Alcohol has been around for thousands of years. Unfortunately, so has alcoholism. Alcoholism has an effect on everyone around the globe either directly or indirectly. Some of the symptoms of alcoholism include neglect of normally enjoyed activities, excessive use, impaired control, persistence of use, large amounts of time spent in alcohol related activities, withdrawal and tolerance. In addition, many incarcerations are tied to addiction and nearly a quarter of people have been denied a job for being open about their addiction.
Alcoholism can begin at any age but it often begins at a young age. According to the latest Recovery Month statistics, "4.4 million people aged 12 or older used alcohol for the first time in the past 12 months-approximately 12,000 new users per day. Of these, 89.2 percent were under age 21 at the time of initiation." Because addiction is a brain disease, it especially has an impact on the growth and physical development of underage populations and their eventual integration into society with a job, home and a family.
There is a huge stigma that still exists today against alcoholism and addiction in general.
What society needs to accept is that addiction is a culture that needs to be respected. The alcoholic simply has a craving for a substance to satisfy a chemical imbalance in the brain. It has nothing to do with morality.The best treatment for alcoholism is group therapy, 12 step programs and counseling. Medication assisted treatment is also available to assisted with the withdrawal symptoms typically associated with alcoholism like night sweats, chills and irritability.
Facts About Drinking