A pint of beer or a glass of wine with your meal… a drink after work to unwind… What might start as harmless drinking, can sometimes develop into a drinking problem. The line between drinking for leisure and drinking out of habit or dependence may get blurred sooner than you realise. In many settings, alcohol is such an integral part of socialising and celebration that it is easy to lose sight of the fact that if moderation and control in not exercised, it can produce dependence and even addiction. Sometimes alcohol use grows into abuse and dependence after a stressful life event such as a loss, bereavement or break-up. At other times, dependence develops as your body’s tolerance of alcohol increases due to regular binge drinking.
It is important to note that there are varying degrees of alcohol dependence and they don’t always involve excessive levels of drinking. If you have been relying on alcohol for relief or coping, you are susceptible to alcohol abuse and dependence. Even a regular compulsion to drink is a cause for concern. The urge to drink alone often, a strong need for a drink nearly every day and neglecting other activities because of the urge to drink are some of the early warning signals. If you notice these in yourself or in someone around you, it needs to be addressed before the dependence turns to addiction.
How alcohol affects your body and mind:
The immediate effects of alcohol consumption include slurred speech, loss of balance, lowered inhibitions and increased reaction time. Sustained consumption leads to long-term effects such as the risk of developing high blood pressure, stroke, coronary heart disease and liver disease. The liver is the most susceptible to alcohol-related injury because it is the primary organ responsible for alcohol metabolism. This means, that it is the liver which breaks down alcohol in our body, and the bi-products of this metabolism have damaging effects on the liver tissue.
Apart from the physiological complications arising out of alcohol dependence, it also makes a person vulnerable to a host of psychological problems. Drinking problems put a great strain on the people around you. Family and other relationships suffer tremendously as a result of dependence on alcohol. Research suggests that alcoholics and alcohol abusers are much more likely to get divorced, have problems with domestic violence and struggle with unemployment. Anxiety, depression, reckless behaviour and suicidal thoughts can also manifest as a result of regular dependence on alcohol. It can also lead to reduced attention to personal well-being and professional responsibilities.
Why is early detection important?
Apart from the obvious reason of avoiding the harmful effects mentioned above, it is essential to detect and deal with the problem of alcohol dependence in the early stages because consumption in large quantities or on a regular basis, or both, can lead to chemical changes in the brain.
Consuming more quantities of alcohol without feeling the immediate effects is a sign of increasing tolerance. It does not protect you from the harmful effects, but rather masks these till they are too severe. If you or someone around you has been drinking without feeling any ill-effects, it is an indication that you/they have been drinking too much. Once the brain gets habituated to the presence of alcohol, it can get increasingly difficult to quit, hence it is important that you heed to the warning signs even in the absence of immediate effects.
Overcoming dependence takes a strong desire on the part of the affected individual, along with a strong social support from loved ones. The withdrawal symptoms which result from stopping intake of alcohol may discourage people from continuing the process of getting off alcohol. With therapeutic support from a counsellor, these inhibitions and challenges can be successfully overcome.
References for further information:
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/alcoholism-and-alcohol-abuse.htm
http://www.drinksmarter.org/health-and-wellbeing/alcohol-tolerance
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/alcoholism-and-problem-drinking
http://www.timberlineknolls.com/alcohol-addiction/signs-effects
Exploring Alcohol’s Effects on Liver Function by JACQUELYN J. MAHER (Alcohol Health & Research World) VOL. 21, NO. 1, 1997 http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh21-1/05.pdf