Short Term Effects:
- distorted vision, hearing, and coordination
- altered perceptions and emotions
- impaired judgment
- bad breath; hangovers
Alcohol abuse is a pattern of problem drinking that results in health consequences, social, problems, or both. However, alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, refers to a disease that is characterized by abnormal alcohol-seeking behavior that leads to impaired control over drinking.
Long Term Effects:
- Some problems, like those mentioned above, can occur after drinking over a relatively short period of time.
- But other problems--such as liver disease, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and pancreatitis--often develop more gradually and may become evident only after long-term heavy drinking.
- Women may develop alcohol-related health problems after consuming less alcohol than men do over a shorter period of time.
- Alcohol-related liver disease
More than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, as a result of long-term heavy drinking.
Its symptoms include fever, jaundice (abnormal yellowing of the skin, eyeballs, and urine), and abdominal pain.
- Alcoholic cirrhosis
Can cause death if drinking continues. Although cirrhosis is not reversible, if drinking stops, one's chances of survival improve considerably.
Those with cirrhosis often feel better, and the functioning of their liver may improve, if they stop drinking. Although liver transplantation may be needed as a last resort, many people with cirrhosis who abstain from alcohol may never need liver transplantation. In addition, treatment for the complications of cirrhosis is available.
- Heart disease
Moderate drinking can have beneficial effects on the heart, especially among those at greatest risk for heart attacks, such as men over the age of 45 and women after menopause.
But long-term heavy drinking increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and some kinds of stroke.
- Cancer
Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and voice box.
Women are at slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer if they drink two or more drinks per day.
Drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and rectum.
- Alcohol and blackouts
Alcohol interferes with the ability to form new memories. Large amounts of alcohol, particularly if consumed rapidly, can produce partial or complete blackouts, which are periods of memory loss for events that transpired while a person was drinking.
Recent studies indicate that blackouts are much more common among college drinkers. While often confused with passing out, or losing consciousness after excessive drinking, blackouts do not involve a loss of consciousness.
Indeed, individuals can engage in a wide range of goal-directed, voluntary, often complicated behaviors during blackouts -- from driving cars to having sexual intercourse.
Alcohol has only a minimal impact on the ability to remember information learned before becoming intoxicated or on keeping information active in memory for short periods of time.
For these reasons, outside observers are often unaware of the individual's true level of intoxication.
- Alcoholism
Alcoholism, also known as “alcohol dependence,” is a disease that includes four symptoms:
• Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
• Loss of control: The inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion.
• 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.”
People who are not alcoholic sometimes do not understand why an alcoholic can’t just “use a little willpower” to stop drinking. However, alcoholism has little to do with willpower. Alcoholics are in the grip of an uncontrollable need, for alcohol that overrides their ability to stop drinking.
Although some people are able to recover from alcoholism without help, the majority of alcoholics need assistance. With treatment and support, many individuals are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives.
- Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control over drinking, or physical dependence.
Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:
• Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities;
• Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery;
• Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk; and
• Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking.
- Signs of a Problem
• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning (as an “eye opener”) to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?
One “yes” answer suggests a possible alcohol problem.
If you answered “yes” to more than one question, it is highly likely that a problem exists.
In either case, it is important that you see your doctor or other health care provider right away to discuss your answers to these questions.
He or she can help you determine whether you have a drinking problem and, if so, recommend the best course of action.
Even if you answered “no” to all of the above questions, if you encounter drinking-related problems with your job, relationships, health, or the law, you should seek professional help.
The effects of alcohol abuse can be extremely serious—
even fatal—
both to you and to others.
- Resources
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454–5617
Phone: (757) 563–1600; Fax: (757) 563–1655
Email:
Internet address:
Makes referrals to local Al-Anon groups, which are support groups for spouses and other significant adults in an alcoholic person’s life. Also makes referrals to Alateen groups, which offer support to children of alcoholics. Free informational materials and locations of Al-Anon or Alateen meetings worldwide can be obtained by calling the toll-free number (888) 425–2666 from the United States or Canada, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (e.s.t.).
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) World Services, Inc.
475 Riverside Drive, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10115
Phone: (212) 870–3400; Fax: (212) 870–3003
Email: via AA’s Web site
Internet address:
Makes referrals to local AA groups and provides informational materials on the AA program. Many cities and towns also have a local AA office listed in the telephone book. All communication should be directed to AA’s mailing address: AA World Services, Inc., Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 459, New York, NY 10163.
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)
20 Exchange Place, Suite 2902
New York, NY 10005
Phone: (212) 269–7797; Fax: (212) 269–7510
Email:
HOPE LINE: (800) NCA–CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)
Internet address:
Offers educational materials and information on alcoholism. Provides phone numbers of local NCADD Affiliates (who can provide information on local treatment resources) via the above toll-free, 24-hour HOPE LINE.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304
Bethesda, MD 20892-9304
Phone: (301) 443–3860; Fax: (301) 480–1726
Email:
Internet address:
Special thanks to Patricia Yanez, for providing this
bulletin board for posting on
Patricia Yánez is currently a senior at Binghamton University. She has been a Resident Assistant for three years. Her projects as a Resident Assistant (RA) include programs that enhance the classroom experience, promoting diversity within the university and working with the “College Students in Transition Class”.She has sat on many committees and has been a part of the process of selecting new RAs.