What is alcoholism? Alcoholism is when the body becomes physically dependent on alcohol.

It is a chronic long-term problem that many people struggle with for years, or even their entire lives. A person who suffers from alcoholism becomes obsessed with alcohol and feels as though they have no control over how much they drink. Their drinking typically comes before their personal health and it creates problems in their home life. It often causes the alcoholic to have serious issues at work or even to lose their job Recent data from the National Institutes of Health reports that 15% of the people living in the United States are considered problem drinkers. Of this 15%, 5%-10% of the males and 3%-5% of the females could be labeled as alcoholics. Another study found that approximately 30% of people in the U.S. report experiencing an alcohol disorder at one point in their lifetime. Researchers from the University of California in San Diego have found that the lifetime risk of alcohol-use disorders for men is greater than 20%. They share that there is a risk of around 15% for alcohol abuse and 10% risk for alcohol dependence.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shows that the age of a persons first alcoholic

drink may determine their likely hood in becoming an alcoholic. It has been found that those who had their first alcoholic drink before they were 15 were much more likely to have a problem with alcohol later in life th

Cause Genetic factors play a significant role in the causes of alcoholism. There is no denying that when addiction runs in a family, there is an increased chance of addictive tendencies in the upcoming generations. Alcoholics who come from parents, grandparents, etc. who had problems with alcohol consciously made the choice to experiment with drinking Physical/sexual abuse and mental issues (depression, low self-esteem, bi-polar just to list a few). People who suffer or have suffered physical and/or sexual abuse will sometimes turn to drugs and alcohol as a way of numbing their internal pain. This coping strategy only works for so long

before the alcohol begins to become a problem in their life, just like the abuse they are trying to escape from. Mental issues such as depression will also cause people to turn to alcohol to feel better. Initially, they will feel somewhat better but as they continue to drink the depressive nature of alcohol takes over and will bring them down more than before they took their first drink. People who are bi-polar are very susceptible to turning to alcohol and other recreational and prescription drugs as a means of self-medicating. It is not uncommon for a person who is bi-polar to take a variety of prescription drugs in addition to consuming alcohol in an attempt to feel better or normal. Also, those who suffer with low self-esteem may turn to alcohol as a form of liquid courage. This is a doub Another factor in the causes of alcoholism is social and peer pressure. Some people begin drinking socially and gradually develop an abusive relationship with alcohol. What may have once been just drinks with friends becomes drinking at every social function and feeling the overwhelming urge to drink if alcohol is not part of the event. Peer pressure also leads to many peoples abuse of alcohol. In high school and college some young adults enjoy the attention they get when they drink and brag about holding their liquor.

Effecte Alcoholism can cause the development of fatty liver, cirrhosis and hepatitis One of the most well-known includes the damaging effects alcohol has on the user physically. As a person drinks alcohol it passes through their mouth and esophagus into their stomach. At that point a small amount of the alcohol is converted there in the stomach. However, the larger part of the remaining alcohol enters the users blood stream and continues to spread throughout their body. This is why if the person has little or no food in their stomach they experience the effects of the alcohol more intensely and quickly. The effects of alcoholism also include fatty liver disease or alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Current estimates show that more than 15 million people in the United States overuse or abuse alcohol.

Alcohol is known to be extremely damaging on the users brain. When a person over-consumes alcohol they my experience black outs, memory lapses, brain damage and Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Blackouts take place when the alcoholic drinks too much too quickly and causes their blood alcohol level to rise drastically. They will not be able to recall details from a period of time or even whole events that took place during their blackout. Memory lapses are one of the more common effects of alcoholism because of the drugs e This disease is comprised of two separate syndromes: Wernickes and Korsakoffs syndromes. The first syndrome, Wernickes encephalopathy is a short-lived serious condition that includes mental confusion, paralysis of the nerves that move the eyes and difficulty with muscle coordination. The second syndrome, Korsakoffs psychosis is a long-term condition characterized by continued learning and memory problems.

Treatement Alcohol treatment can come in many different forms: rehab, support groups, counseling/therapy, etc. C Inpatient Just as the name implies the addict lives in the rehab facility while they are receiving treatment. Inpatient alcohol treatment is ideal for addicts who have struggled with alcohol addiction for a long period of time, may have made multiple attempts at sobriety in other rehab programs Outpatient Addicts attend group meetings and counseling sessions but continue to live at home. This type of treatment works well for addicts who have less severe alcohol addiction problems, Residential Residential treatment has similarities to inpatient treatment. The addict resides at the program location and receives care 24/7

Short-term Programs that are classified as short-term usually last fourteen to twenty-eight days in length. They can be inpatient or outpatient depending on the type of program. Long-term Long-term programs typically last four months or longer. There are some treatment programs that take six months or more to complete. Long-term treatment programs are usually held at inpatient rehabs or residential/therapeutic communities.

slows down the activity of the brain * contains absolutely no nutrients * d* does not help relieve tension , induce sleep or solve problems

All alcoholic beverages contain the same mood-changing agent - ethyl alcohol though in varying percentage. 62.5 million alcohol users estimated in India(2010) Per capita consumption of alcohol increased by 106.7% over the 15-year period from 1970 to 1996. Due to its large population, India has been identified as the potentially third Taxes generated from alcohol production and sale is the major source of revenue in most states (Rs.25,000 crores) and has been cited as a reason for permitting alcohol sale. Four states Gujarat, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland - have enforced prohibition.

Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance (IAPA) is a registered non-governmental organization started in 2004 to prevent alcohol related harm through policy intervention, advocacy and capacity building. Celebrities

Mariette Hartley and Malcolm McDowell. Celebrity comedians who have made recoveries include Richard Lewis, Richard Pryor and George Carlin. Sir Anthony Hopkins has managed to stay clean and sober for over 30 years now. This brings us to the famous celebrity recoveries from drugs a Experts say more than 700,000 kids ages 12 to 14 are drinking booze. Many of the kids are taking it from the family liquor cabinet or a parent or guardian is giving it to them directly. According to the U.S Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, underage drinking is becoming a national problem.