Alcohol and Alcoholism by Definition, Thesis

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For the affected individual, alcohol abuse sets up a pattern of drinking that often results in one or more of the following scenarios -- a failure to fulfill work, home or school responsibilities; repeatedly driving an automobile under the influence or while operating machinery; experiencing recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as "being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically harming someone while drunk," or experiencing on-going problems in some type of a close relationship which are caused or worsened by drinking ("Alcohol," 2008, Internet).

As to alcohol addiction, an affected individual may exhibit two or more of the following symptoms -- a strong need or craving to consume alcohol, even when it may lead to more problems; the loss of control or the inability to limit the intake of drinks on any given occasion, such as during a party or when dining out; physical dependence, such as withdrawal symptoms like nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety attacks which usually only occur when the individual ceases drinking after consuming large amounts of alcohol for an indefinite period of time, and increased tolerance to alcohol, meaning that the individual must drink more in order to get high" ("Alcohol," 2008, Internet).

GENETICS and ALCOHOLISM:

For many years, it has been suggested that alcoholism is due to some type of familial disorder, meaning that the affected individual becomes an alcoholic because of genetic factors which are inherited from one's parents.

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In the past, many alcohol researchers were convinced that alcoholism was due to a number of cultural and psychosocial factors, but some findings have concluded that alcoholism tends to run in families, an indication that a specific gene within the human genome is responsible for the disease of alcoholism. Some studies have shown that children with alcoholic parents "have an increased risk of becoming alcoholics" and recent research "has implicated a gene, the D2 dopamine receptor, that when inherited in a specific form, might increase" a person's susceptibility to becoming an alcoholic" ("Alcoholism," 2009, Internet).

TREATMENT:

For most individuals afflicted with the disease of alcoholism, there are a number of treatment options, but under most conditions, the treatment of alcoholism comprises three main stages. First, while under the care of a physician or alcohol treatment specialist, the disease must be stabilized by ceasing all consumption of alcohol which is then followed up by taking medication for withdrawal symptoms; second, one might undergo alcoholic ketoacidosis, a form of treatment which utilizes IV fluids and carbohydrates to replace what has been lost, and third, detoxification which involves stopping alcohol consumption. Of course, some individuals may opt for rehabilitation which might include being monitored on a daily basis in order to keep the individual from drinking again, also known as relapsing ("Alcoholism," 2009, Internet)......

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