10 Essential Facts About Alcohol Abuse

Whether your drink of choice is beer, wine, or hard liquor like bourbon, tequila, or gin, what you don’t know about alcohol could hurt you.

According to a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) survey, 56 percent of American adults over age 18 reported drinking in the previous month, and 24 percent acknowledged binge drinking.

Of course, most people who drink don’t binge drink, don’t have physical problems related to alcohol abuse or alcoholism, and will never develop a problem with alcohol.

But before you take your next drink, consider these facts about alcohol, alcohol abuse, and your health:

1. Ethyl alcohol is the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic drinks. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is produced from fermented yeast, sugars, and starches from a variety of grains, fruits, vegetables, and plants. Ethyl alcohol is fundamentally the same in all types of alcoholic beverages, and when you drink in moderation, your liver can comfortably metabolize alcohol from any of these beverages. But heavy drinking overwhelms your liver, and excess alcohol circulates through every organ in your body, including your brain. This is what makes you drunk.

2. You may be drinking more than you realize. “Standard” alcoholic beverages, such as the following, contain about 14 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol:

• 12 ounces (oz) of regular beer
• 5 oz of wine
• 1.5 oz of distilled spirits
• 8 to 9 oz of malt liquor

But customary beverage serving sizes in restaurants and bars don’t necessarily conform to standard drink sizes. So a single mixed cocktail, for example, may actually contain the alcohol of up to three standard drinks.

To maintain a low-risk drinking level that will minimize any impact to your health and your susceptibility to addiction, men should limit alcohol intake to no more than four drinks per day, or 14 per week. Women and those over age 65 should have no more than three drinks daily, and seven weekly. It’s important to adhere to both single-day and weekly limits.

3. In moderation, alcohol may be good for you. Many chemicals are good for you in low doses and toxic in higher doses, says Lewis Nelson, MD, professor in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

“The benefits of consuming small quantities of alcohol are mostly due to reductions in behavioral, emotional, and physiological responses to stress,” Dr. Nelson says. This explains why many of alcohol’s perceived benefits are cardiovascular in nature — possibly providing protection against stroke and heart attack, for example. The problem, he adds, is that “We don’t know whether low-dose consumption of any alcohol is beneficial, or if only specific alcohol-containing products, such as wine, are.”

4. Alcohol changes your brain. Your brain physically adapts to your environment so you perform better at whatever you’re doing, explains Brad Lander, PhD, clinical director of addiction medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. But when you consistently drink alcohol, your brain may interpret this as a new environment and change nerve cells and brain connections to help you function better with alcohol in your system.

“Once the brain adapts to the alcohol, it does not ‘unadapt,’” he says. “When alcoholics stop drinking, some of these changes continue to be a problem throughout their lives.”

5. Alcohol affects men and women differently. Men and women metabolize alcohol differently due to stomach enzymes, hormones, the ratio of muscle to fat, and water concentration in the body, Dr. Lander says. Women absorb more alcohol and metabolize it more slowly, and they’re also at greater risk for long-term damage from alcohol. Men are more likely to drink excessively and simultaneously engage in high-risk behaviors, which leads to a higher incidence of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations.

RELATED: Alcoholism in Women: The Hidden Health Hazard

6. Alcoholism is partially genetic. The strongest risk factor for developing an alcohol-use disorder is family history. “Part of this is due to the genes you get from your parents, and part is the environment in which your parents raised you: nature versus nurture. Many [experts] put the balance at about 50-50,” says Nelson. “The genetic component does not appear to be due to a single gene, but rather a host of genetic interactions that impact both the risk of developing the disease as well as the response to various treatment efforts.”

7. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are different. According to Lander, “Alcohol abuse is drinking in a manner that causes problems in a person’s life.” Some examples include neglecting responsibilities at work or home, continuing to drink even though it’s causing relationship problems, or experiencing legal problems (like getting a driving under the influence charge) because of drinking.

Alcohol abuse is common, and alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. Nearly 17 million American adults ages 18 and older have an alcohol abuse disorder — that’s almost 7 percent. Roughly half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking, and more than seven million children live in households with at least one parent who drinks too much, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

“In contrast, alcoholism involves changes to neurons in the brain that create obsessions, such as the feeling of needing a drink or compulsive drinking, which is drinking at times you didn’t intend to or drinking more than you intended,” says Lander. Alcoholism is considered by many experts to be a chronic, or lifelong, disease.

8. Alcohol is a leading cause of death. Nearly 88,000 Americans die annually from alcohol-related causes (it’s responsible for nearly one-third of driving fatalities), making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States, according to the NIAAA. Excessive drinking also increases your risk for other diseases, including many types of cancer, such as mouth, colon, rectal, stomach, and esophagus cancers.

9. Binge drinking can be fatal. Drinking excessively within a short amount of time, also known as binge drinking, is common among people ages 18 to 22, according to the NIAAA. The agency defines binge drinking as about four drinks for women and five drinks for men within a two hour period.

Alcohol depresses breathing, and imbibing too much can actually cause you to simply stop breathing. “Alcohol is a sedative, and virtually all sedatives can do this at high enough doses. There are thousands of such cases of alcohol poisoning each year in the U.S.,” says Nelson.

Binge drinking also causes other dangerous health issues, including vomiting (which puts you at risk for choking), seizures, dehydration, and unconsciousness. Even if you’re unconscious, your stomach and intestines can continue to release alcohol into your bloodstream, raising your blood alcohol levels even higher.

10. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. When you’re dependent on alcohol and stop drinking, some nerve cells will become so agitated that you could develop a condition called delirium tremens, or DTs, which in its severe form can lead to uncontrollable seizures. DTs are a medical emergency and require hospitalization.

Scary Facts About Alcohol Abuse

The mere mention of drinking alcohol can often elicit thoughts of adventure, happiness, fun, and even relaxation. Despite its well-known side-effects and health scares, alcohol is still a widely acceptable pastime for most American’s. Whether you’re an occasional drinker or you consume alcoholic beverages moderately, you should understand how alcohol affects your overall mental and physical health. In fact, research on alcohol and the human body has revealed some scary facts about alcohol abuse. We’re reviewing a few of those below.

If you or a loved one is battling with alcohol abuse, it’s important to address it immediately. Early diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) proves to be critical to combatting long-term health effects. Contact licensed addiction professionals with AspenRidge Recovery directly at (855) 281-5588.

As one of the leading causes of preventable death, alcohol abuse reveals the grim realities that tens of millions of Americans face each year. Drinking addictions can negatively impact livelihoods, relationships, and general outlooks. Alcohol can be especially dangerous simply because it’s a legal substance that is accepted in most social, professional, and personal circles.

1. Alcohol is the Most Commonly Used Addictive Substance in the U.S.

The scary facts about alcohol abuse begin, first and foremost, with just how common it is in our everyday. We know that alcohol is everywhere. A cool glass of Pinot Grigio in the summer. A soothing beer by a pub fire during autumn. A spiced eggnog with a Holiday pie. Alcohol is widely accepted among different cultures and nationalities. In the United States, it’s viewed as a recreational hobby, a relaxing diversion at the end of a long day. Still, scientifically-based facts reveal the true nature of alcohol and why it can be detrimental for most.

Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the US. Nearly one in every 12 adults has issues with alcohol dependence or abuse. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), nearly 86% of people ages 18 or older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime, with 55% reporting alcohol use in the past month. Despite its short- and long-term damaging health implications, alcohol use doesn’t show signs of slowing.

2. Alcoholism is the Third Leading Cause of Preventable Deaths in the US

Alcohol causes a surprisingly high number of deaths. For example, most people are aware of the dangers of drunk driving. However, alcohol also causes other types of accidents. For example, it is especially deadly when combined with firearms or painkillers. Moreover, it can cause serious diseases and health conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 95,000 people die from alcohol-related problems every year. Furthermore, alcohol causes 31% of all deaths on the road. Among the scary facts about alcohol abuse is that every overdose or accidental death caused by alcohol-use is entirely preventable.

3. Alcohol Changes Your Brain

The human brain is an amazing thing. It overcomes many challenges and encounters many setbacks, most of which only pose short-term health effects. However, one of the things that makes the brain so powerful can also lead individuals to a substance use disorder.

The brain adapts to its environment. For example, living at high altitudes may—in the beginning—cause headaches and sickness. After a while, though, the body and mind adapt to its surroundings. On the same note, alcohol abuse makes the brain adaptive to higher and higher consumption of toxic beverages. In fact, alcohol can change nerve and brain connections in order to handle more quantities of booze. Moreover, the changes that happen might actually be permanent. Some of these studies are still touching the surface regarding long-term abuse. Only recently has alcohol been connected to diseases like cancer and dementia. As a result, some people will have problems even after they quit drinking. Don’t let alcohol abuse change your brain!

4. Alcohol and Adolescent Development

Want to know more scary facts about alcohol abuse? Look no further than the studies conducted on underage drinking. Currently, the legal drinking age in America is 21. Scientific studies suggest that a person’s brain is still developing well into their early twenties, which is partially the reason alcohol consumption prior to this is incredibly risky. The body and brain are incredibly vulnerable to substance use, especially in large quantities.

Alcohol and other substances are known to disrupt the natural process of physical and mental development. Alcohol consumption in adolescents is known to cause learning difficulties, memory problems, and high-risk addictive behaviors. In addition, in more extreme cases, alcohol has been known to cause permanent brain damage.

Research on alcohol abuse shows that 6.9 million youths between the ages of 12 and 20 report binge drinking. Additionally, 2.1 million youths report heavy drinking. Heavy drinking is understood as five or more drinks five times a week. Youth drinking is dangerous. It results in drunk driving. Moreover, it delays puberty and slows bone growth. Additionally, these youths are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.

5. 696,000 Students Have Been Assaulted by Someone who was Drinking

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 have been assaulted by a drunk peer. Moreover, these are just the assaults that are reported. Recent investigations suggest that even more assaults go unreported. Other studies show that alcohol abuse comes with an increase in violent behavior. These events ruin a person’s college experience. They are traumatic. Additionally, 50% of sexual assaults in college involve alcohol use. 74% of perpetrators and 55% of victims report drinking alcohol before the assault. This results in 97,000 reported sexual assaults.

6. Alcohol Makes Depression and Anxiety Worse

Many people turn to booze to escape their problems. In fact, self-medicating is one of the country’s leading causes of substance misuse, effectively leading tens of thousands toward substance use disorder (AUD), otherwise known as addiction.

In particular, alcohol abuse is known to make mental health problems worse. Alcohol increases anxiety and depression. This occurs because alcohol messes with your brain chemistry and, among those who are suffering from mental health issues, it becomes an unhealthy outlet to help deal with the stressors of everyday life. As a result, your brain doesn’t handle stressful situations properly. While mental health doesn’t cause alcohol addiction or vice versa, it can still exacerbate an existing problem or lead to self-medicating behaviors.

Scary facts about alcohol abuse: alcohol is involved in over a quarter of the suicides in the US (approximately 7,500 per year). Additionally, suicide is 120 times more prevalent among adult alcoholics than in the general population.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that alcohol abuse and mental health problems frequently go together. This is known as a dual-diagnosis. In total, about 7.9 million US adults face this problem.

