When does drunkenness become a problem?
For most adults, moderate drinking—no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women and older people—is relatively harmless. ("Pisk" means 1.5 ounces of spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer, all of which contain 0.5 ounces of alcohol.
However, moderate drinking is at one end of the range, which extends from alcohol abuse to alcohol dependence:
Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that leads to significant and recurring adverse consequences. Alcohol abusers may fail to meet basic school, work, or family obligations. They may have legal problems related to alcohol consumption, such as repeated arrests for driving while intoxicated. They may have a relationship problem related to alcohol use. People with alcohol use disorder—technically known as alcohol dependence—have lost reliable control over their drinking. No matter what alcohol a person drinks, or even how much: People with alcohol use disorder often cannot stop if they start drinking.
Alcohol dependence is characterized by tolerance (the need to drink more to achieve the same "high") and withdrawal symptoms if the drink is stopped abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms may include nausea, sweating, restlessness, irritability, tremors, hallucinations, and seizures. Although serious alcohol problems receive the most attention from the public, even mild and moderate problems do significant harm to individuals, their families and society.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 6.2 per cent of adults worldwide aged 18 years or older suffer from alcohol-related disorders. 1 For example, a government study found that approximately one in five people aged 12 to 20 years are currently drinking alcohol, and approximately two in five young people aged 18 to 25 years are drinking heavily, while approximately one in 10 are drinking heavily. 2
What causes alcohol-related disorders?
Alcohol problems have many causes, including genetic, physiologic, psychologic, and social factors. Not every person is equally affected by every cause. In some alcohol abusers, psychologic traits such as impulsivity, low self-esteem, and need for approval lead to inappropriate alcohol consumption. Some people drink to cope with or "cure" emotional problems. Social and environmental factors, such as peer pressure and easy availability of alcohol, can play a key role. Poverty and physical or sexual violence also increase the likelihood of alcohol dependence.
Genetic factors make some people particularly vulnerable to alcohol dependence. Contrary to the myth, being able to "hold your alcohol" means that you are probably more at risk of—not less—alcohol problems. However, a family history of alcohol problems does not mean that children will automatically grow up with the same problems. Also, having no family history of alcohol problems does not necessarily protect children from developing these problems.
Once people start drinking excessively, the problem may worsen. Excessive drinking can cause physiologic changes that make more drinking the only way to avoid discomfort. People with alcohol use disorder may drink partly to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
How do alcohol use disorders affect people?
Although some studies suggest that a small amount of alcohol may have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, it is widely believed that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to health problems.
Short-term effects include memory loss, hangovers, and memory lapses. Long-term problems associated with excessive alcohol consumption include stomach disorders, heart problems, cancer, brain damage, severe memory loss and cirrhosis of the liver. Heavy drinkers are also significantly more likely to die in car crashes, homicides, and suicides. Although men are much more likely than women to develop alcohol use disorders, women's health is more affected, even at lower levels of consumption.
Alcohol problems also have a very negative impact on mental health. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism can worsen existing conditions such as depression or cause new problems such as severe memory loss, depression, or anxiety.
Alcohol problems not only harm the drinker. Spouses and children of drinkers may experience domestic violence; children may suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect and have psychological problems. Women who drink during pregnancy are at serious risk of damage to their fetus. Relatives, friends and strangers may be injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents and attacks.
When should I get help?
People often hide their drinking or deny having a problem. How can you tell if you or someone you know has a problem? Signs of a possible problem include anxiety from friends or relatives, irritation when people criticize your drinking, guilt about what you are drinking, and thoughts that you should reduce drinking but you cannot, or the need for a morning drink to calm nerves or alleviate a hangover.
Some people with alcohol problems are working hard to solve them. Supported by family members or friends, these people are often able to recover on their own. However, people who are addicted to alcohol usually cannot stop drinking by sheer force of will. Many people need help. They may need to undergo supervised detoxification to avoid potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms such as seizures. Once people are stable, they may need help with psychologic problems related to alcohol problems.
There are several approaches to treating alcohol dependence. No single approach is the best for all people.
How can a psychologist help?
Psychologists who are trained and experienced in the treatment of alcohol problems can be helpful in many ways. Before a drinker seeks help, a psychologist may refer family or other people to help increase the drinker's motivation for change.
A psychologist may start with the drinker by assessing the types and extent of problems that he or she has experienced. The findings can give the drinker initial recommendations about what treatment to look for and help motivate the troubled drinker to take treatment. People with alcohol problems improve their chances of recovery by seeking help early.
By using one or more of several types of psychologic therapy, psychologists can help people solve the psychologic problems associated with their alcohol use problem. Psychologists have developed some of these therapies, including cognitive-behavioral coping therapies and motivational enhancement therapies. Additional therapies include 12-step approaches to assistance that help people with alcohol use problems use self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
These treatments can help people increase their motivation to quit, identify the circumstances that lead to alcohol use, learn new ways to cope with situations that are at high risk of drinking, and develop social support systems in their communities.
All three of these treatments have been shown to be effective. For example, one analysis of cognitive-behavioral approaches found that 58 per cent of patients treated with cognitive-behavioral treatment had better outcomes than those in control groups. 3 In another study, motivational interventions decreased the frequency and number of drinks adolescents received after treatment in an alcohol-related emergency department. 4 And an intervention called "Alcoholics Anonymity Process Relief" significantly increased participants’ chances of abstaining from alcohol. 5 Many people with alcohol problems simultaneously suffer from other mental disorders such as severe anxiety and depression. Psychologists can also diagnose and treat these "coexisting" psychological conditions. In addition, a psychologist can play an important role in coordinating the services a drinker receives from various health care practitioners.
Psychologists may also provide marital, family, and group therapy, which is often useful for reestablishing interpersonal relationships and for dealing with alcohol problems in the long term. Family relationships influence alcohol-related behavior and these relationships often change as the person recovers. A psychologist can help a drinker and other caregivers navigate these complex transitions, help families understand alcohol problems and learn how to support family members as they recover, and guide family members to self-help groups such as Al-Anon and Alateen.
Because a person can survive one or more relapses and return to a problematic drinking situation, having a trusted psychologist or other health care practitioner with whom the person can discuss and learn from these events may be crucial. If a drinker cannot completely correct alcohol problems, a psychologist can help reduce alcohol consumption and minimize problems.
Psychologists may also refer people to self-help groups. Even after formal treatment has been completed, many people seek additional support through continued participation in such groups.
Alcohol-related disorders seriously impair functioning and health. But the prospects for a successful long-term solution are good for people seeking help from appropriate sources.
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Photos about the harm of alcohol
A sexopathologist about his future.
Photo of the effect of beer on the body.
A doctor on the effects of alcohol. Alcohol kills 700,000 Russians every year... and that says it all.
Harm of alcohol and drunkenness (song)
Photo harm of alcohol (hemolysis of red blood cells). An experiment conducted at home and showing how hemolysis of red blood cells due to alcohol occurs.
Model of experimental alcohol. SUPER!!! See all this photo!!! This photo was taken during the Soviet era. People who drink alcohol are like these mice, they are also experimented with.
Don't drink! (anti-alcohol advertising).
There was no choice! They really had no choice! You stop! Make the right choice.
Photo about the harm of Jaguar (Jaguar) alcoholic drink. Jaguar is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages among young people. Download this photo and see what filth young people have to drink.
Stop the alcohol (transfer). This program reveals the history of alcoholism in our homeland. I suggest that everyone watch.
A very good modern song about the harm of alcohol.
The benefit or the harm of wine? Is wine really useful? Download this program and you will find out.
