Introduction
What is alcohol?
When we talk about alcohol, we usually mean the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages such as wine and beer. The component in all of these drinks that makes you drunk is alcohol.
The alcohol in beverages is called ethanol (ethyl alcohol). A chemical found in beverages such as beer, wine, and liquor. It's made when yeast ferments the sugars in grains, fruits and vegetables. For example, vodka is made from potato sugar, and wine is made from grape sugar.
Is alcohol a drug?
Yes, alcohol is a drug.
As found in some medications, such as mouthwash, household products, and essential oils (scented liquids extracted from certain plants). Alcohol affects how your body works, and also be addictive and toxic to you.
Drinking small amounts of alcohol can make you feel more relaxed or happy, but alcohol is actually a depressant. This means:
- slow down the messages that travel between your brain and body
- affect the way you behave, feel, and think.
Drinking alcohol regularly or in large quantities can increase your risk of certain types of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, colon, and rectum. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of sugar, starch, and yeast.
How is alcohol made?
The type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages is a chemical known as ethanol. To make alcohol, you need to put grains, fruits, or vegetables through a process called fermentation (when yeast or bacteria react with sugars in food - the by-products are ethanol and carbon dioxide).
What is fermentation?
Wine and cider are made by fermenting fruit, while fermented cereals such as barley and rye form the basis of beer and liqueurs.
The alcohol content of the drink is affected by how long it is left to ferment.
Liquor also goes through a process called distillation – in which some of the water is removed, leaving behind a stronger alcohol concentration and taste.
What are the dangers of alcohol?
Excessive drinking can put you at risk for many short and long-term health hazards. For example, consuming too much alcohol in a short period of time can put you at risk for alcohol poisoning.
In the long term, drinking too much can increase your risk of developing many forms of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, colon, and rectum. And other serious health problems.
The UK Chief Medical Officer's (CMO) low-risk drinking guidelines for men and women are to keep the health risks from alcohol to low levels. It is safest to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week regularly.
Basis of Alcohol Addiction and Abuse
What Is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, occurs when an individual has an urge to use alcohol, regardless of the unintended consequences. Addiction is different from dependence: dependence is a physiological process whereas addiction is psychological. Although they can occur separately, they usually appear at the same time.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), alcohol addiction, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is considered a mental health disorder in which the drug causes lasting changes in brain function. These changes increase the likelihood of future use and relapse. Because symptoms can range from mild to severe in intensity, alcoholism can have many effects on a person's mental, physical, social, and spiritual health.
Many factors, including individual differences, increase the risk of alcohol addiction and abuse. The following are some of the most common risk factors for alcohol addiction:
- Drinking before the age of 15 years
- Binge drinking and drinking
- History of traumatic experiences
- Genetics and family history of alcohol problems
- Co-occurring mental health conditions, such as personality disorders, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
The signs of alcohol abuse are numerous, and they will have a negative impact on many aspects of a person's well-being over time. Physical, psychological and social signs of alcohol abuse can include:
Physical Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Many signs of alcohol abuse can appear quickly, including:
- Drink alcohol in greater quantities than previously consumed
- Spending more time, money and energy obtaining and using alcohol
- Spend more time getting drunk and recovering from the effects of alcohol
- Often shows signs of being drunk, such as slurred speech, poor coordination, and problems walking
- Increased injuries from falling or engaging in risky behavior
- Decreased self-care and poor hygiene
- Smells of alcohol or has lots of empty bottles around the house
- Significant weight change
Other physical signs of alcohol abuse require long-term use and include:
- Heart problems, such as high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and stroke.
- Liver problems, such as fatty liver, fibrositis, cirrhosis and hepatitis
- Pancreatitis
- Various cancers
- Weakened immune system
Psychological Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Psychological signs of alcohol abuse appear when the substance interferes with normal brain function. Most common emotional signs of alcoholism are as follows:
- Moods change quickly
- Increased irritability, anger and aggression
- Failed to comply with all responsibilities
- Problems with memory, concentration and attention
- New or worsening anxiety
- Possible hallucinations or delusions, especially during withdrawal periods
The psychological signs of alcohol addiction can mask a mental health condition by masking its symptoms or intensifying the symptoms of coexisting disorders. Accurately identifying all of today's psychological disorders is particularly challenging when alcohol abuse is still occurring.
