For a number of years alcohol dependency research has demonstrated the fact that there is strong association between alcoholism and serious health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.
For example, in 2005, medical exploration and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics demonstrated the fact that that alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion per year. It can be emphasized that this gigantic alcohol-related cash outlay was significantly more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is relevant to accentuate these facts, it is also important to point to the fact that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health problems.
To be exact, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency are also highly associated with obesity and with cancer.
Without a doubt, substance abuse research has demonstrated the fact that alcohol dependency can augment the risk for different types of cancer, particularly cancer of the voice box (larynx), esophagus, liver, rectum, colon, kidneys, and throat. Abusive and recurring drinking can also lead to immune system problems and impairment to the fetus during pregnancy.
Irresponsible and Heavy Drinking Weakens the Person’s Systems and Organs
Furthermore, if alcohol dependency continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will more likely than not be affected in an unhealthy manner. As an illustration, chronic, hazardous drinking is especially injurious to the liver due to the fact that the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Extreme amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and destroys the ability of liver cells to redevelop. This medical condition results in a progressive inflammatory malfunction of the liver that can in the long run lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a grave and potentially deadly disease. Heavy, long-term drinking not only can result in acute liver damage, but it can also result in damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this serious may be irreparable and may, in turn, result in severe ill health or premature death.
The Significance of Alcohol Rehabilitation
It is important, then, to know how to recognize the different alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol dependent individual can be given the opportunity to get the professional alcohol rehabilitation he or she needs.
Alcoholism and Sophisticated Brain Exploration
Fortuitously, scientific investigation is relentlessly finding novel and important information. Recent alcoholism exploration offers a good example. More correctly, for approximately the last ten years, sophisticated brain-imaging scanning instruments have shown that continuous and long-term excessive drinking changes the constitution of the brain to a significant extent, thereby resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or conceivably as long as the person lives.
More correctly, medical exploration has demonstrated that individuals who have been drinking abusively for a sizeable length of time increase their risk for developing long lasting and substantial modifications in the brain.
This type of damage may be directly related to severe liver disease, to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.
Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Excessive Drinking
As a final illustration of different medical conditions that are considerably related to alcohol addiction, take into account the fact that according to scientific research, the abusive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a condition that lessens the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
This type of organ malfunctioning is associated with malnutrition and to a variety of acute neurological and mental disorders including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter health problem is a lasting debilitating health problem that is typified by recurring learning and memory difficulties.
Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking Also Leads to in Friendship and Relationship Difficulties
In addition to acute health issues, abusive and excessive drinking also leads to friendship and relationship issues. As an illustration, people who engage in abusive drinking typically experience affairs, divorce, sexuality problems, and marital problems.
Summary: The Importance of Education
It is plain to see that repetitive, excessive drinking is directly or indirectly linked to many severe medical problems that can and do result in dangerous ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be underlined and presented to everyone in our society, especially to all students, so that a large number of people will be able to refrain from hazardous drinking while other individuals who have a drinking problem will get the professional therapy they require.
Let us look at this with a common sense perspective. Yes, alcohol rehabilitation is significant, but alcohol rehab is something that is usually done AFTER the fact. Education, to the contrary, is something that is done BEFORE the problem arises. Stated a different way, whereas alcohol rehab is “reactive,” education is “proactive.” It is stated that both approaches are required when discussing alcohol problems.
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