7. Alcohol Causes Weight Gain

Alcohol abuse causes weight gain. For example, a frozen margarita has the same number of calories as a cheeseburger. An occasional drink won’t make you fat. However, alcoholics need more booze as their condition gets worse. This leads to more drinks and more calories. Additionally, binge drinking increases the risk of diabetes. Alcohol stops your body from absorbing insulin. This leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition. It can dramatically impact your lifestyle. You’ll need to watch what foods you eat and constantly worry about your blood sugar and insulin levels. Don’t let alcohol abuse dictate how you live your life!

8.

Drinking While Pregnant Can Cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Alcohol abuse affects more than the person doing the drinking. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a very real condition. There is no safe amount of alcohol for pregnant women. FAS causes developmental disorders. These include physical and mental disabilities. As a result, people with FAS have a harder time in school. They have a more difficult time holding down a job. Moreover, some may require lifetime care. Alcohol abuse harms children even if they escape the symptoms of FAS. These children face a chaotic and challenging life. For example, they develop a fear of authority figures, feelings of guilt, problems fitting in, and other issues.

Family members are in need of more resources for substance abuse and alcohol use disorder. Find AspenRidge’s list of family resources here.

9. Alcohol Abuse can Cause Cancer

The list of scary facts about alcohol abuse should include the information found in a more recent study. Those drinking alcohol in greater quantities and more frequently are at a high risk of cancer. But even low amounts of alcohol consumption might still lead to an increased chance of being diagnosed with cancer.

Most people know that alcohol can destroy your liver and lead to associated diseases like cirrhosis and fatty liver disease. However, many don’t realize that alcohol can cause cancer. Moreover, it doesn’t only cause cancer in the liver. Drinking alcohol raises the risk of getting six kinds of cancer, according to cancer.org:

• Mouth
• Throat (Pharynx)
• Voicebox (larynx)
• Esophagus
• Liver
• Colon and rectum
• Breast

Alcohol, in fact, accounts for about 6% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths in the United States annually.

Additionally, cancer isn’t the only disease alcohol causes. As a result, these cancers are more difficult to treat. People with weak immune systems and other health issues don’t respond as well to cancer treatment. It’s just one more way that alcohol abuse can kill you. The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk for cancer.

10. People Aged 12-20 Consume 11% of All Alcohol in the US

The CDC reports that people aged 12-20 drink 11% of all the alcohol in the U.S. This is a huge amount of booze. Furthermore, 90% of this consumption happens in the form of binge drinking. The report goes on to say that these students are more likely to have problems in school. They are also more likely to be arrested or be injured in an accident. Additionally, they are at a higher risk of suicide or homicide.

11. Alcohol Weakens the Immune System

We’ve described some of the diseases that alcohol causes. However, alcohol abuse makes it more likely you’ll catch other diseases as well. Alcoholism causes a weakened immune system. As a result, you’re at a greater risk for lots of very unpleasant illness, including:

• Pneumonia
• Tuberculosis
• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Flu

Alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to produce the cells that make your immune system. Additionally, liver damage stops your body from removing harmful bacteria and toxins. As a result, alcohol abuse can cause you to be sick more often.

12. Alcohol Abuse can Destroy Your Voice

Your voice is one of your most unique features. It is how people know who is talking and helps you stand apart from the crowd. Alcohol dehydrates you. This damages your larynx and vocal cords. Furthermore, it irritates the mucous membranes in your throat. Alcohol abuse wrecks your voice. This does more than impact your singing. It alters a key part of who you are and how people identify you.

13. Binge Drinking can be Fatal

For the younger population, one of the scariest facts about alcohol abuse involves heavy drinking. Because youth and college students are more influenced by social culture and parties, binge drinking can be a favorite pastime. However, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time can, ultimately, be fatal.

People say they feel like they’re dying when they have a hangover. However, binge drinking can kill you. Alcohol impacts the body’s central nervous system. This is the system that controls things like heart rate and breathing. It also controls the gag reflex. Specifically, alcohol lowers the CNS’s response. Binge drinking lowers these functions to the point of death.

One of the body’s natural responses to too much alcohol is to vomit. However, you may not be able to do this if your gag reflex is wiped out by alcohol abuse. This creates the risk of suffocating. Furthermore, binge drinking makes you prone to accidents. This includes drunk driving accidents and other risky behavior. It also includes things like passing out in the cold or slips and falls.

14. Alcohol Abuse Causes Sexual Dysfunction in Men

Lots of people use alcohol as a social aid. They feel looser and more able to talk with others. Some men use booze to work up the nerve to talk to potential sexual partners. However, alcohol abuse causes sexual dysfunction in men. Alcohol has a negative effect on Leydig cells. These cells are responsible for producing testosterone. Studies find that alcohol abuse lowers the amount of testosterone in the blood. It also reduces other important hormones. As a result, alcohol abuse can prevent you from having sex.

15. Alcohol can Ruin Your Skin

We’ve already mentioned that alcohol dehydrates you. But that isn’t the only way it can play havoc with your skin. Alcohol abuse causes Rosacea. This leads to premature aging, wrinkles, redness, and irritation. Alcohol also causes your pores to clog. This leads to acne and other skin conditions. The result is that you might be trading in your looks for a temporary buzz when you abuse alcohol.

16. Alcohol Abuse has Huge Economic Costs

This list has covered a lot of the individual costs of alcohol abuse. But there are lots of larger costs as well. Alcohol abuse puts a strain on the economy. The CDC estimates that alcohol abuse costs the US $249 billion in 2010 alone. They go on to point out that this equals $2. 05 per drink. The costs come from a few different sources, like 72% of the total is in lost productivity; 11% comes from health care costs. The rest is made from criminal justice, property damage, and car accidents. Moreover, binge drinking caused 77% of those losses. As a result, it’s easy to see how alcohol abuse doesn’t just hurt the person drinking. That isn’t to say that alcohol abuse is cheap for the drinker. Even the cheapest drink adds up. As a result, families suffer because so much of their budget is dedicated to getting drunk.

Understanding the Scary Facts about Alcohol Abuse

Knowing the scary facts about alcohol abuse dismisses the glamorous lifestyle that’s portrayed on Blockbuster hits and TV commercials.

These facts make it clear that alcohol abuse is dangerous, costly, and ultimately can lead to lifelong struggles with various diseases like addiction and cancers. It produces many risks and harms with little to no benefit. Moreover, it doesn’t only affect the person drinking. There are real harms to the friends and families of those suffering through alcohol abuse, as well as society in general.

There are lots of treatment options for people dealing with alcohol abuse. These range from support groups to intensive inpatient treatment programs. More recently, with the acceleration of telehealth services, alcohol treatment can also be found online.

AspenRidge Recovery offers a variety of programs, including:

All of our programs aim to help thousands of Coloradans overcome alcohol use disorder. Our Colorado alcohol treatment programs provide short- and long-term care and can be tailored to fit individual needs, especially those that concern mental health conditions, or dual diagnosis. Contact us today 24/7 and we can help you verify your insurance.

Wondering if alcohol has become a problem in your life? Take our self-assessment quiz here:

5 Interesting Facts About Alcohol’s Effects

Whether you occasionally drink alcohol or consume alcohol in moderation, you should understand how alcohol affects your health. Research on alcohol and the human body has revealed some health benefits and risks.

1. Alcohol affects men and women differently.

After a young woman and a young man drink the same amount of alcohol, the woman will have a higher blood alcohol level. This is because younger women produce less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol in the stomach.

2. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels.

The symptoms of alcohol intoxication and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) are similar. Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar levels while drinking, as hypoglycemia requires appropriate medical attention. If you are diabetic, talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol.

3. Moderate alcohol consumption could help protect against heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association, moderate alcohol consumption increases good HDL cholesterol and reduces plaque buildup in the arteries.

Moderate alcohol consumption means no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. To reduce your risk of heart disease, increase your physical activity and eat a healthy diet.

4. Many factors influence how people react to alcohol

Your age, gender, genetics, overall health and history of alcohol abuse can influence how your body reacts to alcohol. Alcohol flows through your organs based on the amount of water that is in them. Typically, women and older men have less water in their organs. As a result, less alcohol can enter their organs, so it stays in their bloodstreams for longer periods of time instead.

5. Drinking does not actually warm you up

Consuming alcohol causes blood to rush to the skin’s surface, which makes you feel warmer. However, alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, making you actually lose heat more quickly. Alcohol also impedes the body’s warmth process by causing chills.

If you or someone you know is showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning, Baylor St. Luke’s Emergency Centers can help. Be proactive and know where to go in advance at PlanForIt. org.

Sources:

Alcohol and Your Heart

Alcohol Use and People with Diabetes

Myths and Tips About Dressing for Winter

Top 12 Alcohol Facts | The Real Cost of Alcoholism

Though listing scary facts about alcohol can come across like clickbait intended to deter drinkers, for someone who knows the real cost of alcoholism, the importance is clear. Whether you are fighting to achieve alcohol substance abuse recovery, care about someone who is facing that battle, or are a casual drinker looking to better understand the longer-term impacts of consuming alcohol, this post is for you. We are aiming to break down common misunderstandings about alcohol use and relay fast facts about the risks.

Let’s explore these 12 essential shocking alcohol facts:

1. Men Should Drink Less than Previously Thought, According to Science

Many people who would not define themselves as struggling with alcohol addiction are actually overdrinking on a day-to-day basis, according to the dietary guidelines laid out by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture — a governing body for food and drink products). They recently changed their recommendations which previously stated that men could regularly drink up to two drinks daily and maintain a healthy lifestyle, while women were recommended to only drink up to one drink daily on days where alcohol is consumed. Now, they recommend that one drink should be the guideline for both men and women. Though it is scientifically factual that people assigned male at birth metabolize alcohol more efficiently than those who weren’t, drinking more than one per day is still linked to a plethora of health concerns, including earlier death.

2. More People Binge Drink Than They Think They Do

In the same vein as fact number one, binge drinking guidelines are much more stringent than what the average person might imagine. Heavy drinking is defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAA) as 15 drinks per week for men and 7-8 drinks per week for women. Binge drinking is often defined as just as few as three drinks in one sitting. Though the diagnostic criteria of a SUD (substance use disorder) are not one-size-fits-all, it is certainly accurate to say that many people are over drinking by technical standards and don’t realize it.

3. You May Not Know What Constitutes “A Drink”

Many people may not realize that they are consuming more than what’s recommended, because of larger serving sizes or not understanding just what one drink means. In terms of the amount of alcohol consumed, it is important to realize what is defined as “a drink” in these official guidelines:

• A 12oz bottle or glass of beer at around 5% alcohol
• 8-9oz of malt liquor at around 7% alcohol
• 5oz of wine at around 12%
• A 1.5 oz shot of hard spirits at around 40% alcohol/ 80-proof
• A single ounce or less of spirits over 80-proof

By this logic, “one drink” at the bar that has three different shots of hard liquor is actually more like 3 drinks in one and could be defined as a “binge” on its own, particularly for a woman or a smaller individual. The important takeaway is that people may think of a Long Island Iced Tea as “a drink” and engage in binge drinking much more frequently than they realize. What looks like binge drinking and what is binge drinking are not always the same.

4. Alcohol Is Probably Not “Good for You”

You may have heard that drinking in moderation is actually a healthy habit. This is an especially popular theory with red wine. However, the research shows that the minimal cardiovascular benefits are likely linked to a reduction in stress, not the ingredients of alcoholic beverages. Also, the amount of a drink like red wine that would have to be consumed to reap antioxidant benefits would be well in excess of recommended amounts of alcohol. That is not to say that light drinking can’t be healthy for some individuals, but the benefits do not come close to outweighing the risks for those who overdrink to any degree.

