2. DEFINATION OF
ALCOHOLISM:
Alcoholism is a chronic
illness marked by
dependence on alcohol
consumption that interferes
with physical or mental
health, and social, family or
job responsibilities. This
addiction can lead to liver,
circulatory and neurological
problems.
3. Introduction
• There are approximately 79,000 deaths attributable to
excessive alcohol use each year in the US.
• This makes excessive alcohol use the 3rd leading
lifestyle-related cause of death for the nation.
• In the single year 2005, there were more than 1.6
million hospitalizations and more than 4 million
emergency room visits for alcohol-related conditions.
4. Definitions of Patterns of Drinking Alcohol
Binge drinking
a. For women, 4 or more drinks during a single
occasion.
b. For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion.
Heavy drinking
a. For women, more than 1 drink per day on average.
b. For men, more than 2 drinks per day on average
5. What Causes Alcoholism?
• Alcoholism is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental,
biological, and psychological factors.
• Alcoholism often runs in families. This is partially due to genetic
factors.
• Although genetics is involved in many cases of alcoholism,
children of alcoholic parents do not necessarily become alcoholic.
• In addition, people with no family history of the disease can
develop alcoholism.
6. • Environmental factors also may affect drinking and the
development of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
• They include:
1. Influence of family and friends;
2. Cultural attitudes and practices;
3. Ease of obtaining alcohol; and
4. Stress
• Depression and anxiety disorders also increase people’s risk of
developing alcohol problems.
• People may use alcohol to help deal with symptoms of these
disorders.
• However, in some people depression and anxiety can be caused by
the alcohol dependence and go away after they withdraw from
alcohol.
7. A. Immediate Health Risks
• Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk
of many harmful health conditions.
• These immediate effects are most often the result of binge
drinking and include the following:
1. Unintentional injuries, including traffic injuries, falls, drownings,
burns, and unintentional firearm injuries.
2. Violence, including intimate partner violence and child
maltreatment.
3. Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex, sex with
multiple partners, and increased risk of sexual assault. These
behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually
transmitted diseases.
8. 4. Miscarriage and stillbirth among pregnant women, and a
combination of physical and mental birth defects among
children that last throughout life.
5. Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results
from high blood alcohol levels that suppress the central
nervous system and can cause loss of consciousness, low
blood pressure and body temperature, coma, respiratory
depression, or death.
9. Long-Term Health Risks
1. Neurological problems, including dementia, stroke and
neuropathy.
2. Cardiovascular problems, including myocardial infarction,
cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation and hypertension.
3. Psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicide.
4. Social problems, including unemployment, lost productivity, and
family problems.
5. Cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, and breast.
6. Liver diseases, including:
a. Alcoholic hepatitis.
b. Cirrhosis,
c. Other gastrointestinal problems, including pancreatitis
and gastritis.
10. Social Problems
• Alcohol use can make mild social problems worse by causing
people to be more irritable and likely to argue and by affecting
judgment and control of behavior.
• Misuse of alcohol can lead to a number of moderate and serious
social problems including:
1. Losing friends;
2. Losing jobs;
3. Child abuse and domestic violence;
4. Separation of family members; and
5. Divorce.
6.These disorders can have adverse effects on fertility.
7. Further, continued drinking may lead to early menopause.
11.
12. Financial Problems
• Misuse of alcohol may make current money problems worse
and cause new ones, including:
1. Having less money for necessary expenses like food and
clothing;
2. Neglecting to pay bills; and
• Creating additional expenses, such as extra medical costs,
fines, or car repairs.
