What is Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is an abnormal condition that causes discomfort, dysfunction, distress, social problems, and/or death to the person afflicted, which is associated with its specific symptoms and signs. Alcohol abuse is excessive or problematic alcohol consumption. It progresses to alcoholism. Alcoholism is chronic alcohol abuse that results in a physical dependence on alcohol (withdrawal symptoms) and an inability to stop or limit drinking.

Alcoholism and alcohol abuse cause or worsen a long list of health complications:
Alcoholic hepatitis
Cardiomyopathy
Confusion
Dementia
Fatigue
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Gastritis
Heart failure
Hypertension
Impotence
Liver cirrhosis
Low blood sugar levels in diabetics
Menstrual irregularities
Numbness of the hands and feet
Pancreatitis
Short-term memory loss
Stroke
Weakness or paralysis of eye muscles.

The signs of alcoholism include:
A strong need, or urge, to drink.
Loss of control not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun.
Physical dependence Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking.
Tolerance the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get “high.”
Early signs of alcoholism include frequent intoxication, an established pattern of heavy drinking and drinking in dangerous situations, such as when driving. Other early signs of alcoholism include black-out drinking or a drastic change in demeanor while drinking, such as consistently becoming angry or violent.
The main symptom of alcohol abuse occurs when someone continues to drink after their drinking reaches a level that causes recurrent problems. Continuing to drink after it causes someone to miss work, drive drunk, shirk responsibilities or get in trouble with the law is considered alcohol abuse.

Is Alcoholism Curable?

Even though alcoholism can be effectively treated, a cure, unfortunately, has neither been discovered nor available. Indeed, even if an alcoholic has been abstinent for many years and has regained health, he or she is still very capable of a relapse and must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages.

Moderate drinking or “cutting down” one one’s drinking doesn’t work for the alcoholic. Indeed, the only path to successful recovery for the alcoholic is to totally refrain from drinking alcohol.

Even people who are highly motivated to remain sober, however, might experience one of more relapses before reaching long-term sobriety.  Relapses are quite common and do not necessarily mean that the person is a failure or cannot recover from alcohol dependence.

If a relapse takes place, it is very important for the person to stop drinking and get whatever additional support he or she needs in order to abstain from drinking.

Medication and Alcoholism Treatment

Although medications are available to help treat alcoholism, there is no “magic bullet.” In other words, no single medication is available that works in every case and/or in every person. Developing new and more effective medications to treat alcoholism remains a high priority for researchers.

Medications are available to reduce the severity of alcoholism symptoms and discourage drinking. Antabuse (disulfiram) has been used to treat alcoholism since 1949. Antabuse does not alleviate alcoholism cravings; instead it reacts with alcohol, making the alcoholic experience severe nausea when alcohol is consumed.

A more recent medication, ReVia (naltrexone), targets alcoholism symptoms directly. Naltrexone dulls symptoms of craving and compulsion by affecting the brain’s reward system. As a result, the alcoholic is less likely to experience severe cravings.

Alcoholism symptoms can be controlled, but a recovering alcoholic is never cured of alcoholism. Once in treatment, an alcoholic should avoid all types of alcoholic beverages. Cutting back on alcohol does not work. Complete abstinence is necessary.

Under these circumstances, relapses are common. When they occur, the alcoholic must stop drinking as soon as possible and resume treatment. Alcoholics and their families should not let an alcoholic relapse diminish the importance of the sobriety between relapses: Every sober day is a victor Alcohol abuse is treated somewhat differently from alcoholism. Cutting down on alcohol is an option for alcohol abusers, although often abstinence is the best course. The goal of alcohol abuse treatment is to alter behavior patterns so alcohol no longer adversely affects life and relationships.

Detoxification and medications are not commonly used to treat alcohol abuse. The focus is on counseling, changing established behavior and developing healthy alternatives to alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse treatment sometimes benefits from Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

When taking medications,must stop drinking?

The interaction between many medications and alcohol can lead to a significant increase in one’s risk of illness, injury, or even death. When certain medications and alcohol compete in the body for absorption, the potency of the medication and/or alcohol is often increased. There is no set formula for what will happen when an individual consumes both alcohol and a medication. Each person is different, and the results of this type of potentially fatal cocktail vary based on the type and quantity of medication and alcohol ingested, the time frame involved, the individual’s tolerance to both the medication and to alcohol, as well as a series of unpredictable, unique factors

Possibly.  More than 150 medications interact harmfully with alcohol. These interactions may result in increased risk of illness, injury, and even death. Alcohol’s effects are heightened by medicines that depress the central nervous system, such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and some painkillers. In addition, medicines for certain disorders, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, can have harmful interactions with alcohol.

What does the Holy Bible say about drinking alcohol / wine? Is it a sin for a Christian to drink alcohol / wine?

Scripture has much to say regarding the drinking of alcohol (Leviticus 10:9; Numbers 6:3; Deuteronomy 29:6; Judges 13:4, 7, 14; Proverbs 20:1; 31:4; Isaiah 5:11, 22; 24:9; 28:7; 29:9; 56:12). However, Scripture does not necessarily forbid a Christian from drinking beer, wine, or any other drink containing alcohol. In fact, some Scriptures discuss alcohol in positive terms. Ecclesiastes 9:7 instructs, Drink your wine with a merry heart. Psalm 104:14-15 states that God gives wine that makes glad the heart of men. Amos 9:14 discusses drinking wine from your own vineyard as a sign of God blessing. Isaiah 55:1 encourages, Yes, come buy wine and milk

What God commands Christians regarding alcohol is to avoid drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18). The Bible condemns drunkenness and its effects (Proverbs 23:29-35). Christians are also commanded to not allow their bodies to be €œmastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19). Drinking alcohol in excess is undeniably addictive. Scripture also forbids a Christian from doing anything that might offend other Christians or encourage them to sin against their conscience (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). In light of these principles, it would be extremely difficult for any Christian to say he is drinking alcohol in excess to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

The Perspective of Islam

The Holy Quran, 5:90-91 “You who believe! Intoxicants and Gambling, all are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Eschew such abomination, that you may prosper. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God, and from prayer; will you not then abstain?”

The Holy Quran, 2.219 they ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: “In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit.” They ask thee how much they are to spend; Say: “What is beyond your needs.” Thus doth Allah Make clear to you His Signs: In order that ye may consider.

HADEES

2-In Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30 Hadith No.3392

Anything which intoxicates in a large quantity is prohibited even in a small quantity.

Resources

American Psychological Association. (nd). Understanding alcohol use disorders and their treatment.
Enoch, M-A. & Goldman, D. (2002, February 1). Problem drinking and alcoholism: Diagnosis and treatment. American Academy of Family Physicians 98(6), 441-449.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2004). Alcoholism

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