Alcohol is believed to be an integral part of human life in almost all societies in the world. Alcohol consumption is an accompaniment in any social events, making many people to drink on regular basis. There are two main categories of alcohol consumers and they include social drinkers and social drinkers. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), social drinkers consume less than three bottles a day for women and four bottles a day for men. Therefore, any person who does not fall within the category is known to a problem drinker. Even though social drinking is allowed, problem drinking is not affected because of its numerous negative effects on individual drinkers and the society at large. In the US it is estimated that about 33 million people are problem drinkers, which translate to 14% all adults in the country (Associated Press, 2015). At the same time, 40% of the countries adults have engaged in binge drinking. Consequently, about 75,000 deaths occurring in the country are linked to problem drinking and it cost the country about $184 billion annually. Problem drinkers have distinctive characteristics that differentiate them from other drinkers and they have significant impacts, especially to alcohol consumers and their families.
Traits of Problem Drinkers
According to the findings of a study that was focusing on factors influencing problem drinking, people who are employed more likely to end up being a problem drinker than their counterparts who are not employed (Lee, Kim & Hong, 2015). The same study also revealed that men who are employed in service sectors have higher risks of ending up being problem drinkers compared to professionals holding managerial positions. People who are employed in the service industry to reduce anxiety and stress associated with the nature of their jobs. However, the type of occupation has no significant influence on drinking behaviors among women. Job-characteristic, work-related stress and work habits also have significant influence on problem drinking (Lee, Kim & Hong, 2015). People who do jobs that are associated with high levels stress are likely to engage in problem drinking. Therefore, the type of profession, especially among men also has an influence in problem drinking.
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There are also a number of reasons that can motivate a person to be a problem drinker. Based on previous studies, reasons for consuming alcohol are basically psychological, social, and economical (Pettigrew& Donovan, 2003). Coping, enhancement, and conformity are also some of the motives that make people to engage in binge or problem drinking. According to the study that was conducted in Australia, coping enhancement and social motives are the two main factors that influence individuals to engage in problem drinking (Ham & Hope, 2003). In terms of conformity, some people drink to avoid social rejection. Hence, a number of factors motivate people engage in problem drinking, which may not be easy to overcome.
Generally, problem drinking is a type of drinking that lead to various physical, psychological, economic, and professional, and emotional problems (Lee, Kim & Hong, 2015). According to NIAAA, a man who drinks more than four bottles of beer a day or fourteen a week is a problem drinker. On the other hand, and woman who drinks more than three bottles beer a day or twelve bottles a week is a problem drinker. Therefore, NIAA differentiate problem drinkers from social drinkers based on the number of bottles they consume in a day or in a week.
However, apart from the number of bottles alcohol consumed in a day or a week, problem drinkers have other traits that define them, both men and women. One major characteristics of problem drinker is frequent and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol that leads to other social, economic, and psychological problem (Ham & Hope, 2003). Therefore, a problem drinker frequently consumes alcohol leading to their failure to fulfill their major roles or duties at home, school or work. For instance, a problem drinker shows consistent absence and poor performance at work. At the same time, they may not be able to meet their family social and economic needs. Also, problem drinkers who go to school may not be able to attend classes regularly and may fail exams due to absenteeism. Therefore, any person who repeatedly cannot fulfill his or her major roles due to the consumption of alcohol is a problem drinker.
Recurrent alcohol use in situations that are considered dangerous is also another characteristic of problem drinking. For instance, any person who repeatedly drives vehicles while drunk is considered to be a problem drinker. Besides, an employee who consistently operates machines while under the impairment of alcohol is a problem drinker. Social drinkers are likely to realize the dangers they are exposed to when they want to engage in hazardous activity while under the influence of alcohol. However, there is a controversial in this trait of a problem drinker, which is based on the fact that even social drinkers can also cause accidents several times when under the influence of alcohol (Pettigrew& Donovan, 2003).
People who repeatedly find themselves in alcohol-related legal problems are problem drinkers (Ham & Hope, 2003). Problem drinkers are frequently arrested for alcohol-related disorderly behaviors or actions that violate the law. Besides, they continuously use alcohol despite the fact that they face alcohol-health related problems. For instance, a person can be diagnosed with cirrhosis yet he or she continues to drink alcohol. Such people are problem drinkers because alcohol makes them insensitive to dangers they face of the problems they cause to their families and other people in the workplace. In addition, problem drinkers have some personality characteristics that differentiate them from other alcohol drinkers. First, they drink in order to get completely drunk or snookered. Secondly, they make excuses to continue drinking.
