Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following circumstances in a twelve-month period of time:

· Experiencing recurring alcohol-related legal problems. Illustrations include getting arrested for driving under the influence, for damaging another individual's property, or for physically hurting another individual while under the influence of alcohol.

· Failure to attend to important responsibilities at school, work, or home.

· Continued drinking in spite of ongoing alcohol-related relationship troubles.

· Drinking in circumstances that can result in physical injury. Illustrations include operating machinery or driving a vehicle.

alcohol abuse facts

Stated in a different way, alcohol abuse is defined as a destructive pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. The alcohol-related distress or impairment may be evident through repeated occurrences of problems at work, school, or home, alcohol-related relationship issues, or frequent legal or health problems due to excessive drinking.

Generally, moderate drinking is not associated with health risks and can even help to prevent certain forms of heart disease.

Hazardous drinking, nevertheless, has immediate consequences that can increase the risk of many damaging health conditions.

Irresponsible alcohol use, either in the form of heavy drinking (i.e., drinking more than one drink per day on average for women and more than two drinks per day on average for men) or binge drinking (i.e., drinking four or more drinks during one sitting for women or five or more drinks in one sitting for men) can lead to increased risk of health problems such as liver disease, unintentional accidents or injuries, or alcohol addiction.

alcohol related employment problems

After a period of excessive drinking, a mix of factors, mainly withdrawal and dehydration may result is a hangover. Hangovers are commonly accompanied and identified by vomiting, headaches, and nausea. Hangovers, it may be noted, may be avoided or their affects significantly lessened if the individual drinks at least a pint of water after a heavy drinking session.

Many individuals drink a small or moderate amount of alcohol in order to relax and enhance their social activities. Drinking alcohol in this way is not harmful for most adults. When people experience alcohol-related problems in any aspect of their lives, including their health, relationships, employment, school, or their finances, however, these individuals have an alcohol problem.

These problems can range from mild to severe and depend on how quickly the body metabolizes alcohol, how much and how quickly the alcohol was consumed, how long the individual has been drinking, if the individual drank on an empty stomach, and the individual's weight.

alcohol treatment

Engaging in excessive drinking negatively affects the central nervous system as well as the functioning of the brain. In fact, excessive drinking can cause Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is a type of permanent brain damage that is largely interconnected with an alcohol-related thiamine deficiency.

Hazardous drinking also affects coordination, thinking, and perception. Moreover, excessive drinking increases aggression, reduces inhibitions, and impairs judgment. Finally, people who drink in an excessive manner are more likely than others to engage in high risk, irresponsible, or violent behavior.

It needs to be emphasized that alcohol abuse differs from alcohol dependence in that it does not necessarily include a loss of control, physical dependence, or an extremely strong compulsion or craving for alcohol. Additionally, alcohol abuse is less likely than alcohol dependence to include tolerance (the need for increasing amounts of alcohol to get a “buzz” or to get "high”). Both conditions, however, can lead to a disaster concerning all facets of a person’s life.

Not surprisingly, alcohol abuse is a key cause and trigger in domestic violence. This is based on the fact that people who engage in excessive drinking often demonstrate inferior decision-making skills, are easily frustrated, manifest poor impulse control, and routinely resort to violence as a solution to their difficulties.

Hazardous drinking can cause serious complications that require immediate medical care. Treatment for alcohol abuse often involves detoxification, rehydration, and counseling. In severe cases, alcohol abuse requires inpatient rehab in an alcohol rehab center or in a rehab hospital. Alcohol abuse rehab may include doctor-prescribed drugs, support, behavior therapy, education, and counseling. And after the inpatient part of rehab is finished, outpatient rehab is often arranged.