What are the effects of alcoholism, on both the alcoholic and their family?
Alcoholism is a progressive and potentially fatal chronic disease characterized by a dependency on alcohol and addiction to it. The American Medical Association (AMA) officially recognized alcoholism as a disease in 1966, although society still tends to morally judge it. There are different types of alcoholics: those who drink daily and have a high dependency on alcohol, those who excessively consume alcohol only on weekends, and those who heavily drink on occasions and face the highest risk of death from alcohol poisoning known as binge drinkers. The causes of alcoholism are disputed: some argue that it is triggered by genetic predisposition due to psychological or social stress while others believe it is learned behavior. Research suggests that individuals with alcoholism may have a genetic component related to the stress gene where stress acts as a trigger for their desire for alcohol. Conversely, if someone acquires alcoholism through learning, it implies that drinking serves as an unhealthy coping mechanism likely inherited from an alcoholic parent.
Alcoholism has negative impacts on both the alcoholic and their family, affecting health, family dynamics, and work. Physical consequences of alcohol consumption include liver cirrhosis, brain cell loss, stomach cancer, depression, and tremors. Within the family unit, an alcoholic disrupts daily life by initiating arguments and fights while under the influence. They often avoid or disturb family gatherings and may subject other family members to abuse. Alcoholic families also face financial instability due to excessive spending on alcohol.
Children with an alcoholic parent experience significant repercussions such as overhearing arguments and feeling responsible for their parents’ drinking, resulting in blame and depression. These children may withdraw from social activities and refrain from inviting friends over. Alcoholism leads to increased absenteeism at work, causing financial losses for both employees and employers. A considerable percentage of industrial fatalities (40%) and injuries (47%) can be attributed to alcohol consumption and alcoholism. Additionally, productivity at work is severely impaired.
Alcoholism affects one in ten Americans surpassing any other cause in terms of deaths, violence, disruption in families, and job absenteeism. Diagnosing alcoholism can be challenging for doctors due to its physical effects that may resemble other medical conditions.
Individuals who struggle with alcohol addiction commonly deny their condition and withhold details about their drinking habits unless specifically asked.
You can evaluate your own condition by responding to the following inquiries:
- Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking?
- Is alcohol making your life unhappy?
- Has drinking alcohol ever been behind your losing a job?
- Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
- Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
- Does drinking cause you to have difficulty sleeping?
- Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
- Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily?
- Do you want a drink the next morning?
- Have you ever had a complete or partial loss of memory as a result of drinking?
- Is drinking affecting your reputation?
- Does drinking make you careless of your families welfare?
- Have you ever been to a hospital or institution on account of drinking?
If you have answered yes to some of these questions, there is a chance that you may be at risk of being an alcoholic. Unfortunately, alcoholism cannot be cured – once someone becomes an alcoholic, they remain one indefinitely. However, there are treatments available and the most effective one is complete abstinence from drinking. By abstaining from alcohol, one becomes a recovering alcoholic. Different techniques can be used to stop drinking. Detoxification centers can help with the process of withdrawal, which may include symptoms like insomnia, sweating, depression, headaches, weakness, vomiting, seizures caused by alcoholism and delirium tremens (D.T.’s). Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a support group that assists individuals in quitting drinking and facing their problems. Recovery homes and halfway houses also exist to help alcoholics achieve sobriety. It’s important to note that there isn’t one approach for recovering from alcoholism as it varies for each person. The family of the alcoholic also needs support in their own recovery since alcoholism is considered a familial disease. Support groups like ALA-non and ALA-teen are available for families seeking help or they can choose family or group counseling with a professional therapist. Both the alcoholic and the family require time and commitment to achieve sobriety and heal the wounds caused by alcoholism.
Alcoholics Anonymous follows twelve steps for recovery, in addition to twelve traditions.
Members of Alcoholics must follow twelve traditions.
- “ Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A.
- “ For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants.
- “ The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.”
- “ Each group should be autonomous except in the matters affecting other groups.
- “ Each group has but one primary purpose to carry its message to the alcoholic.
- “ An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert.
- “ Every A.A. group ought to be self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”
- “ Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.”
- “ A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.”
- “ Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.”
- “ Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.”
- “ Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.”
Work Cited
- Silverstein, Herma. Alcoholism. New York: Franklin Watts, 1990
- Wekesser, Carol. Alcoholism. San Diego: Greenhaven Press Inc., 1994
- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc., 1995
- “ Alcohol and Alcoholism.” The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986