Therefore, there are a number of ways that can be used to identify a problem drinker. Importantly, people who engage in regular and uncontrolled drinking episodes can easily be categorized under problem drinking. People who engaged in problem drinking can also be identified by observing their behaviors such as consuming alcohol until they are completely drunk, tendency of going to work when drunk, driving while drunk, and frequently getting in trouble with the law-enforcement officers due to alcohol-related problems (Ham & Hope, 2003). In addition, people who drink alcohol to suppress anxiety or stress, gulping drinks, and trying to deny or hide their drinking habits can easily be identified to be problem drinkers. Problem drinkers have traits that easily distinguish them from social drinkers.
Nevertheless, there is no clear distinction between traits of problem drinkers, social drinkers, and alcoholics. Contrary to other hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin that are illegal, alcohol is a legal substance, which makes it difficult to tell whether a person is a social drinker, problem drinker or alcoholic. For instance, it is possible for social drinkers to frequently engage in behaviors that expose them frequent legal problems just like problem drinkers. Besides, there is high likelihood that a social drinker can fail to take care of his or her major responsibilities. Therefore, even though problem drinkers may be associated with some traits, those characteristics can also be found among social drinkers or alcoholics (Ham & Hope, 2003).
Impact of Problem Drinking
One of the most significant impacts of problem drinking is that it can lead to some health problems that can lead to deaths. It is not a secret that problem drinking is associated with a number of health problems as well as other injuries caused by accidents. Cirrhosis is the commonly know disease linked to the excessive consumption of alcohol. However, problem drinkers should be aware that recent studies have discovered other diseases that are caused by excess consumption of alcohol. There is a close relationship between excessive consumption of alcohol and anemia. Recent health research has revealed that high presence of alcohol in the body system leads to a substantial reduction of red blood cells, causing anemia (Freeman, 2012). The low red blood cells in the body also lead to constant fatigue and shortness of breath. Therefore, it is easy for a problem drinker to collapse and die due lack of enough blood cells in the body.
Apart from cirrhosis and anemia, there are also many diseases that are caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. Problem drinking can easily cause cancer, which is currently one of the deadliest diseases claiming lives of millions of people across the globe. It is possible for excess alcohol in the body to be converted to acetaldehyde, which is a potent carcinogen (Freeman, 2012). As a result, alcohol can cause cancer of mouth, throat, and breast. Alcohol is also linked to various cardiovascular diseases because it makes it possible for platelets to clump together, leading to heart attack or stroke. In addition, alcohol is associated with depression, gout, seizures, and pancreatitis diseases. Therefore, to avoid some of the lethal diseases like cancer and stroke, it is important for people not to engage in problem drinking. People who have to take alcohol should do so in small quantity that does not lead to health problems.
Problem drinking can also affect a person’s work, especially in the workplace. There is close relationship between work absenteeism and problem drinking. In a recent study that was carried out in Australia, people who engage problem drinking are three times more likely to be absent from work compared to social drinkers (Ham & Hope, 2003). At the same time, problem drinking is associated with high rate of accidents in workplaces. In addition, excessive consumption of alcohol lowers employee’s productivity in the workplace. As a result, problem drinkers are likely to be fired due to excess absenteeism and inability to carry out the assigned tasks, which may end up affecting them and their families. Therefore, it is important for people to avoid excessive consumption of alcohol in order to retain their jobs.
Even though alcohol is an integral part of American life and it is consumed by millions of people, it is important for persons to avoid problem drinking. Problem drinkers are likely to cause accidents, suffer from various alcohol-related diseases, and lose their jobs. Individuals should be encouraged engage in social drinking, which is not associated with many negative effects compared to problem drinking. People consuming alcohol are likely to socially, economically, emotionally, and physically stable if they avoid problem drinking.
References
Lee, E. K., Kim, O. S., & Hong, J. Y. (2015). Characteristics and factors associated with problem drinking in male workers. Asian nursing research , 9 (2), 132-137.
Ham, L. S., & Hope, D. A. (2003). College students and problematic drinking: A review of the literature. Clinical psychology review , 23 (5), 719-759.
Pettigrew, S., & Donovan, R. (2003). A Literature Review of the Factors that Influence Alcohol Consumption and the Effectiveness of Past Interventions . Curtin University of Technology.
Freeman, D. (2012). 12 Health Risks of Chronic Heavy Drinking . Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/12-health-risks-of-chronic- heavy-drinking#1
Associated Press. (2015, June May). 33 million Americans are problem drinkers or 14 percent of U.S. adults. Washington Post . Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/33- million-Americans-are-problem-drinkers-or-14-percent-of-us-adults/2015/06/08/b75c4854-0af4-11e5-95fd d580f1c5d44e_story.html?utm_term=.65eb4dc9f207
