Alcoholism Case

ALCOHOLISM

Introduction:

Alcoholism is a term used to refer to a wide range of problems with alcohol, specifically, the over-consumption of alcohol by an individual with negative effects on the drinker's personal, social and work life. Alcoholism has been recognized as a disease and a disorder by various bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO, 2010). The APA's DMS-IV manual makes two distinctions to alcoholism: alcohol abuse, where drinking leads to adverse effects such as disruptions in work routine, and alcohol dependence, where an individual displays a physical addiction to alcohol and an incontrollable urge to drink

Causes of Alcoholism:

Causes of alcoholism vary from social factors, such as the environment in which one was raised, to biological factors such as a person's genetic makeup. Socio-environmental factors that contribute to alcoholism include poverty, exposure to physical, mental or sexual abuse while growing up. Early exposure to alcohol as a child, teenager or in college years can also lead to alcohol abuse. Gender may also be a contributing factor to alcoholism, as in most cultures, drinking by men, even to excess, is viewed as normal in most cultures, while women are discouraged from indulging in such behavior. This makes men prone to developing alcoholism compared to women. Psychological and psychiatric factors can also lead to alcoholism. Sufferers of low esteem and anxiety disorders may drink so as to open up socialize and "relax", becoming unable to do so while not under the influence. Depression sufferers may use alcohol to feel "happy" and may end up drinking constantly to ensure that the high does not wear off.

Scientists have also identified genes, or alleles, in certain individuals that make them more predisposed to alcoholism than their counterparts who lack them (Bakalkin, 2008). This lends credence to the theory that alcoholism runs in families.

Symptoms of Alcoholism:

The most commonly used red-lights for identifying an alcoholic are categorized into alcohol-abuse symptoms and alcohol-dependence symptoms.

Alcohol abuse symptoms include: Neglecting responsibilities at home, work or school due to drinking or drink- related issues such as hangovers, reaching for a drink every time as a way to relax or unwind, keeping on drinking even when it is causing problems in your family life and using alcohol in situations where it is physically dangerous such as drunk- driving,

Alcohol-dependence symptoms include: Developing a high alcohol tolerance, meaning you need to drink more and more to feel "buzzed", drinking to get rid of a hangover or other withdrawal symptoms such as shaking or trembling, withdrawal from social activities due to drinking and inability to