5. Harmful Alcohol Use Is Expensive for Individuals — and Society

Most people are familiar with the idea that drinking is expensive, but it doesn’t stop at the personal level. In the United States alone, harmful use of alcohol costs society an estimated $224 billion a year. That is about $1 per drink. This could include many sources, such as medical expenses including treatment of individuals without insurance, drunk driving accidents and subsequent lawsuits, damage to property, as well as the overall burden on the wellness and healthcare of Americans. Likely, this estimate would be extremely conservative if incidents and costs where alcohol is associated were also included.

6. Alcohol-Related Deaths Are a Leading Preventable Cause of Death in the U.S.

Depending on the source, deaths related to alcohol use rank as the third or fourth leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., just after medical errors, smoking tobacco, and being overweight. These deaths include overdoses related to alcoholism and lethal accidents related to drinking. The estimate may still be conservative, though, because of deaths related to but not directly caused by drinking, such as people who commit domestic violence while intoxicated.

7. Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Aren’t the Same

People can abuse alcohol without suffering from a true, chemical alcohol addiction known as alcoholism. Abusing alcohol is broadly defined as any use of alcohol that is harmful to you or someone else, such as feeling hungover, performing poorly at work, or having a markedly worse demeanor when drinking. Alcoholism involves detectable changes to the neurons in the brain that cause compulsive drinking and obsession. Both alcohol abuse and alcoholism are serious and can be addressed with addiction recovery or behavioral health treatment, but alcoholism is considered a lifelong disease.

8. Alcohol Ultimately Strains the Healthcare System

Though previously alluded to, it is worth mentioning that statistics show approximately 40% of American hospital beds are in use at any given moment due to alcohol-related causes, especially illnesses that have been caused by or worsened due to excessive consumption of alcohol.

9. Alcoholism Is Partially Genetic

Genetics and the environment an individual grows up in are the strongest predictors for developing alcoholism. However, experts do not know exactly how much is related to genes and how much is related to the nature-vs-nurture concept of growing up in a home where someone (especially a parent or guardian) struggled with a SUD. They believe it may be a 50/50 split between genetics and the impact of the developmental environment but can confirm that it is not related to any single gene. More research is needed on the psychological and behavioral links that are predictors for developing alcoholism.

10. Alcohol Is a Major Cause of Death Across the Board

Six lives are lost daily, on average, to an overdose of alcohol in the United States. This is harrowing, as it does not include the many people who pass away with alcohol in their system in conjunction with other substances. 88,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes, while alcohol is also linked as an exacerbating factor to many deaths and long-term illnesses. It is also worth noting that it only takes 8 ounces of 100-proof alcohol to kill an adult person — that’s four ounces less than a can of Coca-Cola.

11. Gender Impacts Risk

A person’s biological sex impacts the way their body responds to alcohol. Though some recommendations are the same for females and males, that doesn’t mean the impacts are equal. Females metabolize alcohol more slowly and are therefore more susceptible to long-term health risks. Males metabolize it more quickly and are more prone to alcohol abuse and high-risk behaviors while drinking.

12. Alcohol Detox and Withdrawal Is Dangerous

Detoxing from alcohol is a necessary part of rehabilitation but should never be carried out without supervision from a professional. Though quitting drinking “cold turkey” seems like a straightforward endeavor that people may be able to put their minds to, it is an intensive process. That is because of the neurological aspects of alcohol use and how withdrawal affects the brain and the entire body. A condition called delirium tremens can occur from agitated nerve cells that are dependent on alcohol and can cause uncontrollable, life-threatening seizures that require emergency hospitalization. Seeking professional treatment when entering recovery for alcoholism is essential.

Sage Neuroscience Center Heals Through Substance Abuse Support

The team at Sage Neuroscience Center is a multidisciplinary team of mental health, neuroscience, and healthcare professionals that address behavioral health and substance use disorders, among other disciplines.

There is not just one form of treatment for alcohol abuse. Here at Sage we offer a range of services for those struggling with alcohol use issues. Some of our patients start with a Medical Detox before entering into Substance Use IOP and Aftercare Support Groups. No matter what level of care you need, we will meet you where you are. Our goal is to help demystify treatment and take away the stigma so more people can get the help they need. Please call us anytime to learn more about our compassionate program.

Therapist & SUDS IOP Facilitator

Andrea Gonzales is a Licensed Substance Abuse Associate who is currently going to school to be a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She specializes in LGBTQI+ issues. In her free time, Andrea enjoys karaoke and crafts like crocheting. A fun fact about Andrea is she used to work as a preschool teacher and she uses the patience she learned in that position in her practice today.

Read Andrea’s Full Bio    |   Browse All Articles Written by Andrea Gonzales

15 Key Facts about Alcoholism Part I

What is Alcoholism?

Before we jump into the facts about alcoholism, let’s first define what it means. Also known as Alcohol Use Disorder, alcoholism is characterized by uncontrolled drinking due to a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol and a preoccupation with alcohol. Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States and affects more than 27 million individuals. Although most people have heard of alcoholism, there is a huge amount of information that people don’t know. Below are 7 of our 15 facts about alcoholism.

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Facts 1 to 7:

1. It’s More Common Than You Think

Alcohol is the most highly abused drug in the United States. According to a 2019 study by the National Institutes of Health, more than 14.5 million individuals ages 12 and older have been diagnosed with AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder). Roughly 7.2 percent of the group mentioned above received treatment. If you are struggling, you are certainly not alone and help is available.

2. It Affects Men More Than Women

The number of men with an alcohol use disorder is even higher, at 9 million men compared to 5.5 million women. One theory as to why it is that men find drinking to be more pleasurable is due to higher amounts of dopamine released in their brains. However, more current studies have found the gap between men and women is slowly becoming smaller.

3. It Has A Genetic Component

If you have a parent or sibling struggling with alcoholism you are four times more at risk of developing alcoholism than individuals without this family history. Geneticists believe that genes from parents who struggle with alcoholism are passed down to their children. However, fewer than half of people actually developed AUD. The debate is still ongoing about whether the genetic makeup or environment of a person triggers alcohol abuse.

4. The Effects of Alcoholism are Global

According to a 2014 study by the World Health Organization, alcohol misuse was the first leading risk factor in premature deaths around the world and contributed to 21.3 percent of death caused by diseases such as liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, pancreatitis, and HIV/AIDS.

5. Most Binge Drinkers Are Not Alcoholics

Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that brings up a person’s blood concentration (BAC) to 0. 08. An example of a binge drinking event could be a night out with friends or a celebratory dinner. Chronic Binge Drinking does not always mean that someone has an Alcohol Use Disorder but talking about these behaviors early on may be extremely helpful in helping yourself or a loved one win in the fight against alcohol addiction.

6. Ten Percent of Drinkers Consume Over 50 Percent of The Alcohol

24 million Americans 18 years and older make up the top 10 percent of people who drink more than 50 percent of all alcohol. In order to be part of the top 10 percent, a person would have to drink two bottles of wine with every dinner or 74 alcoholic drinks per week. There is no denying that the more alcohol you drink the more health problems you may face such as alcohol poisoning. If you notice that you or someone close to you may be drinking in excess there are recourses that can help.

7. It’s progressive

People don’t have one drink and suddenly become alcoholics. Dependence develops over time. Eventually, the more someone drinks the more their bodies depend on the alcohol leading to addiction and more severe health problems and loss of control.

Alcohol Use Disorder is a difficult disease that affects millions of Americans. But this is hope for those struggling. Soberlink can offer hope to those struggling and their families. With an accountability tool like Soberlink, there is no stress of random testing or family members questioning sobriety. Soberlink provides real test results proving those who use it are on their way to recovery.

The Facts About Alcoholism | Pure Recovery California

In America, 86% of people will drink alcohol during in their lifetime. This can be as simple as trying a beer once or having a lifelong enjoyment of wine.

However, due to the possibility of addiction to alcohol, some people end up suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) or as it is commonly called alcoholism.

At Pure Recovery California, we believe it is important to educate people on the facts about AUD. It is important that we give those seeking recovery positivity, compassion, and understanding to help them work towards the goal of a sober life.

Due to the fact that 1 in 8 people suffer from some form AUD, there is a lot of misinformation surrounding it.

We want to help people understand the facts and dispel some of the harmful misconceptions about the disorder.

5 Facts About Alcohol Use Disorder

1. Alcohol Use Disorder Alters the Brain

One of the most shocking effects of alcohol abuse is how it alters the brain.

Now, drinking is known for its impact on the mind, but most of these effects are only temporary. Blacking out, impaired memory and judgment, and increased aggression are all short-term effects of drinking.

However, when someone has spent years drinking heavily due to AUD, their brain becomes irreparably altered. The ability to think abstractly will be completely lost along with diminished brain matter and an inability to properly memorize.

These effects are often irreversible but are treatable.

2. Alcohol’s Impact on the Body

Alcohol doesn’t just have a major impact on the brain, it also damages the body.

The liver, heart, and pancreas all suffer greatly from frequent and excessive drinking. These organs become extremely damaged, leading to even more problems. They will slowly begin to have trouble function and even end up shutting down should the case go on for long enough.

The immune system is also weakened and compromised making it more likely that they will become sick.

Addiction to alcohol is harmful to the mind and body, which is why we focus on healing both when working with someone towards recovery.

3. AUD is Partially Genetic

There are a number of factors that can cause someone to suffer from AUD, but one of the most powerful is their genetics. Recent studies by scientists have found that certain genes are linked to being more likely to have the disorder.

This is why you have families with a history of it going back generations. This doesn’t mean that you are doomed to developing a drinking addiction, however.

We all choose our own fate and knowing that you could have the gene is enough info to help make an informed decision. If someone is suffering from AUD, recovery is possible, making the choice to get better is always an option. Your genes aren’t your destiny.

4. Alcohol Addiction Increases the Risk of Cancer and Heart Disease

Alcohol, especially when consumed frequently in mass quantities, will increase an individual’s risk of heart disease and cancer.

The combination of high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and the strain constant drinking put on one’s heart all dramatical increases the chances of developing heart disease or having a heart attack or stroke.

Excessive and constant years of drinking also increases the risk of cancer to astonishing levels. The most common types of cancers are liver, breast, and neck in people with AUD.

It’s well known that most alcohol is bad for the body, but if it is heavily consumed for years, it all adds up. Luckily, once on the path to recovery, both these risks begin to lower.

5. Alcohol Withdrawal is Dangerous

Withdrawing from anything has the potential to be a dangerous process, but alcohol withdrawal is especially harmful. The “best” way to tell how a person’s withdrawal is going to be is by learning how much a person has been drinking and for how long.

Someone that has had an alcohol use disorder for 6 months will have a much more mild withdrawal than someone who has been drinking for 6 years. When someone goes through the detox process they will suffer from nausea, vomiting, headaches, and anxiety.

After 12 hours, more severe symptoms set in such as seizures and hallucinations. The process is a long and difficult one, which is why we are there every step of the way.

It’s easy to feel alone going through this difficult experience, but when you are with us you will never go it alone.

