Epidemiological Analysis of Alcohol Addiction

Disease Identification 

Alcohol addiction, is an illness in which the individual involved has an excessive dependence on alcoholic drinks (Naassila, 2018). Typically, alcohol addiction can be observed by those around the addicted individual. However, these signs and symptoms vary with each specific individual based on the severity of their addiction and the frequency of alcohol consumption. Based on this, alcohol use disorder is self-diagnosable as it is mainly characterized by a lack of to control their drinking habits . Another significant sign of this disorder is an increased preoccupation with alcohol by the individual involved. This preoccupation may result in the individual isolating themselves from those around them or even avoiding social situations that they were once open to as a way to protect their addiction. 

Due to the heightened accessibility of alcoholic drinks and substances across the world, alcohol addiction acts as one of the most common disorders. It encompasses a wide range of unhealthy alcohol drinking behaviors such as binge drinking and dependence. A majority of individuals in the world participate in the controlled consumption of alcohol as a means of release or relaxation from difficult experiences. This type of consumption is not harmful and typically has no adverse effect on the particular individual. On the other hand, for specific individuals, this type of consumption usually results in health problems or even extensive social problems such as alcohol-related crimes. This type of severity in consumption usually acts as a sign of alcohol addiction and, at times, maybe identified by the quantity that an individual consumes. For example, the consumption of more than 14 drinks per week or four drinks per occasion is identified as alcohol abuse for male individuals. 

. Moreover, a causal relationship has also been established between the abuse of alcohol and several mental and behavioral disorders. Chemical and biological factors have been identified as to why some individuals are susceptible to alcohol addiction as compared to those around them (Naassila, 2018). This report has been designed to conduct an evaluation and assessment of alcoholism. This includes an introduction to the disorder and its identification as a significant problem. An outline is then provided on the background and significance of the illness, which involves clearly describing the disorder and its existence in West Virginia and the U.S. as well. Surveillance methods that are being used will be assessed. Finally, a plan to be used by a nurse in addressing the disorder will also be presented. 

Background and Significance 

Alcoholism affects different people, despite their demographic characteristics such as geographic location or racial background. This condition is presented in different ways to different individuals. Hence, in this way, the degree of severity and frequency of consumption is different with each consumer along with the effects that their consumption has on their lives. Some individuals engage in heavy drinking for a limited amount of time, while other individuals take part in binge drinking. 

Alcohol addiction may often be confused with alcohol use, particularly in social situations. This is because of the prevalence of alcoholic drinks in social environments and the societal perspective of alcoholism as a factor for entertainment. This may make it difficult to differentiate individuals that just consume alcohol for their entertainment and those that abuse the substance. However, regardless of the signs and symptoms that present themselves, an individual can be identified as having an alcohol addiction if they have a heavy reliance on drinking. These individuals have an inability to stay sober for an extended period of time. 

As already stated, there exists a wide variety of signs and symptom of alcohol addiction, which vary based on the individual involved. Usually, after taking a considerable amount of alcohol at a period of time, low tolerance is depicted through factors such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, and feeling extremely tired. This indicates that an individual is not accustomed to consuming extensive amounts of alcohol. On the other hand, those with an alcohol use disorder has a high tolerance for alcohol. This means that there is no response by the body indicating tolerance to these amounts (Michalak et al., 2016). Those who suffer from alcoholism also depict an inability to stay sober in situations that are expected of them. Due to a physical or mental dependence on alcohol, these individuals consume alcohol even when it is socially unacceptable. An example of this is the consumption of alcohol in the work environment when they are supposed to be working, or at the start of the day before they engage in any other activity. 

Social withdrawal is also an indicator of alcohol abuse. Those with an alcohol abuse problem often prefer being on their own to avoid judgment over their drinking habits (Doude et al., 2019). With a severe degree of alcohol addiction, some individuals are unable to take part in normal tasks such as being in social environments with their families without the effect of alcohol. This type of individuals seems to be depressed, anxious, or uncomfortable if they are unable to the consumer the level of alcohol that they have become accustomed to consuming (Michalak et al., 2016). This has a large impact on their ability to interact with those around them and usually results in their absence from social environments. On the other hand, alcohol addiction may result in the disregard for existing societal rules, which may significantly affect different aspects of their lives, such as their employment opportunities. 

In the U.S., alcohol addiction acts as the third leading substance that acts as a cause of death. In 2019, the number of individuals that had made reports of binge drinking or chronic drinking made up 18.2 % of the population (Doude et al., 2019). In West Virginia, the number of individuals that reported engaging in binge drinking or chronic drinking was 12.4% of the state's population. The table below compares rates of alcohol addiction in the U.S and West Virginia County. 

Surveillance and Reporting 

In the U.S., there a wide variety of surveillance methods that are based on the demographic characteristics of the specific individual. For example, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) is a surveillance system the existence of risky behavior in adolescents at different regional levels (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). Through this method, the data collected enables the evaluation of their level alcohol consumption and the existence of an environment that may support this consumption. 

The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a surveillance method who’s demographic of focus is on women who have recently given birth (Shulman et al., 2019). This method collects data on the drinking habits of pregnant women based on their population, geographic locations, and their experiences and attitudes during their pregnancy. This enables the evaluation of alcohol addictions in pregnant women within the country. 

Reporting procedures for alcohol abuse are mainly tied to incidences in which alcohol addiction is associated with child welfare. Hence, there are existing reporting laws that expect the reporting of any cases of the abuse of children. In the country, several states require their citizen to make reports of any such cases that results from the abuse of alcohol by their carers (Cheng et al., 2020). Those who provide treatment for individuals suffering from alcohol addiction are also required to report any case in which alcohol addiction harmfully affects child welfare. This acts as the only channel through which the system is able to recognize individuals with alcohol addiction disorders and implement compulsory treatment procedures. 

