(April 5, 2010)  When consumed in moderation, alcohol can be relaxing and can even have beneficial effects on heart health. But, when consumed in excess, alcohol is poisonous to the human system. Nearly 100,000 Americans die each year as a result of alcohol abuse and it is a factor in more than half of this country’s homicides, suicides and traffic accidents. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence uses Alcohol Awareness Month each April to bring attention to this growing problem.

“The immediate physical effects of drinking alcohol range from mild mood changes to complete loss of coordination, vision, balance and speech,” Sharon Thach, RN, Wagoner Community Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services Inpatient Manager said. “In addition, there is health conditions associated with regular, heavy drinking: heart disease, some types of cancer, cirrhosis, anemia, dementia, depression, seizures, high blood pressure, nerve damage and pancreatitis. Alcoholism can also lead to impotence in men and damage the fetus in pregnant women.”

Symptoms that alcohol use is turning to abuse include:

• Temporary blackouts or memory loss.
• Recurrent arguments or fights with family members or friends about drinking.
• Continued use of alcohol to relax, cheer up, sleep, deal with problems or feel normal.
• Headache, insomnia, anxiety, nausea or other unpleasant symptoms when you don’t drink.
• Drinking alone, in the mornings or in secret.
• Flushed skin and broken capillaries on the face, a husky voice, trembling hands, chronic diarrhea.

The causes of alcoholism are typically a blend of genetic, physical, psychological, environmental and social factors that vary from person to person. However, certain factors have been tied to an increased risk of abusing alcohol:

• Family history – children of alcoholics are more likely to develop problems with alcohol abuse or dependence themselves.
• Gender – men are three times more likely to develop alcohol problems than women.
• Early use – drinkers who start at a younger age are more likely to develop problems with alcohol.
• Environment – being around others who drink and where alcohol is readily available makes alcohol abuse more likely.
• Tendency toward substance abuse – abuse of tobacco, illegal drugs or prescription medications makes the abuse of alcohol more likely.
• Stress – problems with others makes some people more likely to drink.
• Depression – lack of activities which give joy or a sense of purpose may make alcohol more appealing to some people.

“In this country, about 18 million Americans have alcohol problems,” Mrs. Thach concluded. “Addiction is this nation’s number one health problem and strains the health system and the economy, harms family life and threatens public safety. Yet, Americans increasingly recognize that alcoholism and drug dependence are diseases with consequences that affect both physical and behavioral health. But the situation is far from hopeless. Alcoholism and drug dependence are treatable, and millions of people achieve recovery.”