ON ALCOHOLISM

1: What do we mean by alcoholism?

Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or trouble with the law. It includes four symptoms:

Craving--A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.

Impaired control--The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.

Physical dependence--Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.

Tolerance--The need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

2: Is alcoholism a disease?

Yes. Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease with symptoms that include a strong need to drink despite negative consequences, such as serious job or health problems. Like many other diseases, it has a generally predictable course, has recognized symptoms, and is
influenced by both genetic and environmental factors that are being increasingly well defined.

3: Is alcoholism inherited? back to top

Alcoholism tends to run in families, and genetic factors partially explain this pattern. Currently, researchers are on the way to finding the genes that influence vulnerability to alcoholism. A person's environment, such as the influence of friends, stress levels, and the ease of obtaining alcohol, also may influence drinking and the development of alcoholism. Still other factors, such as social support, may help to protect even high-risk people from alcohol problems.

Risk, however, is not destiny. A child of an alcoholic parent will not automatically develop alcoholism. A person with no family history of alcoholism can become alcohol dependent.

4: Can alcoholism be cured? back to top

Not yet. Alcoholism is a treatable disease, and medication is available to help prevent relapse, but a cure has not yet been found. This means that even if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time and has regained health, he or she must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages.

5: Are there any medications for alcoholism? back to top

Yes. Two different types of medications are commonly used to treat alcoholism. The first are tranquilizers called benzodiazepines (e.g.,Valium®, Librium®), which are used only during the first few days of treatment to help patients safely withdraw from alcohol.

A second type of medication is used to help people remain sober. A recently approved medicine for this purpose is naltrexone (ReVia TM). When used together with counseling, this medication lessens the craving for alcohol in many people and helps prevent a return to heavy drinking. Another older medication is disulfiram (Antabuse®), which discourages drinking by causing nausea, vomiting, and other unpleasant physical reactions when alcohol is used.

6: Does alcoholism treatment work? back to top

Alcoholism treatment is effective in many cases. Treatment outcomes for alcoholism compare favorably with outcomes for many other chronic medical conditions. The longer one abstains from alcohol, the more likely one is to remain sober.

It is important to remember that many people relapse once or several times before achieving long-term sobriety. Relapses do not mean that a person has failed or cannot eventually recover from alcoholism. If a relapse occurs, it is important to try to stop drinking again and to get whatever help is needed to abstain from alcohol.

7: Does a person have to be alcoholic to experience problems from alcohol? back to top

No. Even if you are not alcoholic, abusing alcohol can have negative results, such failure to meet major work, school, or family responsibilities because of drinking; alcohol-related legal trouble; automobile crashes due to drinking; and a variety of alcohol-related medical problems. Under some circumstances, problems can result from even moderate drinking--for example, when driving, during pregnancy, or when taking certain medicines.

8: Are certain groups of people more likely to develop alcohol problems than others? back to top

Yes. Nearly 14 million people in the United States—one in every 13 adults—abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. However, more men than women are alcohol dependent or experience alcohol-related problems. In addition, rates of alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults 65 years and older. Among major U.S. ethnic groups, rates of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems vary.

9: If I have trouble with drinking, can't I simply reduce my alcohol use without stopping altogether? back to top

That depends. If you are diagnosed as an alcoholic, the answer is "no." Studies show that nearly all alcoholics who try to merely cut down on drinking are unable to do so indefinitely. Instead, cutting out alcohol (that is, abstaining) is nearly always necessary for successful recovery. However, if you are not alcoholic but have had alcohol-related problems, you may be able to limit the amount you drink.

10: What is a safe level of drinking? back to top

Most adults can drink moderate amounts of alcohol—up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people—and avoid alcohol-related problems. (One drink equals one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)

However, certain people should not drink at all. They include women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant; people who plan to drive or engage in other activities requiring alertness and skill; people taking certain medications, including certain over-the-counter medicines; people with medical conditions that can be worsened by drinking; recovering alcoholics; and people under the age of 21.

11: Is it safe to drink during pregnancy? back to top

No. Drinking during pregnancy can have a number of harmful effects on the newborn, ranging from mental retardation, organ abnormalities, and hyperactivity to learning and behavioral problems. Moreover, many of these disorders last into adulthood. While we don't yet know exactly how much alcohol is required to cause these problems, we do know that they are 100-percent preventable if a woman does not drink at all during pregnancy.

12: As people get older, does alcohol affect their bodies differently? back to top

Yes. As a person ages, certain mental and physical functions tend to decline, including vision, hearing, and reaction time. Moreover, other physical changes associated with aging can make older people feel "high" after drinking fairly small amounts of alcohol. These combined factors make older people more likely to have alcohol-related falls, automobile crashes, and other kinds of accidents.

In addition, older people tend to take more medicines than younger persons, and mixing alcohol with many over-the-counter and prescription drugs can be dangerous, even fatal. Further, many medical conditions common to older people, including high blood pressure and ulcers, can be worsened by drinking. Even if there is no medical reason to avoid alcohol, older men and women should limit their intake to one drink per day.

