A tremendous amount of medical and psychological research has taken place to determine the exact nature of alcohol abuse. Few people would have difficulty diagnosing alcohol addiction in the wino passed out on the sidewalk. We know that any drinking by a pregnant woman is alcohol abuse due to its propensity to cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Rehabilitation Centre in Gurgaon It additionally is associated with birth defects and childhood mental problems. But what about the other end of the spectrum: Where does the definable line for the problem begin?
The first characteristic of alcohol abuse is maladaptive behavior. Is one using alcohol to cope with stress, social ill-ease, depression, grief, social isolation, or other human situations which require more constructive solutions? What are the repercussions? Is the alcohol use contributing to the failure of the drinker to meet obligations? Has it caused run-ins with the law? Has alcohol use placed one in risky situations like drinking and driving? Does the drinker continue to use alcohol despite interpersonal or social problems? A positive response in any of these areas suggests alcohol abuse.
When does alcohol addiction or dependence occur? One of the first signs is tolerance: it takes more and more alcohol to achieve the desired effect. Of persons who are alcohol addicted, over 50% will have withdrawal symptoms when abstinence is attempted. Withdrawal can be in the form of extreme anxiety, depression, panic, hallucinations, and even seizures. The alcohol addict will use more alcohol than he intended and will have difficulty controlling the quantities consumed. Quite often, he or she sets aside large quantities of time which he or she devotes to the consumption of alcohol. Their work or school performance may begin to slip through neglect. Often they will continue to use alcohol despite medical conditions which contraindicate its use.
How prevalent is the problem? Well, the average Indian male has a one in five chance of developing alcohol addiction. One in four will seek treatment on his initiative. Alcohol use is exaggerated in the 18 to 20-year-old groups. Abuse and addiction can develop by the mid-twenties.
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Addiction has gathered a lot of data, and along with other experts, has set up criteria for alcohol abuse and addiction. For women and men over 65, the limits are three drinks per day or seven per week. A drink is defined as ten to fourteen grams of absolute ethanol which is contained in a 0.6-ounce shot glass, a glass of wine, or a beer.
What are the health repercussions of alcohol abuse and dependency? It has been shown that the risk of early death is increased three to four times by continued alcohol abuse. These deaths are most commonly due to stroke, cancer, heart disease, liver cirrhosis, and high risks of accidents and suicide. About 80% of alcohol dependents smoke heavily with all those inherent health risks. Continuing heavy use is associated with depression, psychosis, insomnia, and severe anxiety. A lot of the psychiatric symptoms will abate with as little as two to four weeks of abstinence. Even a CT scan visualizing abnormalities of the brain can revert to normal with periods of abstinence.
One problem with alcohol addiction is its tendency to consistently relapse. Your physician can prescribe certain medications such as naltrexone which diminish alcohol cravings and relapse. Disulfiram works through negative feedback: anyone drinking while taking it will develop acute, extremely uncomfortable, illness-like symptoms. Medication can carefully and temporarily be prescribed for anxiety and depression. You can contact us through our website to get the best treatment for alcohol addiction in Gurgaon.