Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing. It is medically considered a disease, specifically an addictive illness. In psychiatry several other terms have been used, specifically "alcohol abuse", "alcohol dependence," and "alcohol use disorder" which have slightly different definitions.[1] In 1979, an expert World Health Organization committee discouraged the use of "alcoholism" in medicine, preferring the category of "alcohol dependence syndrome".[2] In the 19th and early 20th centuries, alcohol dependence in general was called dipsomania, but that term now has a much more specific meaning.[3] People suffering from alcoholism are often called "alcoholics". Treatment of alcoholism takes several steps. Signs and symptoms Early signs Long-term misuse Physical Psychiatric Social effects Causes

The Natural History of Alcoholism Revisited The Natural History of Alcoholism Revisited (1995) is a book by psychiatrist George E. Vaillant that describes two multi-decade studies of the lives of 600 American males, non-alcoholics at the outset, focusing on their lifelong drinking behaviours. By following the men from youth to old age it was possible to chart their drinking patterns and what factors may have contributed to alcoholism. Another study followed 100 severe alcoholics from a clinic eight years after their detoxification. The National Review hailed the first edition (1983) as "a genuine revolution in the field of alcoholism research" and said that "Vaillant has combined clinical experience with an unprecedented amount of empirical data to produce what may ultimately come to be viewed as the single most important contribution to the literature of alcoholism since the first edition of AA's Big Book That alcoholism is as much a social as a medical condition. Background[edit] Study Samples[edit] Timeline[edit]

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms | Symptoms Of Alcohol Withdrawal Social Drinking vs. Problem Drinking - Online Medical Encyclopedia Some people can drink liquor for hours on end and appear to stay sober, while others become tipsy after just one drink. So how can you tell if you or someone else is a problem drinker? People who have alcohol dependence can't always predict how much they will drink, when they will stop, or what they will do while drinking. And it is common for alcoholics to deny the negative effects of drinking or that they even have a problem. Alcohol is considered a drug because it depresses the central nervous system and can disrupt mental and motor skills, as well as damage internal organs when used excessively. The effects of alcohol Alcohol can lessen tension, reduce inhibitions, and ease social interaction. Alcohol abuse and dependence can start at any age, and there are no good predictors of when it may start, though a family history or current family alcohol or drug abuse problems may influence the start of personal drinking problems. Safe drinking Signs of problem drinking What you can do

Alcohol Addiction Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a sedative-hypnotic drug that acts on the human brain like other sedative-hypnotic drugs such as the barbiturates and benzodiazepine tranquilizers(Valium, Xanax, Ativan &etc.). All of these drugs can substitute for one another and prevent withdrawal symptoms from each other. Thus benzodiazepine tranquilizers are commonly used briefly to treat severe alcohol withdrawal. Ethyl alcohol, like other sedative-hypnotic drugs in its class, can cause physical dependence in anyone who consumes enough of it for a sufficient period of time. The withdrawal syndrome from ethyl alcohol is identical to that for other drugs in the same class such as Valium, Librium, Xanax, Ativan, phenobarbital and other barbiturates(Nembutal, Seconal, Amytal &etc.). Individuals who have been regularly exposed to any of these drugs may develop the following physical symptoms upon abrupt discontinuation or drastic reduction of dosage: Physical dependence is not addiction. The Addict's Dilemma

ALCOHOL IN RUSSIA Martin McKee Received February 16, 1999. Revision received March 22, 1999. Abstract The contribution that alcohol has made to the large fluctuations in mortality in Russia in recent years is now widely recognized. An association between heavy drinking and Russia is part of popular culture. But what is the reality? There is now compelling evidence that alcohol has been a major factor in recent widespread changes in mortality in Russia and in other countries of the former Soviet Union. We have previously shown that these changes were real rather than due to data artefact, and that alcohol has played a major role, with the largest relative fluctuations from alcohol-related deaths, injuries and cardiovascular diseases, while mortality from cancers remained stable (Leon et al., 1997). Collectively, this evidence demonstrates the importance of alcohol in explaining the Russian mortality crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. However, the level of consumption is only one part of the picture.

Social Drinkers, Problem Drinkers and High-Functioning Alcoholics When the term "high-functioning alcoholic" is mentioned, various types of drinkers often begin to question their own drinking and worry if they fall into this category. Part of this confusion is that many individuals are unclear about the differences in charactersitics of social drinkers, problem drinkers and alcoholics. There is also a lack of awareness of what the true warning signs of alcoholism are. Social drinkers are those individuals who drink in low-risk patterns. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), "low-risk" drinking for females consists of no more than 7 drinks per week and no more than 3 drinks per sitting. For males, it consists of no more than 14 drinks per week and no more than 4 drinks per day. Problem drinkers display clear differences between their drinking habits and those of alcoholics. If individuals display a number of these warning signs, it is important for them to address this issue.

The Recovery Show - 12 step recovery for those of us who love alcoholics or addicts. Hand Tremor What is hand tremor? Hand tremor is an involuntary muscle movement, trembling, or shaking of the hands. Learn More About Hand Tremor Tremor most accurately refers to a small, rhythmic shaking movement that occurs in a back-and-forth pattern. Types of tremors Tremors can be classified as rest or action tremors. Rest tremors are movements that occur while your body is at rest, such as when your hands shake while they are supported on your lap. Short-term tremors that disappear quickly can be due to an anxiety attack or stress; whereas, chronic tremors that come and go over a longer period of time can be due to essential tremor. Any type of hand tremor, even if it is temporary, needs to be evaluated by a medical professional. What other symptoms might occur with hand tremor? Hand tremor may occur with other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that may occur along with hand tremor Other possible symptoms that may oc... What causes hand tremor?

Delirium tremens - PubMed Health