Epidemiological Analysis 

Alcohol addiction is usually a result of family and other environments. A person's environment has a huge impact in their fight with alcoholism. Individuals that exist in stressful work environments may use alcohol as a means of escape. Using alcohol as a form of escape from the pressure that results from a stressful work environment may ultimately result in addiction. This is also the case for individuals with mental health illnesses as they make up to 30% of individuals with substance use disorders (Naassila, 2018). Individuals that engage in the consumption of alcohol at an early age have a higher likelihood of developing this addiction as compared to those who start drinking at the legal age of 21. There is a higher rate of individuals who develop alcoholism as teenagers as opposed to those who become alcoholics as adults. 

Another factor is the exposure to traumatic incidences that are not properly addressed. Individuals who experience sexual, psychological, or physical abuse form a majority of the population that seeks alcohol addiction treatment. Exposure to social influence is also a factor that affects excessive alcohol consumption in individuals. Teenagers and adolescents who are influence or pressured by their age mates to consume alcohol usually end up developing a dependence on alcohol. 

Alcoholism not only has a social and economic impact on addicted individuals but their families and friends as well. An individual's social interactions with others are significantly affected. Their relations with those around them become characterized by conflicts due to an increased shift towards being violent or the use of manipulation to enable their drinking behaviors. More commonly, alcohol addiction may result in domestic abuse between spouses and other significant partners. 

On the other hand, alcohol addiction affects an individual economically by affecting their positions in their work environments. Individuals that suffer from alcoholism usually exhibit lower work performance or even truant behaviors during workdays (Doude et al., 2019). This may affect their employment opportunities or even result in a lower level of income. Some individuals with alcohol addiction usually resort to crimes as a way to access their alcoholic substances when they are no longer able to afford these substances. 

Screening Guidelines 

The main screening process to be assessed in this paper is the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which was created by WHO (Moehring et al., 2019). This test is used for the screening and identification of individuals that may develop this disorder. This is through a focus on assessing any existing preliminary signs of the wrong consumption of alcohol and a mild dependence on alcohol. This test has been identified as one of the most accurate screening methods due to its effectiveness in identifying any harmful drinking habits. 

This test can be applied for all individuals despite their demographic characteristics and is ten responses concerning the degree of alcohol consumptions. The degree of alcohol consumption is assessed through three categories targeted at assessing an individual’s use or abuse of alcoholic substances (Moehring et al., 2019). A score that is greater than eight on the test indicates that the individual is struggling with alcohol addiction. The sensitivity of the test is elevated due to the existence of multiple criteria to assess the risk of the condition. Its validity is also very high due to its extensive diagnosis of the disorder. Evidence of this is its high rate of accuracy. 

Several guidelines have been structured as a way of increasing the accuracy of the responses identified. These guidelines mainly exist to control the social interaction between the interviewer and the respondent. This includes the requirement to create a friendly environment along with informing the respondent that the test is covered by confidentiality, and their details will be protected. This enhances the reliability of the test by the respondent. 

Intervention Plan 

The intervention plan below is based on the use of an AUDIT test; 

Screening 

The individual should take an AUDIT test to identify the risk of possessing alcohol addiction. This can be conducted as an interview or oral questionnaire. 

Assessment of Results 

Based on the results of the tests, the nurse can then engage in a discussion on what the test indicates. This can include an expression on what the different scores on various sections indicate about their alcohol consumption. However, this should be done while maintaining a proper bedside manner. 

Provision of advice and steps for change 

Based on the response of the patient to their results, the nurse can then advise the patient and present resources for support towards their change of behavior. This requires the use of proper communication channels to ensure the proper understanding of the situation by the patient. The nurse should only present options that are applicable to the existing environment of the patient. 

Conclusion 

The abuse of Alcohol is one of the most significant forms of substance abuse across the world today. This condition is mainly characterized by an increased dependency of the individual on alcoholic substances. Alcohol addiction mainly stems from the environment that an individual exists. In the U.S., the rate of excessive drinking is about 18.2% of the population, while in West Virginia, 12.4% of the state population has a habit of excessive drinking. The AUDIT tests act as the most valid and reliable test for identifying an individual's risk of alcohol addiction. Hence, while structuring an intervention plan, three steps are recommended; screening through the use of the AUDIT test, discussion of results, and provision of advice. In conclusion, the results of this analysis indicate a greater need for research and education on alcohol addiction across the world. 

References 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). 2018.  Adolescent and School Health . 

Cheng, T. C., & Lo, C. C. (2020). Receipt of substance-use services by caregivers involved in the child-welfare system.  Children and Youth Services Review , 104937. 

Doude, S. B., & Sparks, J. J. (2019). Alcohol Use Disorder.  Prisoner Reentry in the 21st Century: Critical Perspectives of Returning Home . 

Michalak, A., & Biała, G. (2016). ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE--NEUROBIOLOGY AND TREATMENT.  Acta poloniae pharmaceutica ,  73 (1), 3-12. 

Moehring, A., Rumpf, H. J., Hapke, U., Bischof, G., John, U., & Meyer, C. (2019). Diagnostic performance of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in detecting DSM-5 alcohol use disorders in the General population.  Drug and alcohol dependence ,  204 , 107530. 

Naassila, M. (2018). Neurobiological bases of alcohol addiction.  Presse medicale (Paris, France: 1983) ,  47 (6), 554-564. 

Shulman, H., Kortsmit, K., Harrison, L., Smith, R., Morrow, B., & Warner, L. (2019, November). Trends in participant response rates from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) over the last decade, 2007-2016. In  APHA's 2019 Annual Meeting and Expo (Nov. 2-Nov. 6) . American Public Health Association.