What Is Alcoholism?
Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol characterized by chronic alcohol use that results in physical, mental and emotional problems.
One of the most obvious characteristics of alcoholism is an inability to stop drinking once a person has started. The alcoholic has a constant strong craving for alcohol and will have developed a high tolerance. This means it will take more and more alcohol to get them intoxicated as time goes on.
According to national surveys, about 17 million people in the US abuse or are addicted to alcohol. In Europe, it’s estimated that 23 million people are dependent on alcohol. Internationally, it’s estimated that more than two million deaths a year result from alcohol consumption.
Sadly, every death caused by alcohol can be prevented simply by not overusing the drug. Getting someone who is abusing alcohol into a successful alcohol recovery program, such as the one at Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, can be the factor that saves someone from being one of these two million to lose their lives.
While some deaths occur after extensive drinking, such as colon cancer, heart disease or cirrhosis, some of them can happen at any point in the addiction, for example, auto accidents, drownings or assault deaths. It only takes one little mistake, in the midst of alcohol abuse, to bring about one of these tragedies. Narconon centers have been helping people for five decades put alcoholism behind them so they can live sober, productive lives.
Signs of Alcohol Abuse
Worldwide, there is a huge amount of alcohol being consumed. The World Health Organization found that the total annual consumption of alcohol equaled over six liters of pure alcohol per person over 15 years of age. To be sure, not all alcohol consumption is problematic. So how can one tell the difference?
There are distinct signs of alcohol abuse that can be looked for. If you have someone who seems like they might be having a problem with their drinking, here are signs you can look for to know whether or not you need to make a closer inspection. Remember that many of these signs can relate to some other problem or condition, so you still have to look at the overall scene.
Look for sweating, especially with a sour smell; weight loss; physical deterioration.
Take notice of emotional changes like: Increased aggression; higher levels of anxiety than usual; burnout on tasks that previously were not a problem; refusal to admit any problem; depression; paranoia. Or behavioral changes such as: Person is unusually talkative; coordination is impaired; irritability; lethargy, lack of energy; short attention span; lack of motivation.
Or work related changes: Repeated missed appointments; excessive absences, latenesses or days off; Often late for work, meetings, appointments; Repeated excuses for failures to meet deadlines or finish tasks.
And of course, be alert for the smell of alcohol on a person, empty alcohol bottles in the trash (though some alcoholic may go to pains to throw away bottles elsewhere to escape detection) or more frequent purchases of alcohol. When you have multiple signs, you have the grounds to sit down with the person and confront them on the subject.
Getting Your Loved One Help to Get Sober
For many people, it takes more than willpower to get off the alcohol. It takes help in the form of an effective alcohol rehabilitation program. That is where Narconon has been able to enter the scene and help many people kick an alcohol habit.
Through the Narconon program, addicts can find the solution they need to drug or alcohol addiction. The recovery program takes those who are addicted through a thorough detoxification, following by life skills training that enables the alcoholic to leave the past behind and look forward to a bright new future. Graduates ordinarily restore family relationships, renew personal value systems and experience the relief of restored personal integrity. It all adds up to a new life without alcohol or drugs.
To those who wish to break the pattern of drug use or drinking that is destroying their lives, Narconon provides a unique drug recovery program.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
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