Social Signs of Alcohol Abuse
The effects of alcohol abuse go beyond the physical and psychological to include social influences. The most general social signs of alcohol abuse include:
- Spending less time with friends and isolating himself
- Spending more time in new and or changing social groups
- Increased lies and deceit
- Failing to follow through on plans
- Increased conflicts with friends, family, and co-workers
- Decreased performance at school, work or sports
Socially, someone addicted to alcohol is likely to be very inconsistent. One day, they can be happy and friendly. The next day, they can feel sad, angry, and hostile. The unpredictability of social interactions is a strong indicator of drug use disorders.
Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Many of the effects of alcohol abuse are produced by alcohol poisoning. Although the effects may vary from individual to individual, common reactions to consumption of alcohol include:
- Talk lisp
- Incoordination
- The problem goes steadily
- Poor memory and attention
- Mood swings
- Bad rating
Many of these effects are proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed. A person may experience desirable mood swings after a drink or two but unwanted mood swings with inappropriate or aggressive behavior with additional drinks. When people continue to drink, they run the risk of overloading their systems with alcohol and developing alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol poisoning can be fatal. If you suspect that someone has been poisoned by alcohol, call 911 immediately. DO NOT be afraid to seek help. If you do not have access to a telephone, contact Web Poison Control Services for online assistance.
In the long term, addictions such as alcohol use disorder make everyday activities nearly impossible. A recent poll by The Recovery Village found physical health (61%), mental health (52%) and relationships (47%) were the most common negative impacts on everyday life. In many cases, people will also struggle to hold on to their jobs, parental responsibilities, housing, financial health, and hygiene. Alcohol use can even threaten a person's freedom due to legal issues. Left untreated alcoholism can destroy all the person has worked hard to achieve.
Outlook for Alcoholism
Alcoholism can have long-term consequences due to its ability to negatively impact almost every aspect of mental and physical health. Fortunately, if a person can stop abusing substances, their body and brain can begin the recovery process.
Before to recovery, a person who is physically dependent on alcohol must go through a period of alcohol withdrawal. During this time, a person may experience a series of uncomfortable symptoms, such as:
- Sweating
- Rapid heartbeat
- Unsteadiness or tremors
- Anxiety or stress
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Inability to sleep
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hallucinations
- seizures
Many of these symptoms begin within hours of last use and generally last 2-8 days. Some symptoms, such as anxiety and sleep deprivation, can last six months or more. While this may be discouraging, people in recovery from alcohol use can build happy and fulfilling lives with time and patience.
How Addictive Is Alcohol?
Alcohol can be a highly addictive substance, especially when consumed in large quantities in a short period of time. Alcohol addiction develops in several stages. The addiction process can start with the first drink, with physical and mental factors that can escalate quickly.
Brain Chemistry During Alcohol Use
Like other addictive drugs, alcohol affects brain chemistry. When someone drinks alcohol, the drug causes their brain to release neurotransmitters, which are chemicals responsible for signalling (among other things) pleasure and reward. In the brain, alcohol increases the effects of neurotransmitters that slow down the body while reducing the effects of neurotransmitters that speed up the body. The combined effects produce many of the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
Alcohol Tolerance
Once the effects of alcohol wear off, so do the feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness caused by the neurotransmitters. If a person consumes alcohol again, these feelings will return. After a period of continued alcohol abuse, greater amounts of alcohol are needed to achieve the same effect. This process is called cause and tolerance people to use higher amounts of alcohol over time to achieve the same level of intoxication.
Alcohol Addiction, or Physical Addiction
As alcohol use continues, the body and brain begin to adjust to the neurochemical changes caused by alcohol. This adjustment, called dependence, requires alcohol for the brain and body to function normally.
Alcohol Withdrawal
If alcohol use is stopped, a person who has abused alcohol and is addicted will experience withdrawal symptoms. During withdrawal, the brain becomes so used to alcohol that it has a volatile reaction when the drug is removed, causing headaches, vomiting, sweating, restlessness, and other symptoms.
Alcohol Addiction, or Physical and Psychological Addiction
Alcoholism is defined by an obsessive desire to consume alcohol despite the negative consequences. Addiction is a physical process, whereas addiction is a form of psychological dependence. At this point, people who engage in alcohol abuse are likely to experience many of the negative side effects of drinking — such as financial or legal problems — but cannot stop drinking.
How Is Alcohol Abuse Diagnosed?
To accurately diagnose alcohol problems, such as addiction, abuse, and dependence, doctors and mental health professionals use a combination of visual assessment and interviewing skills. In some cases, a physical exam can be used to identify poisoning or withdrawal.
