Alcoholism - The Psychology Of Alcoholism, The Physiology Of Alcoholism, The Stages Of Alcoholism, Genetics Of Alcoholism
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Alcoholism is a serious, chronic, potentially fatal condition manifested by a person's powerful addiction to alcoholic beverages. While experts have linked alcoholism to physiological (possibly hereditary), psychological, socioeconomic, ethnic, cultural, and other factors, there is no clear explanation of its genesis. Alcoholism occurs in all economic strata of society, in all age groups, from teenagers to the elderly, and in all races. Thus the popular stereotype of the alcoholic as a down-and-out person is misleading: alcoholics can be sufficiently functional to maintain a successful professional career. Particularly dangerous is the stereotype of alcoholism as an adult disease. Children and teenagers can become alcoholics—no age group is immune. While the abuse of alcoholic beverages has been known from time immemorial, the term alcoholism was coined in the nineteenth century by the Swedish physician Magnus Huss.
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Some adults can drink alcohol-containing beverages in moderate amounts without experiencing significant side effects. There is evidence that having a glass of wine each day may be beneficial for the heart and digestive process. Alcohol is a potent source of energy and calories. The ready availability of calories in alcohol gives an individual—alcoholic or nonalcoholic—a jolt of energ…
The alcoholic, if he does not receive effective treatment, will progress through three stages of increasing deterioration. Alcoholism is difficult to diagnose in the early or adaptive stage. The alcoholic may drink heavily and remain functional. He does not experience any withdrawal symptoms other than the standard hangover following excessive drinking. The cells of the body adapt to large quantit…
The contribution of genetics to an understanding alcoholism and other diseases having addictive behavior has been wrought with controversy for the past two hundred years. Because this is a politically and socially charged issue, there has been much debate regarding the true genetic contribution to alcoholism. Traditional medicine states that disease can be attributed to certain environmental condi…
There is no cure for alcoholism. Treatment consists of bringing the alcoholic to realization of his condition and the need to avoid alcohol. It is often unsuccessful, and many alcoholics relapse into their drinking habits even after a period of abstinence. Long-term therapeutic programs of about four weeks usually are considered necessary to arm the alcoholic to function without drinking. He is fi…
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