Alcohol Addiction - Alcohol Addiction

Denial Will Not Help Alcohol Addiction

Just reading the statistics on alcohol addiction can be astounding. Millions of people each year are affected one way or another by the alcohol abuse. Alcohol addiction statistics show that more than 100,000 deaths occur as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. The causes can be either direct or indirect, including drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer, or stroke.

More people between the ages of six and 33 die from alcohol related car crashes. Approximately 61% of adults in the United States drink alcohol. These are just a few statistics, yet the number does not decrease for people who indulge in drinking alcohol. This is partly because many will deny that they even have a problem, or they lack understanding of what it truly means to be addicted to alcohol.

Alcohol Addiction Signs & Symptoms

Alcohol addiction is defined as a compulsive need to drink an intoxicating liquid which may include beer, wine and other hard liquors such as gin, rum and vodka. When a person craves alcohol and cannot limit his or her drinking, he or she is an alcoholic. The withdrawal symptoms can be overwhelming: nausea, sweating, shakiness, or anxiety. Some believe that it is a matter of having the will to stop drinking.

However, this addiction is much more complicated than that. The craving for alcohol suppresses the person's ability to stop drinking. The majority of people who abuse alcohol cannot stop drinking without assistance through a support group. Many people have achieved alcohol withdrawal with the support of family and friends.

Causes and Effects of Alcohol Addiction

Research has shown that people who have a family history is more likely to develop alcoholism once they begin drinking. A person's environment or a traumatic experience may also lead to alcoholism. There are mental and physical destroyers associated with alcoholism. Drinking too much alcohol can destroy the brain cells, and possibly lead to brain damage.

A person's central nervous system is hindered, making it hard to retrieve, consolidate and process information. Getting cancer is also a major danger because the mouth, esophagus and stomach can become inflamed, especially if the person also smokes. A person's life expectancy is reduced 10 to 15 years.

In order to overcome alcohol addiction, a person must have a desire to stop drinking and being an alcoholic. This requires identifying the cause of being an alcoholic. A person does not become an alcoholic simply because he or she likes the taste. There is some underlying trigger which must be identified and dealt with.