Alcoholism happens to be one of the common conditions or types of addictions. Alcoholism occurs out of recreational or experimental basis. With the high prevalence of alcohol drinking, alcoholism is a great problem in many societies. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism cites that the drinking prevalence in 2014 stood at 87.6% for people aged 18 years and above. Alcoholism is established to affect brain function and may continue to affect an individual even long after quitting it. Alcohol addiction is a condition. Further, that requires concerted efforts from various parties or individuals. Families, friends, and community, are required to go for therapy to encourage the victim to stick to their rehabilitation program. Through the therapy, other parties get to understand the issues surrounding alcoholism. The interventions used in managing alcoholism have a number of social benefits. Treatment of alcoholism is estimated to cut alcohol use by a half and this has an impact on the reduction vices in the society such as criminal activities, homelessness, and risky sexual behaviour. The treatment further leads to the improvement of mental and physical health.
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is also known as alcoholism. It is a disorder brought about by continued use of alcohol or alcohol-related products despite significant evidence of dysfunction, hardship or dependence. With the high prevalence of alcohol drinking, alcoholism is a great problem in many societies. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism cites that the drinking prevalence in 2014 stood at 87.6% for people aged 18 years and above. These individuals were said to have consumed alcohol at some point in their lifetime. The same statistics point that by 2014 16.3 million American adults had Alcohol Use Disorder (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 20014). This is a worrying trend which highlights alcoholism as a profound medical and psychological problem that ought to be tackled through effective interventions.
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There are notable facts behind alcoholism as a condition. It initially sets in from individual choices. An individual makes a choice to abuse alcohol, and eventually psychologically based dependence occurs bringing about changes in brain function and chemistry. Much of the use of alcohol usually occurs on an experimental and recreational basis (Thorburn, 2005). Through this use, some individuals may graduate to alcohol dependence easily due to some social and hereditary factors. With a lack of proper intervention mechanisms, the use may evolve to addiction or psychological and physical dependency.
Credible research points out that continued or sustained use of alcohol can bring about strong changes in the brain function which may even persist long after an individual quit using alcohol or other drugs. The alcohol-induced changes are noted to bring about behavioural changes such as the desire or compulsion to abuse drugs despite the negative effects. An individual continues to have a set of complex behaviours which see him or her engrossed with acquiring alcohol. These behaviours push one to lack the needed control in alcohol management. It evolves to alcohol tolerance, impaired occupational and social functioning, and dependence.
In the past alcoholism was treated as a chronic medical condition. This was often than not advised by personal choice, genetic heritability and environmental factors. Nevertheless, treating alcohol as an acute illness has been shown to be futile. There is the need to manage alcoholism like a long-term relapsing condition. Medical practitioners cite that the success of treating alcoholism is only comparable to treating other chronic health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, and diabetes (Thorburn, 2005). Recovery from alcoholism is a process that most of the time is riddled with relapses. The relapses, however, are not failure indicators in treatment. The recovery process varies with different individuals. For some, it might be a lengthy process as compared to others grappling with the same condition. It is thus prudent for an alcoholic to stick the set recovery program to attain sobriety. In the end, progress is attained.
Alcoholism does not only affect the primary alcoholic but also those close to him such acquaintances and family. Many of these parties undergo emotional, physical and spiritual problems. There is a need to incorporate them in the greater support programs and services aid them in coping with the alcoholism issue and understand the integral steps involved in their loved one’s recovery process. Family, friends and the society at large has a role to play in the recovery process of the alcoholics. This is informed by the fact that successful outcomes in alcoholism intervention depend on the sustenance of affected individual’s under care to gain the full treatment benefits. It should be noted full recovery is first a personal choice, individual and motivation and external support.
There are some community-based groups focussed on the recovery of alcoholics. These groups mostly incorporate the 12-step programs. They complement the professional help accorded to the victims of alcohol abuse. Families and friends can play the critical role of motivating individuals grappling with addiction by encouraging them to enrol in the treatment programs, stay and attain sobriety (Inaba, Cohen, Steinbroner, Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic, & CNS Productions, 2001). Therapy, particularly family therapy, is integral to the achievement of the full recovery for many alcoholics. Family therapy is included in the 12-step programs which help the victims of alcoholic addition in the long run.
There are notable social benefits associated with treatment or intervention of alcoholism. Treatment of alcoholism is estimated to cut alcohol use by a half and this has an impact on the reduction of vices in the society such as criminal activities, homelessness, and risky sexual behaviour. The treatment further leads to the improvement of mental and physical health. Pundits argue that for every dollar invested in rehabilitation or alcohol addiction brings forth returns 7$ or 4$ factored in reduced drug-related crime, theft and criminal judicial fees (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.), 2014). The treatment accorded to alcoholics also comes in handy by reducing interpersonal friction a the workplace and even in public places (Thorburn, 2005)
In conclusion, drug addiction is a rife societal issue. By looking at the statistics aforementioned, there is the need for concerted efforts in managing alcoholism within the society. Alcoholism affects various parties hence the need to institute the therapy and collective therapy. Through collective therapy, individuals can effectively understand how to manage alcoholism. Alcoholism is complicated due to its genetic and environmental factors that may complicate or rather introduce new problems for the victims and their immediate family and friends.
References
Inaba, D., Cohen, W. E., Steinbroner, P. J., Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic, & CNS Productions.(2001). Alcohol & its effects . Ashland, OR: CNS Productions.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.).(2014). Alcohol Facts and Statistics (301.443.3860). Rockville, Md.: Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health.
Thorburn, D. (2005). Alcoholism myths and realities: Removing the stigma of society's most destructive disease . Northridge, CA: Galt Pub.