When someone suffers from Alcohol Use Disorder, it is very likely that their genetics are playing a part in it. Constant heavy drinking will drastically impact someone’s body and mind along with increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.

The withdrawal is a tough process, but that’s why we are here. Recovery is achievable. We are a shoulder to lean for everyone we help and their families. If you or someone you know is suffering from alcohol addiction don’t wait, call us today!

At Pure Recovery California, we treat everyone who comes through our doors with compassion and understanding. Under our care, we will work tirelessly to ensure that someone not only recovers but can thrive once they leave.

Our staff does everything in their power to help give everyone the best chance at life they can and never fails to go the extra mile.

On the path to recovery, we use a scientific method of mixing exercise and evidence-based therapy to help the body and mind.

Recovery is completely possible, no matter how hopeless it seems. Let’s get your life back on track together.

Alcohol Facts & Stats | 20+ Facts & Statistics About Alcohol

When consumed responsibly, alcohol causes mild effects. But people who aren’t familiar with the substance can lose control of how much they drink. Learning the facts about alcohol can help you drink responsibly.

• More than 216 million Americans have tried alcohol.
• About 28 percent of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol.
• One standard drink can stay in your system for about an hour.
• The term alcoholism was first used in 1849 by the Swedish physician Magnus Huss.

How Many People Drink Alcohol?

Alcohol consumption is more common than use of tobacco or any illicit drug, including marijuana. About a quarter of Americans try alcohol before age 18, and more than three-quarters of adults try alcohol by age 25.

The following stats are from data gathered during the National Survey on Drug Use and Health that was published by the federal government in September 2017.

• 136.7 million Americans ages 12 and older drink alcohol.
• 2.3 million youths ages 12 to 17 drink alcohol.
• 65.3 million people ages 12 and older binge drink.
• 16.3 million people ages 12 and older drink heavily.
• 85 percent of adults have used alcohol during their lifetime.

For women, binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks on one occasion. Binge drinking for men involves having five or more drinks on one occasion. Heavy drinking occurs when someone binge drinks on five or more days in the past 30 days.

How Many People Experience Alcoholism?

Alcohol addiction is the most common type of substance use disorder in the United States. Substance use disorder is the medical term for addiction, and alcohol use disorder is the medical term for alcoholism. The latter condition affects about 5 percent of Americans each year.

Alcoholics aren’t defined by how many drinks they have each day. Medical professionals diagnose alcohol addiction with criteria that measure physical and behavioral changes caused by alcohol. Some types of alcoholics drink more than 12 beers each day, and some people who drink that much never develop an alcohol use disorder.

• 15.1 million Americans ages 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder in 2016.
• 488,000 youths between the ages of 12 and 17 had an alcohol use disorder in 2016.
• 2.3 million people ages 12 and older received treatment for an alcohol use disorder in 2016.
• 1.1 million people ages 12 and older received treatment for both alcoholism and an illicit drug use disorder in 2016.
• 2.1 million people across the world were members of the Alcoholics Anonymous support group in 2016, according to AA’s General Service Office.

It’s difficult to estimate how many people are in recovery from alcoholism. A 2012 study by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids estimated that 23 million Americans, or about 10 percent of all American adults, were in recovery from alcohol or other drug problems.

Deaths Caused by Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. Alcohol-related deaths include short-term causes of death, such as drunk driving and alcohol-involved violence. More people die from drug overdoses than from alcohol poisoning, but alcohol overdoses account for a small percentage of all alcohol-related deaths.

• About 88,000 deaths per year are caused by alcohol, per a 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
• 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2016, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report published in October 2017.
• About 19,500, or 3.5 percent, of all cancer deaths in the United States were related to alcohol in 2009, according to a 2013 study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
• 38.1 percent of people killed by homicide or law enforcement in 2013 tested positive for alcohol, according to data from the National Violent Death Reporting System.
• 38.2 percent of people who died by suicide in 2013 tested positive for alcohol, according to data from the National Violent Death Reporting System.

Alcohol is one of the most widely available and easily accessible addictive substances. When consumed responsibly, the risks are benign. However, people are often unable or unwilling to drink responsibly, and many of them experience serious consequences.

Teen Alcohol Facts and Stats

An estimated 11 percent of alcohol that’s consumed in the United States is consumed by people between the ages of 12 and 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although underage drinking is prevalent, fewer teens drink today than in previous decades.

“We have seen over the past few years significant decreases in the pattern of alcohol use that runs through all ages,” Dr. Nora Volkow said during a teleconference attended by DrugRehab.com. She said that recent rates of teen binge drinking “are the lowest that we have seen.”

• 61 percent of 12th-graders have tried alcohol during their lifetime.
• 56 percent of 12th-graders drank alcohol in the past year.
• 33 percent of 12th-graders drank alcohol in the past 30 days.

“Needless to say, alcohol remains an important problem for adolescents and also for college students,” Dr. Lloyd Johnston said at the teleconference. “But at least the situation has improved.”

College Drinking Statistics

Binge drinking and other unhealthy forms of alcohol consumption are among the biggest concerns on college campuses. An estimated 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related injuries, according to the most recent numbers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

• 81 percent of college students have tried alcohol during their lifetime.
• 79 percent of college students drank alcohol in the past year.
• 63 percent of college students drank alcohol in the past 30 days.

Some colleges try to combat alcohol abuse by forbidding alcohol consumption on campus. Others teach students about the difference between casual drinking and alcohol abuse.

Author

Senior Content Writer,
DrugRehab.com

Chris Elkins worked as a journalist for three years and was published by multiple newspapers and online publications. Since 2015, he’s written about health-related topics, interviewed addiction experts and authored stories of recovery. Chris has a master’s degree in strategic communication and a graduate certificate in health communication.

Editor

Medical Reviewer

Psychiatrist,
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

View Sources

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• Alcoholics Anonymous. (2017, August). Estimated Worldwide A.A. Individual and Group Membership. Retrieved from https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-132_en.pdf
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, October 20). Fact Sheets – Underage Drinking. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm
• Feliz, J. (2012, March 6). Survey: Ten Percent of American Adults Report Being in Recovery from Substance Abuse or Addiction. Retrieved from https://drugfree.org/newsroom/news-item/survey-ten-percent-of-american-adults-report-being-in-recovery-from-substance-abuse-or-addiction/
• Lipari, R.N. & Jean-Francois, B. (2016, May 26). A Day in the Life of College Students Aged 18 to 22: Substance Use Facts. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_2361/ShortReport-2361.html
• Lyons, B.H. et al. (2016, August 19). Surveillance for Violent Deaths — National Violent Death Reporting System, 17 States, 2013. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/ss/ss6510a1.htm?s_cid=ss6510a1_w#
• Miech, R.A. et al. (2017, June). Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2016: Volume I, Secondary School Students. Retrieved from http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/mtf-vol1_2016.pdf
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2017, October). Alcohol-Impaired Driving. Retrieved from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812450
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (n.d.). What Is A Standard Drink? https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/what-standard-drink
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2015, December). College Drinking. Retrieved from https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/CollegeFactSheet/CollegeFactSheet.pdf
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2017, June). Alcohol Facts and Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
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• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017, September 7). Results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016.pdf
• White, W. (n.d.). Significant Events in the History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery in America. Retrieved from http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/pr/AddictionTreatment%26RecoveryInAmerica.pdf

90,000 Interesting facts about alcohol: funny and not so

For more than one millennium people all over
the world, one way or another, drink various alcoholic beverages. Alcohol since ancient times
is present in our life in a very different way, for different reasons and in
different quantities. And, of course, such a long acquaintance
humanity with him could not but lead to the emergence of various interesting
observations. Do you know about them? Let’s check!

10 Fun Facts About Alcohol:

1. Most fruits and some vegetables contain a certain concentration of alcohol , albeit very low.
2. According to statistics, about 50 million people are intoxicated every minute on our planet – this is 0.7% of the total population of the Earth.
3. The most expensive vodka as of the beginning of 2017 –
   “Billionaire Vodka”. It goes through many stages of filtration, including
   number through the sand of crushed diamonds, and is sold in trimmed
   platinum and diamond crystal bottles worth $ 3.7 million each.
4. The maximum recorded speed of the cork flown out of a bottle of champagne is 95 km / h .
5. Every Czech citizen drinks 151 liters of beer per year . This country has been holding a leading position in this indicator for more than a year and is officially the “beer capital” of the world.
6. The strongest beer in the world is called “Snake Venom” and is brewed by the Scottish company Brewmeister. The strength of this drink is 67.5%!
7. Every year, more than 5 billion liters of vodka is drunk all over the world. – it has been the most popular alcoholic beverage for many years in a row.
8. According to Ohio (USA) law, fishermen are prohibited from feeding fish with vodka and any other alcoholic beverages.
9. Scientifically proven that athletic people with good muscles get drunk more slowly than unsportsmanlike people. This is due to the fact that developed muscle tissues absorb alcohol more actively on its way to the brain.
10. In medicine, such an extremely rare disease is known as “autobrewing syndrome” .
    People suffering from it have impaired digestion of carbohydrates, in
    as a result of which they undergo fermentation and the formation of alcohol in the blood in
    concentration sufficient to induce a state of light intoxication.

Alcohol in reasonable quantities liberates, cheers up and allows you to have fun!

However, any alcoholic beverages –
it is not only fun and good mood. Do not forget also
about the harm of alcohol, which is especially often manifested in those cases
when a person loses a sense of proportion.

5 sad facts about alcohol:

1. In the United States alone, in the last year , about 5000 people under the age of 21 died for reasons related in one form or another to alcohol (accidents, poisoning, domestic murders, etc.).etc.).
2. Almost half of all emergency calls worldwide are, in one way or another, related to the consequences of drinking.
3. Cirrhosis of the liver ceased to be a “male” disease – by 2016, the number of men and women suffering from it in the world became almost the same.
4. The average life expectancy of people who regularly consume alcoholic beverages in large quantities, , is 10-15% less than than for people showing moderation in this matter.
5. In Russia, about 15 liters of pure alcohol are consumed annually in terms of each resident of the country over 15 years old.

It is worth “going over”, and alcohol turns from a friend into one of the most dangerous enemies of mankind …

As you can see, most problems begin
exactly when a person “drinks too much”. That is why when
you allow yourself to drink, it is very important to monitor your blood alcohol level
(everyone knows ppm) and do not allow yourself to go beyond reasonable
limits, and also not to take on serious business until complete sobering up.This, first of all, concerns motorists who categorically
it is forbidden to drive with residual alcohol vapors in
the body.

In order to control yourself, we recommend using a Russian accurate breathalyzer
AlcoHunter Professional X, which offers excellent software quality
reasonable price. It has a minimum error at high
measurement speed and can even be used for group testing
people thanks to the use of individual mouthpieces.

90,000 20 facts you didn’t know about alcohol • INMYROOM FOOD

Alcohol
in one form or another has been known throughout the history of mankind. And constantly with him
fought, then allowed, used in
medical purposes, improved health, improvised with the recipe and increased
sales by non-standard methods … This difficult relationship has grown
many legends and myths, the reliability of which is difficult to understand.

For today
of the review, we have selected 20 unusual facts about alcohol – there will be something to discuss at
the next party with a glass of something intoxicating!

1.The best-selling alcohol in the world
it is not vodka, but baijiu

Never
have you heard of baijiu? This Chinese alcohol made from sorghum,
is sold in record volumes – its market turnover is $ 23 billion. Baijiu
contains about 40-60% alcohol, tastes good and goes well
with Asian dishes.

