Abusing alcohol refers to an unhealthy drinking behavior that can range from binge drinking to dependence. In some cases, this could lead to wellness issues for people as well as large scale social matters, for example, substance-related criminal activities. The condition was a psychiatric diagnosis in the DSM-4 and has been combined with dependence into alcohol use disorder in the DSM-5. Excessive consumption is globally considered among the top risk factors for both the burden of injury and disease and death. Except for tobacco, it accounts for a greater burden of illness than any other drug. The use is a significant cause of preventable liver disease throughout the world, and alcoholic liver condition is the primary alcohol-associated chronic health ailment. Many people ranging from the youth to the elderly, indulge in abnormal drinking in North America. The disorder can impact individuals from various parts of the world. This paper summarizes research on the abuse of alcohol, signs and symptoms, causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
Signs and Symptoms
People affected with alcohol use disorder will usually complain of having interpersonal relations, issues at school or work, and lawful problems. Furthermore, individuals may be irritated at times or experience insomnia as well. This type of substance abuse is an essential cause of chronic fatigue (Mahna et al., 2018). Signs are associated with alcohol’s impacts on organ systems (Mahna et al., 2018). Nevertheless, whereas the findings are usually available, they may not be needed to diagnose alcohol abuse. The nervous system is impacted as well and this is evident in the form of poor decision-making, anxiety as well as insomnia. The effects on the liver consist of elevated function tests.
Continuous use of alcohol may result in cirrhosis as well as liver failure. Regarding cirrhosis, a patient develops an incapacity to process toxins and hormones which leads to hepatic encephalopathy. Their skin can develop palmar erythema, spider angiomas, and jaundice. The endocrine system’s derangements cause an enlargement of the male breasts (Araujo et al., 2021). Alcohol can additionally be the cause of brain damage manifested in the form of impairments in executive functioning, for example, weakening of visuospatial function and working memory. It can as well be the root of abnormal personality traits and affective disorders.
Researchers associate binge drinking with people who have poor health which may slowly worsen with time. Alcohol causes loss in the critical thinking of an individual. Someone’s capacity to reason in pressure moments is compromised and they appear inattentive to what is happening in their surroundings (Araujo et al., 2021). Social skills are greatly affected in those experiencing or having trouble dealing with alcoholism as a result of the neurotoxic impacts of the substance. This is particularly on the prefrontal cortex part of the human brain.
The area of the brain that is affected is the one responsible for the cognitive functionalities such as impulse control, working memory as well as decision-making. The prefrontal cortex is susceptible to chronic alcohol-induced damage of the oxidative DNA (Araujo et al., 2021). Alcohol abuse is associated with issues in social skills among the impacted individuals, for instance, having difficulty with handling both facial and vocal emotions and the inability to comprehend humor. Younger binge drinkers are the most sensitive when it comes to damage of the neurocognitive functionalities particularly memory and executive functions. Additionally, one has less chance to survive critical conditions and higher probability of dying after hospitalization.
Causes
There are two causes that are associated with alcohol abuse which include psychological illness and puberty. An individual who misuses the substance may be doing that due to finding the effects offer relief from a mental problem, for example, depression or anxiety (Treml, 2019). Usually, both issues, that is, the abuse and the other conditions require treatment simultaneously. The numbing feeling of narcotics and alcohol can become an approach to cope for those who cannot dissociate from the trauma.
Nevertheless, the intoxicated or changed state of the individual prevents the needed consciousness for healing. Gender differences may influence drinking habits as well as the risk of contracting alcohol use disorders (Treml, 2019). When someone shows a desire to seek sensations, this can be related to a phenomenon called advanced pubertal maturation. The early stage of this condition is connected to high alcohol usage in any gender.
Diagnosis
There are three methods used in the diagnosis of alcohol abuse, including DSM-IV and screening. In the first technique mentioned, the condition was described as a maladaptive pattern for drinking. There are requirements that had to be met in the last year for the process to be accomplished. For instance, recurrent consumption leads to a failure to perform in one’s duties and responsibilities at school, home, or home. Regular use in circumstances whereby it is hazardous physically (Shi et al., 2019). Repeated substance-associated legal issues or continuous usage in spite of having frequent interpersonal or social problems. Research reveals that the alcohol use disorder identification test is the most correct screening method for investigating possible alcohol misuse (Shi et al., 2019). The World Health Organization is responsible for its development and it was initially designed for utilization in primary medical care settings with supporting guidance.
Prevention
Reducing or preventing the harm caused by abuse of alcohol has been done in various forms. For instance, governments have used increased taxation methods, harsher rules of the substance’s promotion as well as the provision of interventions. The latter can decrease the cases of unsafe sex, unplanned pregnancy, sexual violence and transmission of STDs (Shi et al., 2019). Education and information on social norms and the negative aspects of the behavior through face-to-face interaction or the internet has not been discovered as an ideal way of changing the unhealthy drinking among the youth.
A person’s desire for drinking can rely on the family history of the use of the substance. For example, in case it is found that there is a strong pattern, education might be necessary to limit the possibility of reoccurrence (Shi et al., 2019). Nevertheless, research has established that people with the condition seem to have relatives who attempt to offer help. In many instances, they would assist them in changing or better their lifestyles.
Treatment
Young people’s treatment, as well as intervention, needs to focus on removing or limiting the effects of negative childhood experiences such as maltreatment. The reason for this is due to the fact that they are common risk factors that contribute to the development of the problem in the discussion. Some strategies, for example, motivational interviewing and contingency management, have proven to be effective in treating alcohol use disorder among the youth (Treml, 2019). The method focuses on redirecting the patients toward healthier objectives. It is important to educate individuals on how to define heavy drinking as it could alter their perception of drinking behaviorisms.
Personal Reaction
In the United States, the rate of alcohol abuse is growing at an alarming rate. More young people are currently in the group of abusers, which is a sad state. It is important that individuals be educated on the effects of excessive use of the substance. According to the research, there are people that do not understand the meaning of heavy drinking, which can be a challenge. When one fails to comprehend that, it is difficult to offer them lessons on the negative impacts since they will ignore since they do not think they are the targeted audience.
Additionally, I have learned that abusing alcohol can be an issue that stems or has a foundation in the family bloodline. Some of the people greatly affected by the condition have relatives as well who are heavy drinkers. It is, thus, necessary to offer individuals knowledge or insights on their likelihood of being impacted by an issue such as alcohol use disorder. This is important as it ultimately helps in the prevention of unsafe sex, unplanned pregnancies, sexual violence and transmission of STDs.
Individuals, especially the youth, find themselves in a position they cannot make a proper judgment or better decisions. For instance, the rate of STD transmission continues to grow among young people since they have become victims of alcohol abuse. Once they are wasted, they engage in unprotected, sex which can result in them contracting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis, or gonorrhea. Apart from illnesses, their actions can lead to unplanned pregnancies. It is important that governments find better measures to help handle the issue of alcoholism.
References
Araujo, I., Henriksen, A., Gamsby, J., & Gulick, D. (2021). Impact of alcohol abuse on susceptibility to rare neurodegenerative diseases.Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 8, 37. Web.
Mahna, D., Puri, S., & Sharma, S. (2018). DNA methylation signatures: Biomarkers of drug and alcohol abuse.Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, 777, 19-28. Web.
Shi, X., DeLucia, A. L., Bao, J., & Zhang, P. (2019). Alcohol abuse and disorder of granulopoiesis.Pharmacology & therapeutics, 198, 206-219. Web.
Treml, V. G. (2019). Drinking and alcohol abuse in the USSR in the 1980s. In Soviet Social Problems, 119-136. Routledge. Web.