Oftentimes, people who abuse alcohol do not know or will not admit that they have a problem with alcohol. But the effects of alcohol can obviously be devastating to a person’s health and the health and well being of their families and others.
Facts About Alcohol
According to the National Institute of Aging, research has shown that alcohol can have a greater effect on a person the older they get. Thus, the same amount of alcohol can have differing effects on an older person than on someone who is much younger.
Alcohol also can worsen a person’s health, making high blood pressure and diabetes worse than it may otherwise be without the alcohol.
Additionally, most medication, either prescription or over the counter can have dangerous effects, or can even be deadly, when taken with alcohol. This is especially worrisome for people 65 or older who take two or more medications a day. Even taking aspirin with alcohol can lead to bleeding in a person’s stomach.
Effects of Alcohol
Even small amounts of alcohol can lead to impaired judgment and slowed reaction time. Alcohol can lead to an increased risk of work and household accidents including falls. It goes without saying that alcohol can lead to impaired driving, thus the two should never be mixed.
Heavy drinking over time can lead to cancer, liver cirrhosis, a weakened immune system and brain damage. Alcohol can change the make-up of blood vessels and changes in the heart. Drinking also can lead to forgetfulness and confusion, and if continued use is in excess, abuse of alcohol can lead to death.
How To Know If Someone Has a Drinking Problem
According to the National Institute of Aging, there are two types of drinking patterns: heavy, binge drinking and long-term drinking that takes place over the course of several years.
Sometimes people turn to alcohol when major life changes happen, such as the loss of a job or loved one. Other times, alcoholism may begin slowly through social situations and build over time.
In many cases, drinking may seem like relief from problems or stressful situations. But, after continued use, drinking can often lead to problems.
It’s important to realize that not everyone who drinks regularly has a drinking problem and not all problem drinkers drink every day.
These are some of the signs to watch for if you think a loved one has a drinking problem:
- A person drinks to calm his or her nerves, forget their worries or reduce depression;
- A person gulps or guzzles drinks;
- A person frequently has more than one drink per day;
- A person lies about drinking or tries to hide his or her drinking;
- A person hurts people while drinking;
- A person continues to need more and more drinking to get high;
- A person feels irritable and resentful when not drinking; and
- A person has medical, social or financial worries caused by drinking, to name a few.
Getting Help For Alcoholism
To get help for alcoholism, an alcoholic needs support from family and friends. To help someone get help for alcoholism, talk to a doctor. He or she can provide guidance and advice for treatment options.
There are several types of treatment available, including 12-step programs, detoxification programs and taking prescription medication to help prevent the urge to drink and counseling.
These types of programs help and teach people how to live without alcohol, dealing with drinking problems and knowing when to recognize the triggers that lead a person to drink.
There also are many program that counsel married couples and families through the troubles caused because of drinking.
For more information about alcoholism visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Reference:
“Alcohol Use and Abuse,” National Institute of Aging, September 2005.
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