2. We get drunk as a result of oxygen
starvation brain

Experts
proved that the state of intoxication is achieved due to blood clotting – clots of adhered erythrocytes cease to pass through the vessels, and in all
tissues lack oxygen.It is oxygen starvation of the brain,
called hypoxia, and leads to a feeling of freedom and euphoria experienced by
after drinking alcohol.

3. Rum and cashasa are not the same

Rum is produced
from the molasses left over from the production of sugar from cane, while
Kashasu is made by distilling the juice of this plant itself. And although kasha is often
called Brazilian rum, in fact, these are completely different drinks.
By the way, cachasa is used to prepare the national drink of Brazil – caipirinha.

4. The old thermometers used
brandy

In the 16th century in
thermometers instead of mercury poured brandy, which coped well with
the assigned task. Alcohol was replaced by mercury only due to its more
suitable physical characteristics.

5. There is the most insidious concentration of alcohol in
blood

Concentration
alcohol in the blood is directly associated with the state of intoxication. At concentration
alcohol in about 0.5 grams per liter usually there are no visible deviations, however, when
increase to 1 gram per liter, the nerve centers cease to function normally when
external “sobriety”.It is this concentration that is dangerous for drivers – the frequency
accidents in this case increases 14 times. And at a concentration of 2 grams per liter, there are already
deviations on the part of fine and gross motor skills, therefore, with this phase behind the wheel
it is already impossible to sit down.

6. Chopped beetles used for the production of Campari

Before 2006
campari were tinted with a ruby ​​red dye made from wings
Zhukov. The company is currently using artificial food coloring that
greatly disappointed the true connoisseurs of this drink, who loved the old recipe.

7. Cream liqueurs Cr è me liqueur cream-free

It’s funny but
popular “Creme de cocoa” and “Creme de Mente” do not contain a single gram
cream, and they got their name “cream liqueurs” thanks to the thick,
viscous consistency. But in the company with cream they go with a bang – try
mix 2/3 cup cream with 1/3 cup liqueur and enjoy the alcoholic
dessert.

8. Alcohol affects creativity
potential

“Write drunk,
edit sober “- this famous dictum of Hemingway has under it
scientific justification. On the one hand, intoxicated
there is an increase in creativity, since the mechanisms of “internal censorship” are turned off. On the other hand
hand, in this state, the number of errors during execution increases.
work operations or problem solving.

9. Whiskey does not darken because of wood

To be completely
accurate, whiskey acquires its beautiful amber color due to long-term
aging in charred barrels.If you keep the drink in
uncharged barrels, the hue will come out yellowish, but not honey.

10. Tequila never had “worms”

Myths about
the notorious “worms” at the bottom of the tequila bottle haunt many fans
of this Mexican drink. However, a drink similar to tequila, mezcal,
which is made from different types of agave, it is indeed sometimes sold with a larva
moth at the bottom of the bottle. Historically, a swimming grub has been a bad sign
indicating that the agave crop has been infested.However, since 1940, the “worm” has become
use as a marketing gimmick to boost mescal sales.

11. A hangover happens even after a complete
purification of blood from alcohol

Even after
how alcohol was completely neutralized by liver enzymes and excreted from the body,
in the blood for a long time there will be a shift towards an acidic environment and
lowering the amount of sugar. It is these changes that lead to the sensations of a hangover syndrome: thirst, sweating, depression, decreased muscle strength,
increased fatigue, nausea and headache.

12. Alcohol is no stranger to presidents

Right after
ending his service as the first President of the United States, George Washington
built himself a distillery on the Mount Vernon plantation. The business developed successfully and
soon became the largest distillery in the United States, capable of producing
over 11,000 gallons of booze per year.

13. Your hair also likes to drink

Hairdressers in the XVIII
century were sure that rum is a guarantee of beauty and health of hair, which makes
their strong and shiny.They advised their clients to rinse their hair
this tropical drink after washing, and brandy was considered a little less
effective alternative. To this day, vodka is mixed in a 1 to 1 ratio with shampoo and used to treat dandruff.

14. Alcohol affects the ability
breastfeeding

According to observations
specialists, in women one of the characteristic consequences of regular
alcohol abuse is the inability to breastfeed children – this disorder occurs in about 30-40% of cases.

15. The onset of alcoholic intoxication
can be calculated

Talking about
intoxication as a state of change in mental functions, experts say
that about an hour after taking alcohol, coordination disorders appear
movement and behavior. At the same time, 100 milliliters of vodka is absorbed on average in 1 hour,
the concentration of alcohol in the brain is 75% higher than in the blood, and for processing 10 milliliters
ethanol liver takes 1 hour. Of course, it is also important to consider the quantity
eaten before and during the party, as well as body weight.

16. Alcoholism is not transmitted by
inheritance

It’s believed that
alcoholism as a disease is not genetically transmitted – children are able to copy only a tendency towards it, which parents transmit or visual
example, or education. The only thing a child can inherit
genetically, these are character traits that can result in a tendency to
drinking alcohol.

17. Cocktails owe their popularity to dry
law

Yes, an idea
mixing sugar syrups, juices, and other liquid ingredients with alcohol flourished during Prohibition in the United States.Because the
bootleggers did not stop their activity, but, on the contrary, increased
productivity is far from due to improving the quality of drinks, namely
the rich taste of cocktails helped them hide the taste of low-quality alcohol.

18. Not every wine is good for health

Red wines,
are known to contain many beneficial antioxidants such as polyphenols and
resveratrol, which protect against cancer and diseases of the cardiovascular system. So
how red wine is fermented with grape skins containing
a large amount of antioxidants, then for health “colored” wine will
healthier than white.

19. Pressure in the champagne bottle
more than in a car tire

A bottle of champagne contains 40 kilograms of pressure
per square inch, which is 3 times the pressure in a car’s tire.
The cork flown out of a bottle of champagne flies at a speed of 95 kilometers per hour and sometimes
can cause quite serious injury if hit by someone.

20. The rate of beer consumption depends on
glass shape

According to
according to research by British scientists, beer is drunk fastest from
expanding glass – about 0.28 liters in 7 minutes.And here
classic pot-bellied beer mugs “pull” a little more – about 11 minutes.
This is explained by the fact that it is much more difficult for us to calculate the volume by eye
a curved glass, because purely psychologically, it is drunk faster from it.

Facts of alcohol abuse and facts of alcoholism

What facts can be attributed to alcohol abuse, and what to alcoholism. What is the difference between these two concepts. Understanding these issues will allow everyone to clarify for themselves at what stage of addiction he is, and in general, whether he is.

Alcoholism – is a chronic disease characterized by an irresistible need to consume alcohol, despite the problems arising in the life of an alcoholic and those around him due to drunkenness. Alcoholics drink uncontrollably, constantly increase the amount of alcohol and are physically dependent on it.

Alcohol abuse is different from alcoholism. In alcohol abuse, although alcohol still plays a destructive role in the drinker’s life, it is not yet completely dependent on alcohol and may limit its use.

Alcohol abuse facts

Alcohol abuse, also known as problem drinking, is very common in many countries. Although alcohol abusers are not yet physically dependent on this type of drug, evidence of alcohol abuse suggests that it can still have a profound impact on a person’s life.

The facts of alcohol abuse include:

– Alcohol consumption affects the cognitive functions of women more than men.

– People who abuse alcohol are often annoyed when others ask them to stop.

– People who abuse alcohol will engage in risky behavior while consuming alcohol, such as drunk driving.

– Alcohol will interfere with family, work and life responsibilities.

– Drinking is seen as a way to relax and relieve stress, usually every day.

– Alcohol abuse is the main risk factor for becoming an alcoholic.

– An alcohol abuser can become an alcoholic due to stress or unhappiness.

– Not all alcohol abusers become alcoholics.

Facts about alcoholism

Alcoholism affects both men and women, as facts about alcoholism show that 5% to 10% of men and 3% to 5% of women can be diagnosed as alcoholics (alcohol dependent people). Based on publicly available facts, we can conclude that alcoholism creates huge problems for human life and health.

Facts about alcoholism show:

– Alcoholics usually underestimate their drinking and the consequences of drinking.

– Alcoholics continually increase the amount they drink as more alcohol is required to produce the same effect (this is known as tolerance).

– Alcoholics need alcohol to function normally, sometimes first thing in the morning.

– Alcohol is used to avoid withdrawal feelings and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

– Alcoholics may want to quit drinking, but they cannot.

– Alcoholics give up all other interests because of drinking.

The main fact about alcoholism that people need to understand: a person can be functional, have a career and a family and still remain an alcoholic. Alcoholism is not about how much a person drinks or whether he has a high income, but about the effect alcohol has on the alcoholic and his life.

ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECTS ON HUMAN

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is a depressant, that is, a substance that slows down all processes in the body.Small doses of alcohol can create a sense of relaxation and self-confidence. In large doses, it slows down the reaction and adversely affects, for example, eye and coordination. Driving when not sober is extremely dangerous. A person is in a state of severe intoxication, feels nausea, dizziness, may lose consciousness, then the danger of choking on his own vomit is added to everything else.

In part, the degree of intoxication may depend on the strength of the drink, that is, on the concentration of alcohol in it.The strongest drinks are whiskey, vodka, followed by various wines, and finally, BEER. In addition, the size of the drinking person matters. Larger people are generally more resistant to alcohol than smaller people.

Alcohol abuse can lead to obesity, since alcohol contains calories, although it is completely non-nutritious, ulcers, cirrhosis of the liver, as well as diseases of the brain, kidneys and muscles, including heart.

The brain of a person who regularly consumes alcohol in large doses is constantly struggling with its depressive effects.If such a person stops drinking, his brain, by inertia, continues its compensatory activity, which is why he becomes agitated, nervous, fussy, his hands tremble, and this continues until he drinks more. Here’s a typical example of alcohol addiction.

Scientific studies and statistics show that people who consume alcohol in small or moderate doses have lower premature mortality than completely non-drinking and heavy drinkers. Various theories have been put forward to explain this phenomenon, with some suggesting that alcohol prompts the body to produce substances known as high-density lipoproteins, which prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries.Others believe that the heart is protected by substances found in certain varieties of red wines that inhibit oxidative processes. The well-known relaxing effect of alcohol also helps with stress.

It would be a shame if these facts induce someone to take a drink for the first time or increase their alcohol consumption. Heavy drinking destroys the brain, liver, digestive tract and stomach. Liver cirrhosis and pancreatic cancer are diseases of people who drink. Obesity and hypertension, as well as heart disease, are the result of drunkenness.

The degree of alcohol concentration in the blood depends on a number of factors.

• If you eat fatty foods, the intoxication will not be so quick.
• The high content of animal and vegetable fats slows down the absorption of alcohol, and the digestion of the food itself.
• The fuller the stomach, the longer it will take for the alcohol to reach the bloodstream.
• The thicker your body fat, the slower alcohol is absorbed and absorbed into the bloodstream.
• Body weight: the heavier you are, the weaker the effect of alcohol on you.
• Your reaction to drinking 80 mg of alcohol may be completely different from someone else’s. Usually, young people and women have an increased susceptibility to alcohol.

