses
- Increasing problems at the workplace
- Modifications in sexual functioning
- Personal bravado in excess

The official definition of Alcohol Addiction by The U.S. National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence is: "Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychological, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortion in thinking, most notably denial."

One in every 13 Americans is currently to be considered a victim of Alcohol Addiction. This only includes the individuals who are already alcoholics to a degree where only intensive therapy and rehabilitation in a specialty alcoholism or addiction center would be sufficient to restore them to be a properly and normally functioning member of their families, occupations and societies.

There are tens of millions more people in the United States alone who engage in excessive drinking behaviors and are on the way to becoming full blown victims of Alcohol Addiction. The cost to the taxpayer, the law enforcement sector, the judicial and correctional institutions and to society in general is counted in the hundreds of billions of dollars per year.

The lost productivity, traffic accidents, domestic abuse, health care costs, and personal tragedies overlay a layer of desperation which reaches each and every member of the nation.

It is quite impossible for anyone to change their own genetic inheritance, regardless of whether it is an innate vulnerability to cancers, cholesterol or alcoholism; it is simply not possible to delete that factor from our own genetic material. It is important to note that the various environmental factors can be managed and situations presented to the individual which can empower them to make positive choices when faces with the prospect of Alcohol Addiction.

Silence is the enemy of Alcohol Addiction. It is important for family, co-workers, friends and the community of the alcoholic to discuss the situation with the alcoholic, particularly at times of sobriety. It is imperative that the alcoholic be exposed to sources of precise and coherent medical information on Alcohol Addiction and that specific, local, accessible and immediate sources of clinical assistance be provided to the alcoholic.