ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism



Alcoholism

Introduction

Alcoholism is a disease in which there is strong needs to consume ethanol, so that there is a very physical dependence, manifested by certain symptoms of withdrawal when intake is not possible. The alcoholic has no control over the limits of its consumption and is often increasing over time the degree of tolerance to alcohol (Hedblom, 2007).

Discussion

Alcohol Dependence as a Disease

The Swedish physician Magnus Huss in 1849 first defined alcoholism as a disease. He differentiated between the "acute alcoholism, or poisoning" and the "chronic alcoholism." was, however, is finding a long way this through. Abraham Baer, ??a prison doctor in London, however, described 1878 as alcoholism, the sum of the damages. Only Elvin Morton Jellinek , who at times for the WHO worked, sat down in 1951 by his work with Alcoholics Anonymous inspired by the world view that alcoholism is a disease(Pence, 2007).

Features

So far there is no known common cause of this addiction, although several factors may play an important role in its development and the evidence shows that he has a father or a mother with alcoholism are more likely to get sick.

This may be due, rather than social, family or advertising campaigns, the presence of certain genes that might increase the risk of alcoholism.

Some other factors associated with this condition are the need to relieve anxiety, conflict in interpersonal relationships, depression, low self esteem, ease of getting alcohol and social acceptance of alcohol consumption (Galanter, 2005).

Treatment

Treatments for alcoholism include detoxification programs conducted by medical institutions. This may involve the patient's stay for an indefinite period (perhaps several weeks), specialized hospital wards where they may be using certain drugs to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

After a period of detoxification, the patient may be subjected to various methods of group therapy or psychotherapy to address psychological problems of substance that may have to take the patient to dependence. It can also support the program with therapies that encourage the patient to repel the alcohol by drugs such as disulfiram, which causes severe and sudden hangover whenever alcohol is consumed (Hedblom, 2007).

Nutrition therapy is another treatment. Dr. S. Vilyamc in the book "Nutrition against Disease" (Pence, 2007) argues that none of those who adhere to the rules of a balanced diet will ever become an alcoholic. This scientist in rats showed that the human diet can even make them alcoholics. One group of rats fed a high carbohydrate, the other ...