Alcohol use disorder is the formal diagnosis for someone who has a problematic relationship with alcohol. To diagnose this condition, a professional will investigate the most important factors, such as:
- Drink more often and in larger quantities than you should
- Inability to carry out intentions to stop drinking
- A significant amount of time is spent drinking or becoming drunk.
- Strong cravings to continue using alcohol
- Neglecting normal activities
- Increased conflict in relationships
- Drinking alcohol, even if it causes physical or mental health problems
- Drink in extremely dangerous situations, such as while driving
- Increased physical tolerance to alcohol
- Presence of withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is discontinued
A person only needs two of these signs and symptoms to be diagnosed with alcoholism. Having more symptoms may indicate a more serious problem.
While these factors can be used to diagnose alcohol abuse, an accurate diagnosis depends on being honest with your care provider. Being honest with a doctor is very important in understanding if alcohol abuse is something that should be diagnosed.
Alcohol Addiction Statistics
Scientists and researchers have been tracking statistics about alcohol consumption and alcohol-related death rates for decades. Because of the importance of this research, the United States government established the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in 1970.
The NIAAA publishes new data on alcohol abuse, alcohol-related deaths, and other important statistics every year. Some of the most recent statistics on alcohol addiction in America include the following:
- 85.6% of adults aged 18 and over reported drinking alcohol at some point in their life
- 69.5% of adults reported drinking within the past year, and 54.9% reported drinking within the past month
- 25.8% of adults reported binge drinking in the past month.
- 14.5 million people aged 12 years or older have an alcohol use disorder
- Globally, an estimated 107 million people have alcohol use disorders.
- Only 7.2% of people with alcohol use disorder receive treatment.
- More than 10% of American children live in households where at least one parent has a drinking problem.
- Alcohol abuse is a major risk factor for contracting mouth cancer, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver and breast cancers.
- It is estimated that a college student dies every six hours from accidental alcohol-related injuries, including car accidents.
Recovery Village Alcohol Survey Results 2020
We polled 2,136 American adults who want to or have tried to quit drinking (successfully or not). We quizzed them on their alcohol consumption, reasons for drinking, alcohol-related outcomes, health, and other topics. Some research respondents (47.1%) qualify as heavy alcohol users. Research shows that people who drank before age 15 are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol later in life.
Among those surveyed:
- 10.1% had their first alcoholic drink at age 11 or younger
- 37.5% had their first alcoholic drink between the ages of 12-17
- 39.7% had their first alcoholic drink between the ages of 18-25
- 12.6% had their first alcoholic drink at age 26 or older
Alcohol use disorder can involve feeling like you need to drink to continue, but it doesn't start that way. Various reasons can spur a person to drink until they become dependent on alcohol. Among those surveyed:
- 64.9% use alcohol to deal with stress (to relax, unwind, or deal with life)
- 43.5% use alcohol to manage mental health symptoms such as anxiety or depression
- 61.9% use alcohol recreationally or socially
- 38.1% use alcohol out of boredom
- 16.6% reported being physically dependent on alcohol
- 17.8% use alcohol as part of their daily routine (i.e. drink with dinner)
Only 7.2% of people with alcohol use disorder receive treatment. ]
The number of people struggling with alcohol addiction is staggering. What's even sadder is that many of these people will not receive the help they need. The good news is that most people with alcohol use disorder will benefit from treatment. While many people will not receive the help they require, those who do seek help are likely to see positive results from alcohol addiction rehabilitation.
Stages of Alcoholism
What causes someone to become an alcoholic?
There is no single cause of alcoholism. Rather, it is a complex combination of genetic markers and environmental precursors. Although there is a hereditary component to the development of alcoholism, no alcohol addiction gene has ever been isolated. Having a parent who was an alcoholic makes you four times more likely to become one, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Environmental factors are also part of the mix. Growing up in a household where alcohol was prevalent also increases your future risk of alcoholism. Your involvement with peers while you were growing up and the age at which you started drinking also contributed. People who drank before age 15 were four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol later in life.
Mental health plays an important role in all forms of substance abuse. Among alcoholics, in particular, 37% have at least one serious mental health disorder, such as bipolar disorder, according to National Alliance on Mental Illness.
What makes alcohol addicted?
There are several reasons why alcohol is addictive. Some of the key points for the addictive nature of alcohol include:
- Alcoholism can develop because alcohol changes the neurochemistry of the brain.
- Alcohol can cause physical and psychological dependence.
When someone is physically dependent on alcohol, stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms, making it more difficult to quit.
