Drugs and Alcohol Addiction is a universal problem. There are several ways to overcome it.
Alcohol Addiction and Treatment Programs
The most common as well as a heavily researched drug, alcohol is a drug that has widespread effects on the body. Used for medicinal purposes, as a vasodilator .i.e. blood vessels are made to relax and widen, it s down side is that at higher levels it is a vasoconstrictor, that which shrinks the vessels and increases blood pressure, aggravating conditions such as migraine and headaches.
Though a stimulant often associated with violent and self-abusive behavior, alcohol is a sedative-hypnotic in the acute intoxification phase. But, regular intake lessens the quality of sleep. Sleep apnea patient often experience longer periods of oxygen deprivation, after drinking alcohol.
Effects vary a great deal. You might either be the "life of the party" or you may be morose and droopy. The amount of alcohol consumed, personal history with alcohol and personality are all key factors in how alcohol affects the body.
Alcoholism Effects
Alcohol reduces tension and coordination, lowers inhibitions, impairs concentration and reaction time, and slows reflexes. The frontal lobes of the brain are affected causing an overall reduction in the size of the brain and increase in size of the ventricles, not to mention other effects on the central nervous system, reticular formation, the spinal cord, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and many neurotransmitter systems. Alcoholism causes vitamin deficiency, "Wernicke's Encephalopathy" "Korsakoff's Syndrome." Typical withdrawal symptoms include shaking (tremors), sleep problems, nausea, hallucinations and even seizures.
Symptoms
Alcoholism is mainly distinguishable by four symptoms:
Craving: A strong need to drink.
Loss of control: Inability to control one's drinking.
Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get high."
Treatment
With a wide range of effective treatment and recovery program options
and available, the need of such treatment is getting these patients
to achieve lasting self-discipline. Cognitive therapies, behavioral
therapies, and group and family therapies and psychodynamic/interpersonal
therapies, rehabilitation
methods vary according to the patient's need and the degree of avoidance
of the addictive substances.
If you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism please
give us a call at 800-559-9503. We have counselors standing by day
and night to provide assistance, answer questions and help guide you
in the right direction.
Call us any time toll free at 1-800-559-9503 for addiction intervention and
one of our trained counselors will ensure attention to you or your loved one.