The ability to consume alcohol and the effect it has from different people is different, however, it is believed that a safe dose (from a health point of view) is somewhere around 5 liters of medium-strength BEER or 10 large glasses of wine per week for men and 2/3 of this dose for women, provided, of course, that this amount will survive evenly throughout the week, and not for 1-2 times.If you can, try not to drink on an empty stomach.

One of the surest ways to avoid a hangover is not to drink on an empty stomach. Some argue that drinking a glass of milk before drinking alcohol slows down its absorption in the body. Following this advice, drink in moderation and dilute alcoholic beverages.

Alcoholism – what is it?

Alcoholism is the regular, compulsive consumption of large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time.This is the most serious form of drug addiction today, involving 1 to 5% of the population in most countries. The alcoholic drinks compulsively in response to the psychological or physical dependence of alcohol.

Anyone can become an alcoholic. However, studies have shown that for children of alcoholics, the risk of acquiring alcohol dependence is 4-6 times higher than for children of non-alcoholics.

The study of alcohol consumption among young people in Russia is largely based on the experience of similar studies abroad, which in the late 19th – early 20th centuries were widely conducted in Western Europe and North America and were conducted in various directions:

• The prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption by students were studied.
• The influence of alcohol on children and adolescents was studied.
• The relationship between academic performance and alcohol consumption was determined.
• Anti-alcohol education programs were developed and tested.

An important place among the studies of this period was occupied by works illustrating the prevalence and nature of drinking habits, when children were given alcoholic beverages for:

• “health promotion”
• “appetite”
• “growth improvement”
• “Teething relief”
• “warming up”
• “satisfying hunger”
• “pacification”

The firm belief in the strengthening effect of alcohol that existed in the 19th and at the turn of the 20th century often resulted in the direct alcoholization of the child.

It is estimated that two thirds of alcoholics are men. Research on alcoholism shows that alcoholism is often part of the overall picture of depressive illness. Many alcoholics suffer from emotional problems acquired from childhood, often associated with the loss, absence, or inadequacy of one or both parents.

Six stages of alcoholism

Domestic binge drinking can lead to alcoholism: because the drinker begins to turn to alcohol to relieve stress, or because it is so strong that the initial stages of addiction go unnoticed.

Early alcoholism is marked by the appearance of memory lapses. Alcoholization of the younger generation is viewed by most researchers as a significant indicator of the unhappiness of the micro-social environment. This is what determines the constant interest in studying the problem of the prevalence and nature of early alcoholism.

Early alcoholization includes acquaintance with intoxicating doses of alcohol before the age of 16. Early (adolescent) alcoholism should be discussed when its first signs appear before the age of 18.When analyzing the alcoholization of minors, we proceeded from an important methodological position that the use of alcoholic beverages by adolescents should be considered as one of the forms of behavior disorder. This requires a broader and deeper approach to the problem under consideration, not limited to the framework of social and clinical drug addiction.

Boys more often than girls consume the main types of alcoholic beverages, and with an increase in their strength, this difference becomes significant.Among urban schoolchildren, the consumption of predominantly weak alcoholic beverages is widespread – beer, wine, while students in rural schools are more familiar with the tastes of strong alcoholic beverages. In the 1920s and 1920s, it was possible to find a fairly widespread use of moonshine by schoolchildren: in 1.0 – 32.0%, in boys and 0.9-12% in girls. The frequency of drinking vodka increased with age.

Practically in all socio-hygienic and clinical-social studies of alcoholism among young people, the survey method was used in various modifications – from a correspondence questionnaire to telephone interviews and clinical interviews.

The data on the prevalence and frequency of consumption of alcoholic beverages among young people are most difficult to compare with each other, since the authors of not only different countries, but even the same country in the same historical period used qualitatively different methods of identifying those who drink and do not drinking alcohol, different age classifications, etc.

Despite the diversity of criteria for identifying alcohol abusers and alcoholics in adolescence, the data of various authors still allow us to judge that their number is quite large.Analysis of the materials shows that over the past 100 years, regardless of the level of consumption and abuse of alcoholic beverages, the prevalence of alcoholism proper among young people remains at a fairly stable level, not exceeding 5% of patients under 20 years old and 8-10% of patients under 25 years old. This fact is of fundamental importance, since it indicates the dynamics of the emergence and development of early forms of alcoholism in the integral structure of alcohol morbidity. Sneak drunkenness and an urgent need for the first drink indicate a growing addiction.The drinker feels guilty, but cannot discuss his problem with others.

Basic alcoholism – the drinker cannot stop until he reaches the stage of poisoning. He encourages himself with self-justification and pompous promises, but all his promises and intentions remain unfulfilled. He begins to avoid family and friends and neglect food, past interests, work and money. A physical deterioration in health sets in. Decreases resistance to alcohol.

Chronic alcoholism is characterized by further moral decline, irrational thinking, vague fears, fantasies, and psychopathic behavior.The physical damage is mounting. The drinker no longer has an alibi, and he can no longer take steps to get out of this situation. A person can reach this stage in 5-25 years.

Healing is usually carried out by special programs for alcoholics. Psychologically, a desire for help is revived in the alcoholic, and he begins to think more rationally. Ideally, it also develops hope, moral responsibility, external interests, self-esteem, and satisfaction with abstinence from alcohol.

The final stage of alcoholism occurs if the alcoholic refuses treatment or breaks down again after treatment. Irreversible mental and physical disorders usually end in death.

If you write all this briefly, you get this:

• Domestic drunkenness
• Early alcoholism
• Basic alcoholism
• Chronic alcoholism
• Heal
• The final stage of alcoholism

What determines the degree of intoxication of a person?

The effect of alcohol on behavior depends on the amount of alcohol reaching the brain through the blood.This “blood alcohol level” is determined by several other factors besides the amount of alcohol consumed.

The size of the liver determines the rate of oxidation and elimination of alcohol.

The mass of a person himself determines the amount of blood in the body, since the volume of blood is proportional to it. The larger the person, the more the blood dilutes the alcohol consumed and the more it is needed to have the same effect.

The speed and manner of alcohol consumption are also important.The slower a person drinks a certain amount of alcohol, the weaker its effect.

Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach has a stronger and faster effect than consumption during or after meals. Food acts as a buffer when absorbed.

The intoxication process.

When alcohol is consumed, the transmission of impulses in the nervous system slows down. The highest levels of the brain are affected first – inhibitions, excitement and anxiety disappear, giving way to a feeling of contentment and euphoria.As the lower levels of the brain are affected, coordination of movements, vision and speech deteriorate. The small blood vessels of the skin dilate. Heat is radiated and the person becomes hot. This means that the blood has diverged from the internal organs of the body, where the blood vessels have already narrowed under the influence of alcohol on the nervous system. Therefore, the temperature of the internal organs simultaneously drops. A possible increase in sexual desire is associated with the suppression of ordinary inhibitions. As blood alcohol levels rise, physical sexual performance deteriorates further.Ultimately, the toxic effects of alcohol cause nausea and possibly vomiting.

Hangover

A hangover is bad … And now for more details:

Hangovers are physical discomfort after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Symptoms may include headache, indigestion, thirst, dizziness, and irritability. A hangover is formed by three processes. First, the stomach lining is irritated by excess alcohol and the stomach is not functioning properly.Secondly, cell dehydration occurs if the amount of alcohol consumed exceeds the liver’s capacity, as a result of which alcohol remains in the blood for a long time. Third, the level of alcohol has a “shock” effect on the nervous system, from which it takes time to recover.

The best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink too much (or it is better not to drink at all). But the likelihood of a hangover is reduced if alcohol is mixed with a snack (Havka): the intake and absorption of alcohol is stretched for a longer period of time, and the food serves as a barrier.Non-alcoholic drinks, taken at the same time or after, dilute the alcohol. The painful effects are usually reduced also if alcohol is taken in a relaxed environment and smoking is minimized.

The stomach is soothed with fresh lining: milk, raw eggs or just a good breakfast! Only then can aspirin or other pain relievers be taken to relieve the headache. The risk of stomach irritation from pain relievers is much greater when the stomach is empty.It is known that citrus juices, honey and vitamin C contain the “anti-hangover factor”. Fizzy drinks can soften the stomach. Fluids of any kind will help restore the fluid replenishment of dehydrated cells. Coffee and tea are used to clear the head (caffeine stimulates the nervous system), and sugar will supply you with energy; but both caffeine and sugar can worsen a person’s condition when their immediate effects are over. In the same way, alcohol is also taken as temporary relief, which (in moderation) invigorates the withered nervous system and seems to disperse unpleasant sensations.But this is only a reprieve: the initial hangover and the hangover from the new dose of alcohol are still waiting for you!

The effect of alcohol on the body

Blood. Alcohol inhibits the production of platelets, as well as white and red blood cells. Outcome: anemia, infections, bleeding

Brain . Alcohol slows down blood circulation in the vessels of the brain, leading to constant oxygen starvation of its cells, resulting in a weakening of memory and slow mental degradation (Or simply dullness).Early sclerotic changes develop in the vessels, and the risk of cerebral hemorrhage increases. Alcohol destroys the connections between the nerve cells of the brain, producing in them the need for alcohol and alcohol dependence. The destruction of brain cells and degeneration of the nervous system sometimes lead to pneumonia, heart and kidney failure, or organic psychosis. Delirium tremens is a state of extreme agitation, mental distress, anxiety, fever, tremors, fast and irregular heartbeat, and hallucinations, which often occurs when drinking large amounts of alcohol after several days of abstinence.

Heart. Alcohol abuse causes an increase in blood cholesterol levels, persistent hypertension and myocardial dystrophy. Cardiovascular failure puts the patient on the brink of the grave. Alcoholic myopathy: muscle degeneration as a result of alcoholism. The reasons for this are lack of muscle use, poor diet and alcoholic damage to the nervous system. In alcoholic cardiomyopathy, the heart muscle is affected.

Intestines. The constant effect of alcohol on the wall of the small intestine leads to a change in the structure of cells, and they lose the ability to fully absorb nutrients and mineral components, which results in depletion of the alcoholic’s body.

Diseases associated with malnutrition and vitamin deficiency , such as scurvy, pellagra and beriberi, caused by neglect of food for the sake of drunkenness. Persistent inflammation of the stomach and later of the intestines with an increased risk of ulcers.

Liver. Considering that 95% of all alcohol entering the body is rendered harmless in the liver, it is clear that this organ suffers the most from alcohol: an inflammatory process (hepatitis) occurs, and then cicatricial degeneration (cirrhosis). The liver ceases to fulfill its function of disinfecting toxic metabolic products, the production of blood proteins and other important functions, which leads to the inevitable death of the patient. Cirrhosis is an insidious disease: it slowly sneaks up on a person, and then hits, and immediately to death.Ten percent of chronic alcoholics have cirrhosis of the liver, and 75% of people with cirrhosis are alcoholics or have been. Until cirrhosis has developed sufficiently, there are almost no symptoms, then the alcoholic begins to complain of a general deterioration in health, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and digestive problems. The cause of the disease is the toxic effects of alcohol.

Pancreas. People with alcoholism are 10 times more likely to develop diabetes than non-drinkers: alcohol destroys the pancreas, the insulin-producing organ, and deeply distorts metabolism.

Leather. A drinking person almost always looks older than his age: his skin very soon loses its elasticity and ages prematurely.

