The first step that an alcoholic needs to take is making the decision to stop. Often, this decision is made after a really horrible event due to that person’s alcohol abuse. Sometimes, a court order is given to a person to seek treatment. This is always the case when a person is arrested for drinking and driving under the influence.

The most successful alcoholism treatment by far is the help of the world wide meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. In any town anywhere you will find a meeting of fellow sufferers, and the support and non-judgmental sympathy of these people who are just like you is highly motivating. You will be asked to take part in the famous 12 Step program, and if you just do “the work”, become sober at last.

This is not an overnight “cure”, it is a lifetime commitment. When you see and feel the results of sobriety, and experience the joy and freedom it brings, you will wonder why it took you so long to get to this place.

If AA is not for you, you might want to try cognitive therapy as an alcoholism treatment. Even hypnotism is often very effective in slowing down or eliminating cravings. Finding a good hypnotist is possible. Your family health care provider will be able to steer you in the right direction.

Some research indicates that small amounts of Lithium (5 to 10 ml.) can reduce or eliminate symptoms of alcohol cravings. Ask your health care provider to look into this for you. Acupuncture is another alternative treatment with a high success rate. The acupuncturist will place little balls of metal on your ears with spirit glue, and you will be instructed to massage these whenever a craving for a drink strikes you.

In order for any treatment to work you need to stay away from situations and people who trigger the urge to drink. Going to your local bar or pub to watch a football game is going to be challenging to your willpower. It is better to go for a walk or call your AA sponsor than to put yourself in harm’s way. Alcoholism treatment really can work, if you stay committed.

These are some random alcoholism facts that you may find interesting:

• Alcoholism is a disease.
• 70% of all drinkers drink 10% of all the alcohol consumed in the United States. That means 30% of drinkers drink the other 90%!
• There’s an estimated 18 million alcoholics in the U.S. alone.
• Beer is the 4^th most consumed beverage in the U.S. behind milk, coffee, and soda.
• Alcohol is a leading cause of birth defects.
• 55% of children will have had their first drink by the time they reach the 8^th grade.
• People with a high tolerance to alcohol, or a family history of alcoholism, have an increased risk of becoming alcoholics themselves.
• There are over 1.4 million DUI’s every year.
• If we’re intoxicated once a week or more, we increase our chance of cardiovascular death by 2.4 times.
• Only 10-15% people who drink will become alcoholics.
• Alcoholism is progressive and will get worse over time if untreated.
• If we’re intoxicated, we increase our chance of having a stroke that day by 2-3 times in men, and 3-4 times on women.
• Alcohol detoxification and withdrawals can be deadly, and should be taken very seriously.
• Alcohol is the 3^rd leading cause of death in the U.S. and is responsible for killing over 100,000 people per year.

If someone has 2 drinks per day for 30 days, and someone else has 8 drinks every Friday for 30 days, who would you say is more likely to experience problems as a result of their drinking? If you thought the person having 8 beers every Friday, then you’re correct.

Alcoholism Facts: Biological Risks

Anyone can become an alcoholic, but someone with a family history of alcoholism has an increased risk. In a study, a group of young men between the ages of 18-22 were followed for 15 years. Some had a family history of alcoholism, some didn’t. The study found that those with a family history were 4 times more likely to become alcoholics. They also found that subjects with a high tolerance for alcohol at the beginning of the study were also 4 times more likely to develop alcoholism.

Another group, ages 20-35, were studied to examine how alcohol influences making “high-risk” choices. Research showed that only 21% of those without family history, or high tolerance had multiple problems with alcohol. 36% with one risk factor had multiple alcohol problems, and 60% with both risk factors had multiple issues. So, anyone can have problems with alcohol, but those with risk factors, and especially those with multiple risk factors, are much more likely to experience multiple problems.

Keep these Alcoholism Facts in mind the next time you have to make a decision when it comes to drinking.

It’s important to note that these alcoholism symptoms may signify abuse or misuse of alcohol, or alcohol dependency. It’s not a guarantee, by any means. Everyone’s body and living situation is unique. These are just some of the more common and easily detectable alcoholism symptoms you may see.

Slurring of Words

Slurring of words is a symptom that is closely related to the delayed motor activity caused by an excessive amount of alcohol. When one is suffering from alcoholism, their speech is impaired because they are losing grip on their focus and on their train of thought. This is a common effect of alcoholism that should be monitored and should be consistent in order to prove that one is an alcoholic.

Slowed Response

Among the different bodily functions that are compromised by alcoholism, one of the most apparent is the nervous system. This is because one’s nerve endings are dilated when they are intoxicated with alcohol. Therefore, they can slow down, feel less pain and respond slower than a normal, alcohol-free person. This can be monitored by touching someone, talking to them, or even just carrying out simple tasks along with the person whom you may suspect is suffering from alcohol addiction or dependency. This is one of the more obvious alcoholism symptoms you’ll see.

Dehydration

Dehydration is another common effect caused by an excessive amount of alcohol in ones system. Even though alcohol is a liquid, it actually dehydrates the body. The more alcohol someone drinks, the more dehydrated they will get. However, dehydration from alcohol should be differentiated with other forms of dehydration, such as those caused by diarrhea and other bodily functions.

To see if this alcoholism symptom is apparent in a person, try to see them as they wake up in the morning. This is when the body tries to recuperate by signaling the feeling of thirst. Check if they seem to be drinking excessive amounts of water. If they are, it is possible that they may be an alcoholic.

See our page here for more alcoholism facts.

You should seek medical attention immediately if two or more of these symptoms are occurring. There’s no denying that alcohol dependency or abuse can not only ruin someone’s lifestyle, but it can also cause some serious long-term damage to someone’s health and possibly result in death. It’s important to always be on the look-out for alcoholism symptoms in a friend or a loved one so that the appropriate steps can be taken to avoid the potential lifelong effects caused by the uncontrollable intake of alcohol in their life.

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If someone you know is being dragged down into addiction or dependency of alcohol, and you want to prevent them from going further down the line of fatal consequences, it’s important for you to not only let them know that you think they have a problem with alcohol, but also try to assist them in seeking help.  Taking action after detecting Alcoholism Symptoms is the only way to help someone let go of alcohol so that they can regain control of their life again.