Topic: AlcoholismDfinition
The essential feature of alcohol abuse is the maladaptive use of alcohol with recurrent and
significant adverse consequences related to its repeated use. Alcoholism is the popular term
for two disorders, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.
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Effects of Alcoholism
The effects of alcoholism are quite far-reaching. Alcohol affects every body system, causing a wide
range of health problems. Some such problems include poor nutrition, memory disorders, difficulty
with balance and walking, liver disease (including cirrhosis and hepatitis), high blood pressure,
muscle weakness (including the heart), heart rhythm disturbances, anemia, clotting disorders, decreased
immunity to infections, gastrointestinal inflammation and irritation, acute and chronic problems with
the pancreas, low blood sugar, high blood fat content, interference with reproductive fertility,
and weakened bones.
On a personal level, alcoholism results in marital and other relationship difficulties, depression,
unemployment, child abuse, and general family dysfunction.
Alcoholism causes or contributes to a variety of severe social problems including homelessness,
murder, suicide, injury, and violent crime. Alcohol is a contributing factor in at least 50% of
all deaths from motor vehicle accidents. In fact, about 100,000 deaths occur each year due to the
effects of alcohol, of which 50% are due to injuries of some sort.
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