13: Does alcohol affect a woman's body differently from a man's body? back to top

Yes. Women become more intoxicated than men after drinking the same amount of alcohol, even when differences in body weight are taken into account. This is because women's bodies have proportionately less water than men's bodies. Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol becomes more highly concentrated in a woman's body than in a man's. That is why the recommended drinking limit for women is lower than for men.

In addition, chronic alcohol abuse takes a heavier physical toll on women than on men. Alcohol dependence and related medical problems, such as brain and liver damage, progress more rapidly in women than in men.

14: I have heard that alcohol is good for your heart. Is this true? back to top

Several studies have reported that moderate drinkers—those who have one or two drinks per day—are less likely to develop heart disease than people who do not drink any alcohol or who drink larger amounts. Small amounts of alcohol may help protect against coronary heart disease by raising levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and by reducing the risk of blood clots in the coronary arteries.

If you are a nondrinker, you should not start drinking only to benefit your heart. Protection against coronary heart disease may be obtained through regular physical activity and a low-fat diet. And if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have been diagnosed as alcoholic, or have any medical condition that could make alcohol use harmful, you should not drink.

Even for those who can drink safely and choose to do so, moderation is the key. Heavy drinking can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as cause many other medical problems, such as liver cirrhosis.

15: If I am taking over-the-counter or prescription medication, do I have to stop drinking? back to top

Possibly. More than 100 medications interact with alcohol, leading to increased risk of illness, injury and, in some cases, death. The effects of alcohol are increased by medicines that slow down the central nervous system, such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and some painkillers. In addition, medicines for certain disorders, including diabetes and heart disease, can be dangerous if used with alcohol. If you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you can safely drink alcohol.

Source: National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence

ABOUT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

1. Who qualifies for Alcoholics Anonymous? back to top

AA’s preamble states: "The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking." This means exactly what it says: that anyone who considers him or herself an alcoholic and desires to stop drinking is a member of AA.

2. How do you find out about meetings? back to top

ADAC (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County) or the AA hotline will provide information on AA meetings.

3. Can non-alcoholics attend AA meetings? back to top

Non-alcoholics are welcome at "open" meetings. Most meetings, however, are "closed" or for alcoholics only.

4. What is Narcotics Anonymous? back to top

N.A. is a 12-step program, similar to AA, for abusers of illegal drugs. Other 12-step programs include Overeaters Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous.

5. Where can the families of alcoholics and drug abusers turn for help? back to top

Al-anon is a 12-step program for family and friends of alcoholics. The Council can provide information on Al-Anon.

6. Are AA and similar programs "religious"? back to top

Although AA is usually described as a "spiritual," not a religious program, many recovering alcoholics in AA continue as church members or join or rejoin congregations, while continuing to practice the Twelve Steps of AA. Most churches support AA and most AA meetings are held in church facilities. On the other hand, atheists or non-believers are welcome in AA and are included among long-time members.

7. What are the Twelve Steps? back to top

The "steps" are the spiritual foundation of AA and other programs. They are:
l. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps,we tried to carry this message to alcoholic, and to practice these principals in all our affairs.


8. If I go to an AA meeting, does that commit me to anything? back to top

No. AA does not keep membership files, or attendance
records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back.

9. What happens if I meet people I know? back to top

They will be there for the same reason you are there, and it is against AA practice and traditions for them to reveal fellow members’ identities to outsiders. At AA you retain as much anonymity as you wish.

10. What happens at an AA meeting? back to top

An AA meeting may take one of several forms, but at
any meeting you will find alcoholics talking about
what drinking did to their lives and personalities,
what actions they took to help themselves, and how
they are living their lives today. In AA literature and terminology this is referred to as sharing "experience, strength, and hope."

11. How can this help me with my drinking problem? back to top

AA members know what it is like to be addicted to alcohol. They are not professional therapists. Their only qualification for helping others is that they have stopped drinking themselves. Problem drinkers going to AA see that recovery is possible because they see people who have done it.

12. Why do AAs keep going to meetings after they are "cured"? back to top

AA members believe there is no such thing as a cure for alcoholism and that their ability to stay away from alcohol depends on maintaining their physical, mental, and spiritual health. This they achieve by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what they learn there. In addition, they find it helps them to stay sober if they help other alcoholics.

13. How do I join AA? back to top

You are an AA member if and when you say so. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking, and many AA members admit that they were not very enthusiastic about that when they first approached AA.

14. How much does AA membership cost? back to top

The AA Preamble reads: "There are no dues or fees for AA membership." An AA group will usually have a collection during the meeting to cover expenses, such as rent, coffee, etc., and to this all members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish.

15. How and when did AA start? back to top

AA began in June 1935 when its founders—Bill W. and Dr. Bob—met in Akron, Ohio, in a desperate and successful effort to keep one another sober. Since then several million alcoholics have achieved permanent sobriety in AA.

Source for Frequently Asked Questions: Alcoholics Anonymous