How to Recover from Alcohol Addiction
Treatment Options for Alcoholism
There are various treatment options for alcohol addiction and alcohol use disorder. People should always seek a professional evaluation because not all levels of treatment are suitable for everyone.
Inpatient/residential care is generally more intensive for people with more severe symptoms of addiction and dependency. This treatment offers round-the-clock care managed by a professional team. To maintain a safe environment for the individual, they will live in a treatment facility and initially have limited contact with people outside the center.
Outpatient care involves care that allows people to stay home, work and maintain other routines while attending treatment. Rather than staying in a treatment center, the person will attend their appointment and then return home. Intensive outpatient care may involve several hours of care several times per week to offer more support to the person in need.
According to a recent survey by The Recovery Village of those who started treatment:
- 34.9% started rehabilitation in the inpatient or inpatient setting
- 24.2% started intensive outpatient care
- 26.1% started outpatient care
- 14.8% started rehabilitation in teletherapy
Treatment must be intensive enough to meet the client's needs without being too restrictive or burdensome so that people who drink excessively frequently will require higher levels of care. Recovery Village found that heavy drinkers were 2.42 times more likely to attend inpatient or residential rehabilitation than other treatment programs, most likely due to increased needs related to heavy alcohol use.
People with fewer symptoms or additional responsibilities at home or work can choose outpatient or telehealth offerings to limit life interruptions. These programs offer great flexibility in assessing and treat each person's addiction.
The intensity of treatment is important, but the duration will also determine the effectiveness of the service. According to The Recovery Village survey:
- 55.4% spent less than 30 days in rehabilitation
- 27.1% spent 31-60 days in rehabilitation
- 10.8% spent 61–90 days in rehab
- 6.7% spent more than 90 days in rehab
Overall, longer treatment periods are likely to be more beneficial than shorter service periods. With addiction treatment, it is very important to keep the process going after rehab. People who successfully complete inpatient or residential treatment should seamlessly transition to outpatient care with a robust after-care plan.
Beyond professional services, support groups like A.A. can help keep people moving toward their recovery goals. Ongoing addiction treatment can help minimize relapse and establish a longer recovery period.
Finding the Help You or a Loved One Needs for Alcoholism
If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, help is available. The most important step in recovering from alcohol addiction is seeking treatment. The caring team members at The Recovery Village understand how difficult it can be to take the first step to getting help.
Recovery Village is here for you and would welcome the opportunity to help you start on the road to full recovery. Contact our team today to learn more about comprehensive treatment for alcohol abuse and how you or a loved one can break free from alcohol addiction.
How to Treat Alcohol Addiction Safely and Effectively
When a person has already fallen into alcohol addiction, there are many ways for him to return to a normal life, and the safest and easiest way is to take natural medicines. Dr. Zaidul Akbar has provided recipes and tips so that someone who is addicted to alcohol can recover.
Dr. Zaidul Akbar revealed this in one of his health tips. He said that to get rid of it, only enough to drink certain herbal ingredients. The herbal drink is enough to drink as much as seven tablespoons daily. According to him, alcohol addiction can be cured.
From the book Rasulullah's Healthy Tips - Life Spreads Benefits. The following is an explanation from Dr. Zaidul Akbar: According to him, the way to cure alcohol addiction can be by drinking as much as seven tablespoons of honey every day.
"Someone with Alcohol addiction; can be treated by being given seven tablespoons of honey daily," wrote Dr. Zaidul Akbar on his instagram account.
He said that honey has various good health benefits and can cure so many diseases and we already know that. In addition, the high nutritional content of honey is also useful for boosting the immune system in the body, so that it can quickly recover the body's health quickly, including treating alcohol addiction. with a note must consume it regularly every day.
In fact, in one study, almost all types of bacteria and parasites could not live in the honey environment. thus making honey the purest and healthiest food substance
"Even for diseases, honey should be combined with other herbs because diets are very diverse nowadays," Suggests Dr Zaidul Akbar.
In addition to the process of healing the body due to alcohol, Dr. Zaidul Akbar recommends that patients regularly consume other herbal drinks.
Conclusion
To cure someone of alcohol addiction and all the ailments caused by it. You can start by consulting a doctor and carrying out the medication and therapy that the doctor has suggested, besides that all the fastest and safest ways that Dr. Zaidul Akbar has informed you are to consume seven tablespoons of honey every day.
Also consume various other natural medicines as acceleration of body healing. and the most important thing is the intention and strong motivation to be free from various infectious diseases. Finally, don't forget to pray to God for the desired healing.