Stomach . Alcohol suppresses the production of mucin, which has a protective function in relation to the gastric mucosa, which leads to the onset of peptic ulcer disease.

A typical manifestation of alcohol poisoning is repeated vomiting. Even a single use of small doses of alcoholic beverages in adolescents is accompanied by pronounced manifestations of intoxication, especially of the nervous system.The most severe poisoning is observed in persons with a burdened history, against the background of organic cerebral insufficiency or concomitant somatic pathology.

It is much less unambiguous to describe the nature of the influence of alcohol on the psyche of a teenager. In general, the clinical picture of a pronounced intoxication in a teenager looks like this in most cases: short-term excitement is then replaced by general depression, stunnedness, increasing drowsiness, lethargy, delayed incoherent speech, loss of orientation.

If we turn to the subjective data, to the survey data, then for all their incorrectness (usually both those who have recently become acquainted with alcohol and those who have a certain experience of alcoholism are interviewed at the same time; it is not always checked whether the interviewed child correctly understood the researcher’s question) etc.) it can be stated that in subjective experiences, especially at the very beginning of acquaintance with alcohol, negative or indifferent feelings play a predominant role. Of the surveyed 605 schoolchildren 6-16 years old, while drinking alcohol, 41.1% had unpleasant and severe somatopsychic sensations, 35.6% – an indifferent state, 23% – a pleasant state, after drinking a headache was noted in 61.2 %, nausea – in 8.4%, vomiting – in 14.8%, depression in 3.6%, weakness in 12.4% of respondents.The following answers were received from schoolchildren to the question about the state of health in drunkenness:

• mood boost – 47.8%
• indifferent state – 18.4%
• mood decline – 6.1%
• physical discomfort – 27.6%

At the first drinking of alcohol, 53% of adolescents felt disgust. Over time, with the increase in the “experience” of alcohol consumption, the objective picture, however, changes dramatically. More than 90% of the surveyed adolescents with a two-year or more “experience” of use believed that intoxication was accompanied by a feeling of burst of energy, a feeling of contentment, comfort, an increase in mood, that is, those attributes of a mental state that ordinary consciousness often ascribe to action begin to appear in their statements alcohol.

Diseases or simply PSYCHOSIS

Delirium tremens usually occurs against the background of a hangover, with a sudden cessation of drunkenness or during a period of abstinence, in cases of joining somatic diseases, injuries (especially fractures). The initial symptoms of psychosis are worsening of night sleep, the appearance of vegetative symptoms and tremors, as well as the general vivacity of the patient, noted in his movements, speech, facial expressions and especially mood. For a short time, you can note the most varied shades of mood, while during the period of hangover, the mood is monotonous, characterized by depression and anxiety.Unusual mood swings and general vivacity increase in the evening and at night, while during the day these disorders abruptly decrease and may even disappear altogether, which allows the patient to carry out his professional duties. With an increase in the symptoms of psychosis, complete insomnia appears, against the background of which visual illusions first appear, and then various hallucinations and delusions.

For delirium tremens, the prevalence of true visual hallucinations is typical. They are characterized by a multiplicity of images and mobility.Most often these are insects (bugs, cockroaches, beetles, flies) and small animals (cats, rats, mice). Less often, patients see large animals and people, in some cases having a fantastic appearance. Visions of snakes, devils, as well as deceased relatives, the so-called wandering dead, are very characteristic. In some cases, visual illusions and hallucinations are single, in others they are multiple and scene-like, i.e. the patient sees complex pictures. Often there are auditory, tactile, olfactory hallucinations, sensations of disturbance in the position of the body in space.The mood of patients is extremely changeable. In it, in a turning of a short time, one can note fear, complacency, bewilderment, surprise, despair. Patients usually move continuously, their facial expressions are expressive. Motor reactions correspond to the hallucinations and affect prevailing at the moment – with fear and frightening visions, the patient hides, defends himself, is excited; in periods of complacency – passive.

Extreme distraction of patients to external events is characteristic, everything around them attracts their attention.Delirium in alcoholic delirium is sketchy and reflects hallucinatory disorders. In terms of content, this is most often nonsense of persecution. Patients are usually falsely oriented in the place (being in the hospital, they say that they are at home, in a restaurant, at work), but they are oriented in their own personality. Alcoholic delirium is characterized by a periodic temporary disappearance of a significant part of mental disorders, the so-called lucid – light – intervals, as well as a naturally pronounced increase in the symptoms of psychosis in the evening and at night.

Delirium tremens are constantly accompanied by various somatic disorders – trembling, sharp sweating, hyperemia of the skin, especially the face. The temperature is most often subfebrile. The pulse is quickened. Protein often appears in the urine; in the blood – increased content of bilirubin, shift of the leukocyte formula to the left, acceleration of ROE. The course of the disease is usually short-lived. Even without treatment, the symptoms of psychosis disappear within 3-5 days. Less often, the disease lasts 1–1.5 weeks.Convalescence is more often observed in the form of a crisis – after deep sleep. Sometimes the recovery is gradual, worsening in the evening and night hours and improving during the day. Signs indicating an unfavorable prognosis for delirium tremens are the development of symptoms of occupational and exaggerating delirium, high fever, collaptoid states.

Alcoholic hallucinosis develops either with a hangover syndrome, or at the height of a binge. The main disorder is profuse auditory hallucinations, combined with persecutory delusions.Verbal auditory hallucinations prevail, and the patient usually hears the words “uttered” by a large number of people – “chorus of voices”, according to the patients’ frequent definition. Most often there is a conversation between “voices” about the patient, less often they are addressed to the patient himself. The content of verbal hallucinations is threats, accusing the discussion of the patient’s past actions, cynical abuse, insults. Hallucinations are often mocking and teasing. Voices are amplified to a scream, then they are weakened to a whisper.Delusional ideas in content are closely related to auditory hallucinations – the so-called. hallucinatory delirium. They are fragmentary and unsystematic. The affect of intense anxiety and fear prevails. At the beginning of psychosis, patients are motor excited, but soon some lethargy appears, or a very orderly behavior masking psychosis is observed. The latter creates a false and dangerous idea of ​​improving the condition. Typically, the symptoms of psychosis are worse in the evening and at night. The somatic disorders common to hangover syndrome are persistent.The duration of alcoholic hallucinosis is from 2-3 days to several weeks, in rare cases, the disease is delayed up to several months.

Alcohol depression always appears against the background of a hangover syndrome. It is characterized by a depressed and anxious mood, ideas of self-deprecation, tearfulness, as well as individual ideas of attitude and persecution. Duration – from several days to 1-2 weeks. It is in the state of alcoholic depression that alcoholics most often commit suicide.

Alcoholic epilepsy is symptomatic and associated with symptoms of toxicosis. Seizures occur most often at the height of intoxication during hangover or during alcoholic delirium. As a rule, epileptiform seizures are noted. Small seizures, twilight stupefaction, auras do not happen with alcoholic epilepsy. With the cessation of alcohol abuse, the seizures disappear.

Alcoholic paranoid – alcoholic psychosis, the main symptom of which is delirium.It occurs in a state of hangover syndrome and at the height of a binge. The content of delusional ideas is limited to persecution or jealousy (ideas of adultery). In the first case, the patients believe that there is a group of people who want to rob or kill them. In the gestures, actions and words of those around them, they see confirmation of their thoughts. Confusion, intense anxiety, often giving way to fear, is characteristic. The actions of the patients are impulsive in nature – they jump off the transport on the move, suddenly run away, seek help from state authorities, and sometimes attack imaginary enemies.In some cases, delirium is accompanied by abundant verbal illusions and hallucinations, separate delirious symptoms that occur in the evening and at night. The course of this form of paranoid is usually short-term – from several days to several weeks. Occasionally, psychosis lasts months.

Alcoholic encephalopathy – alcoholic psychoses that develop in connection with metabolic disorders and primarily of vitamins of group B and PP. Alcoholic encephalopathy occurs as a result of long-term alcoholism, accompanied by chronic gastritis or enteritis and, as a consequence of the latter, malabsorption in the intestine.Alcoholic encephalopathy develops mainly in those people who drink a lot, but eat very little. Most often, alcoholic encephalopathy occurs in the spring and first summer months. They are conventionally divided into acute and chronic. There are no abrupt transitions between them. The most common form of acute alcoholic encephalopathy is Gaie-Wernicke encephalopathy. The onset is most often gradual, lasts 2-3 months, rarely more. Increasing asthenia appears, in which weakness, exhaustion, combined with memory disorders prevail.Appetite decreases and then completely disappears, night sleep is upset, diarrhea and vomiting, headaches and dizziness, loss of balance, and polyneuritis develop somewhat less often. Subsequently, a complete picture of the disease develops. The emerging psychoses most often represent erased and undeveloped delirious pictures, less often – anxiety-delusional states. A few days later – two to three weeks after the onset of psychotic disorders – the mental state begins to be determined either by symptoms of apathetic stupor, or stunnedness, turning into a coma.Without treatment, the disease most often ends in death. Neurological disorders are persistent and severe. Of the vegetative symptoms, cardiac arrhythmias, central fever, respiratory failure, and sphincter weakness are usually noted. An increase in muscle tone can be constantly observed. The sensitivity to pain is sharply increased, for example. to injections. Various hyperkinesis are frequent. The appearance of paralysis of the oculomotor muscles, photophobia, nystagmus usually indicates the highest phase of the disease.It is always possible to identify polyneuritis phenomena of various intensity and localization. The general physical condition of patients is characterized by progressive weight loss up to severe cachexia. The skin is pale or dark brown in color.

Chronic forms of alcoholic encephalopathy include Korsakov’s psychosis and alcoholic pseudoparalysis. In some cases, they develop gradually, over a number of months, and then, by the nature of the onset, correspond to Gaie-Vorike’s encephalopathy, in others – acutely, after alcoholic psychoses, as a rule, after delirium tremens.

Korsakov’s psychosis is manifested by memory impairments: the patient does not remember anything from current events or remembers little; retrograde amnesia is noted, false memories are confabulations concerning everyday events. The latter can be expressed to varying degrees, sometimes absent. Patients are lethargic, passive, do not show interest in their surroundings. Speech and motor reactions are poor. Of the neurological disorders, polyneuritis, different in intensity, are most often encountered.The disease lasts for months, sometimes years. Improvements are possible when drinking stops. Alcohol pseudoparalysis is characterized by dementia with pronounced changes in memory, loss of acquired knowledge and skills, profound impairment of judgment, and loss of consciousness of illness and criticism. The background of the mood is determined by carelessness and, in some cases, by ideas of greatness. Sometimes memory disorders in combination with confabulations predominate. Downstream is similar to Korsakov’s psychosis.

Treatment of alcoholic psychoses.Patients with alcoholic psychoses must be urgently placed in a special hospital. Some patients with hangover syndrome are also subject to hospitalization in cases where mental disorders, especially mood changes, are intense. Treatment of alcoholic psychoses in a hospital should be comprehensive – the use of multivitamins (B1, C, PP), heart and hypnotics with hypoglycemic and comatose doses of insulin or psychotronic (chlorpromazine, haloperidol) drugs. The only effective treatment for alcoholic, especially acute encephalonatias is therapy with large doses of vitamins: B1 – up to 600 mg, C – up to 1000 mg, PP – up to 300-400 mg per day for 2-4 weeks.

Alcohol poisoning.

People who abuse alcohol sometimes fall into a state of dullness leading to a coma. In extremely severe cases, respiratory arrest is possible.

However, do not assume that the drunk-looking person must have consumed alcohol. Similar symptoms are observed in other conditions (head trauma, stroke and diabetes, as well as with an overdose of certain drugs).

First aid.

If the victim is conscious, but still breathing, use your finger to remove everything obstructing breathing from the mouth and throat (snacks, breakfast), do not try to induce vomiting.Place the victim in the resuscitation position, free the neck and waist from tight clothing, and ensure that the airway remains patent.

If the victim does not regain consciousness, call an ambulance.

Conclusion

Alcoholism is a serious illness that develops in some cases for many years. So it is better not to drink a lot and often! And if you drink, then drink BEER !!! 🙂

Dentist Lisitsina E.E.

90,000 100 interesting facts about alcohol

1. Under the influence of alcohol, all human organs are destroyed.

2. All alcoholic beverages must contain ethyl alcohol.

3. Alcohol is a part of modern wine, beer and vodka.

4. Ethyl alcohol is a strong drug.

5. Through the intestinal wall, ethyl alcohol is absorbed into the body and enters the bloodstream and liver.

6. Alcoholics are characterized by absent-mindedness, memory loss and schizophrenia.

7. The intoxication of a person depends on the concentration of alcohol in the blood.

8. Alcoholism is accompanied by profound changes in the reproductive system.

9. A drunk person has a deteriorating ability for active concentration.

10. A drunk person is often distracted by minor interference.

11. Superficial associations and dizziness prevail in a drunk person.

12. The ability of the auditory and visual analyzer decreases during an increase in intoxication.

13. The required time is increased for the implementation of the motor reaction and decision-making.

14. Coordination of movement worsens under the influence of alcohol.

15. When solving any problems, the number of errors in a drunk person increases.

16. A person under the influence of alcohol often underestimates his capabilities and does not understand the seriousness of the situation.

17. Drunkenness usually lasts for several hours.

18. After a while, there are impairments in the coordination of movements, behavior and mental functions.

19. Significantly reduce all functional characteristics of the organism after exiting the state of intoxication.

20. The middle stage of intoxication is characterized by carelessness and heightened mood.

21. Fatal acts are often committed in a state of moderate intoxication.

22.The drunk manages his body with difficulty.

23. In case of severe intoxication, a person cannot walk in a straight line.

24. Speech becomes indistinct and slow.

25. A drunken person repeats the same phrases several times.

26. Dizziness is often felt with moderate intoxication.

27. Illusions and unawareness of the surrounding world may appear.

28. Weakness and a feeling of fatigue replaces the cheerful mood.

29.Gradually, moderate intoxication turns into sleep.

30. General performance decreases under the influence of alcohol.

31. A drunken person can become the culprit of an accident.

32. After intoxication, there is also a long-term decrease in performance.

33. It takes quite a long time for the body to fully recover from alcohol exposure.

34. Alcohol causes certain changes in the recovery processes of the body.

35. A decrease in blood sugar level is observed for some time after alcohol withdrawal.

36. The appearance of symptoms of deep intoxication is characterized by a severe degree of intoxication.

37. The unconscious state of intoxication does not always end happily.

38. In most cases, alcoholism is an intractable disease.

39. The best mental state is drunkenness for alcoholics.

40. The alcoholic directs all his energy to getting alcohol.

41. As a rule, alcoholics lose the gag reflex.

42. The first sign of alcoholism is increased resistance to alcohol.

43. Alcohol tolerance suddenly decreases in the later stages of alcoholism.

44. Delirium tremens is the final stage of alcoholism.

45. In the form of delirium tremens, psychosis appears more often.

46. In some cases, alcohol abuse causes epilepsy.

47. Expressed changes in the body are caused by each use of alcohol.

48. The patient loses consciousness for a few seconds from alcoholic epilepsy.

49. The average life expectancy of an alcoholic is reduced by 15%.

50. Inability to breastfeed children is a sign of alcoholism in women.

No and I do not intend to

15.31%

Asked nothing

8.36%

Voted: 71970

51. Alcoholic beverages have a significant effect on reproductive function.

52.Alcoholism leads to early aging.

53. The alcoholic looks older than his age.

54. The negative influence of wine on offspring has long been known.

55. Stillborn children are more often born to alcoholics.

56. Drinking wine at your own wedding was considered a bad sign in Russia.

57. The contact of the fetus with alcohol is dangerous for mental and physical consequences.

58. Exposure to alcohol during pregnancy can lead to underdevelopment of the fetus.

59. Nervous disorders in a child are caused by alcohol, which enters the body together with breast milk.

60. The French physician Demme, in the last century, began to study the negative effects of alcohol.

61. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has the same effect on the body of the mother and the child.

62. A child inherits mental disorders from alcoholic parents.

63. Addiction to alcohol is transmitted genetically.

64.There can be no craving for alcohol in a healthy child.

65. Curiosity pushes children to drink alcohol.

66. Alcohol is concentrated in the child’s brain after it enters the body.

67. All organs of the child are affected by the regular use of alcohol.

68. Diabetes mellitus may develop in adolescents from alcohol abuse.

69. Significant changes are observed in the human brain under the influence of alcohol.

70.Alcohol clots blood in human vessels.

71. It is the feeling of freedom that prompts people to abuse alcoholic beverages.

72. Russia is not the first country to die out under the influence of alcohol.

73. The Indians were conquered with the help of an alcoholic drink.

74. Two thirds of the world’s population do not drink alcohol.

75. More than 40 countries live in dry law today.

76. 80 states live in the law of sobriety.

77. There are more than 700 sober peoples on Earth.

78. Alcoholics registration system introduced in Norway.

79. 100 ml of beer contains 12 grams of poison.

80.20 grams of poison is contained in 100 ml of wine.

81. Beer was considered a non-alcoholic drink in Kievan Rus.

82. Freshly squeezed grape juice was wine in Russia.

83.17 grams of poison is contained in 100 ml of champagne.

84. 100 ml of vodka contains 40 grams of poison.

85.In Kievan Rus, the population consumed a large amount of alcohol.

86. 40 grams of poison is contained in 100 ml of cognac.

87. 100 ml of moonshine contains 70 grams of poison.

88. Alcohol makes various cocktail additions attractive.

89. A person can die if he takes alcohol at the rate of 8 grams per 1 kg of weight.

90. Alcohol brings a person to the state of anesthesia.

91. In some American subcultures there are whole cults of worship of alcohol.

92. Yeast urine is alcohol.

93. Yeast, water and sugar create an intoxicating effect.

94. Ethyl alcohol with wine forms champagne.

95. Any organic matter can be converted into alcohol by yeast fungi.

96. In reality, a surrogate for champagne is sold in Russian stores.

97. No government can influence the alcoholic Russian mafia.

98. Beer is not considered alcohol in Russia.

99.The alcoholic mafia enjoys media support.

100. About a million people die from alcohol in Russia every year.

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The reason is in the heads. What pushes residents of Kirov to abuse alcohol | SOCIETY

The level of alcoholization of the population in our region is very high. Almost every week we learn about the terrible crimes committed by people in a state of intoxication. But this is just the tip of the iceberg: statistics do not count mutilated human destinies.

Banal stories

We drink both the poor and the rich. The first ones seem to be from despair, the second ones – from boredom, loneliness, or because they are furious with fat. Tragedy everywhere you look.

Sergei drank before the wedding, but every year his craving for a bottle was gaining momentum. After another binge, he fell at his wife’s feet, swearing that this would not happen again. Irina has already lost count of how many times it was encoded, and would have long ago left her dissolute husband, if not for two children and a mortgage.

Vladimir was a procurement manager in a large company, earned good money, went to negotiations abroad. Business meetings, as a rule, ended with a banquet. For a while he tried to keep himself within limits, and then he began to drink and for no reason. After a drunken Vladimir lost an important contract, he was demoted, his wife left. Intellectually, the man understands that it is time to stop, but the desire to drink overpowers.

Julia is a single mother. She started drinking after parting with her husband – to relax.Now a bottle of beer in the morning replaces her breakfast. Yulia’s daughter is 13 years old. She hates her mother and often runs away from home. From their scandals – with shouting, smashing dishes and slamming doors – the entire entrance was tired.

Familiar stories, isn’t that so? Isn’t it the same with our friends, relatives, acquaintances? So where does this come from?

With mother’s milk

The predisposition to alcoholism is genetically inherent, and those who were born in drinking families have 4 times more chances to sleep.But there are many alcoholics among the children of sober parents.

“In childhood, social stereotypes are formed, which can be extremely difficult to overcome in adulthood,” says Vera Kirillovykh, deputy chief physician of the Kirov Regional Narcological Dispensary . – For example, the child was not loved, not caressed, but only constantly demanded: good grades in school, sports achievements; they followed every step, said what and when he should do, they were not encouraged for successes, and punished for mistakes.As a result, a person grew up who does not know how to make decisions on his own and be responsible for them, not self-confident and not self-conscious. Once he tried alcohol and realized that it was from him that he was getting positive emotions, which he lacked so much.

Poverty, uncertainty about the future, insecurity – all this also leads to excessive drinking. A person seeks comfort in him. The availability of spirits and the distribution of surrogates and “funfiriks” also play a significant role.

Drunkard mother

The number of women drinking is growing, which is explained by their moral and economic independence from men and the growth of psychological and physical stress. There is a desire to relax, distract from problems with the help of alcohol.

Female alcoholism is also on the rise in the region. Photo: Shutterstock.com

“Female alcoholism is dangerous because the ladies manage to hide their addiction for a long time. No wonder it is called “alcoholism behind lace curtains.”They do not put the bottle on the table, but drink stealthily, ”explains Vera Grigorievna. – If you do not provide support or attention in time, then the woman finds consolation in the use of alcohol. Later, moral dependence turns into biochemical, and it is very difficult to cope with it. ”

There are no miracles

Newspapers are full of ads about alcohol coding. Various techniques are used: from hypnosis and acupuncture to stitching ampoules with special substances under the skin. But somehow it doesn’t work.

You need to understand: there are no magic pills. However, as well as wizards. No one, moving his hands over his head, will not relieve you of the disease – it needs to be treated for a long time and persistently and best of all in a hospital setting. This can be done anonymously. First of all, it is necessary to remove toxins from the body. Then different specialists get down to business, because chronic alcoholism harms the whole body. The work of a psychologist is no less important. And he should deal with all codependent family members, and not just with an alcoholic.Often women do not understand why it is necessary to treat them, because they do not drink, and they do not pour a drink for their husband. But, unwittingly, they push their husbands to the path of drunkenness. There are no common topics for conversation, the spouses do not plan a vacation together and do not discuss problems at work. All conversations boil down to one thing: “Now, if you hadn’t drunk …”

All persons involved should be involved in alcoholism treatment. Photo: Shutterstock.com/ BlueSkyImage

As odd as it sounds, drunkard wives are fine with their role. Unconsciously, of course, they like to shift the responsibility for all troubles onto their husband, humiliate him or feel like a victim.A specialist should understand all the variety of family relationships.

The earlier treatment is started, the better the chances of success. But not a single self-respecting narcologist will say that alcoholism can be cured – just like diabetes or AIDS cannot be cured. You can only achieve a stable remission. If the person himself does not see the problem, there will be no sense – the path to recovery must be conscious.

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