What Is Alcoholism...Really?

A short introduction to a subject many thousands of readers have been affected by and want to learn more about.

In response to a growing demand for quality content on Alcoholism, we commissioned a group of expert writers to create this article. Let's get right into the content.

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, is a disease that causes a person to be so physiologically dependent on alcohol that this dependence interferes with work, relationships or school. Alcohol abuse does not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control over drinking or physical dependence, but it can be just as devastating to your life. Whether you have alcoholism or abuse alcohol, your problem can affect your quality of life and your career and can damage your relationships.

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Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can be factors in violent crimes, teen pregnancies and date rape. As many as 13 million people in the United States may have a problem with alcohol. Short-term physical effects of alcohol use include: Distorted vision, hearing and coordination. Altered perceptions and emotions. Impaired judgment. Bad breath. Hangovers. Long-term physical effects of heavy alcohol use include: Loss of appetite. Vitamin deficiencies. Skin problems. Sexual impotence. Memory loss. Digestive-system disorders such as ulcers, inflammation of the pancreas, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) and cirrhosis (liver damage). Central and peripheral nervous systems damage, including blackouts, hallucinations, tremors, alcohol withdrawal syndrome and death. Damage to unborn children (from even moderate drinking), including birth defects, mental retardation, learning problems and fetal alcohol syndrome. Psychological and interpersonal problems, including impaired thinking and judgment, changes in mood and behavior, child abuse, impaired social relationships, and marital, scholastic, job-related, legal, and financial problems

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Treating addiction to prescription pills

Treating addiction to prescription pills

Several options are available for effectively treating addiction to prescription opioids. These options are drawn from experience and research regarding the treatment of heroin addiction. They include medications, such as methadone and LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol), and behavioral counseling approaches.

A useful precursor to long-term treatment of opioid addiction is detoxification. Detoxification in itself is not a treatment for opioid addiction. Rather, its primary objective is to relieve withdrawal symptoms while the patient adjusts to being drug free. To be effective, detoxification must precede long-term treatment that either requires complete abstinence or incorporates a medication, such as methadone, into the treatment plan.

Young People at Risk of Drug-HIV Warns NIDA

With a significant rise in the number of young people diagnosed with AIDS, the National Institute on Drug Abuse is launching a campaign to increase public awareness of the link between drug use and HIV infection.

"Drug Abuse and HIV: Learn the Link" is the message of the new public awareness campaign by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"Drug abuse prevention is HIV prevention," says NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "Research has shown that a significant proportion of young people are not concerned about becoming infected with HIV. In recent years, the number of young people in the United States diagnosed with AIDS rose substantially. Because drug use encourages risky behaviors that can promote HIV transmission, NIDA views drug abuse treatment as essential HIV prevention."

While research has shown that a large proportion of young people are not concerned about becoming infected with HIV, the reality is that there exists a very real danger for those engaged in risky behaviors.

Minorities At Risk

In addition, minority populations are disproportionately affected by the health consequences of drug abuse and HIV. For example, in 2004, black and Hispanic women represented about 25 percent of all U.S. women, yet they accounted for more than 80 percent of AIDS cases diagnosed in women that year. African-Americans, while they make up just 12 percent of the population, accounted for approximately half of the total AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004.

NIDA and partnering organizations -- including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families, and the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation -- are working together to get this important message about the link between drug abuse and HIV to teens and young adults.

In addition to public service announcements distributed to television stations across the country, NIDA has launched a web site, that provides the latest scientific findings on the relationship between drug abuse and HIV.

The Spread of HIV

One item on the Institute's new web site is its recently released HIV/AIDS Research Report which provides an overview of the latest NIDA-supported research into the multiple ways in which drugs of abuse contribute to the spread of HIV.

For example, the Research Report notes that studies supported by NIDA already have shown that drug abuse can interfere with the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), a treatment that can greatly extend the lives of people infected with HIV. Other research has shown that HIV can continue to replicate in people who abuse methamphetamine, despite taking HAART as prescribed.

Source: NIDA News Release

New Addiction Website Offers Support

Addiction Help Center provides the latest insights and breakthroughs into all types of addiction: gambling, internet, alcohol, etc. The comfort and understanding you seek can be found here.

Fargo, ND (PRWEB) September 12, 2005-- If you or a loved one is suffering from a compulsion for marijuana or sex, internet poker or plastic surgery, relief is in sight. Addiction Help Center not only helps you cope with the problem, but also to understand the how and why of addictive behavior. With in-depth articles covering the physiological as well as psychological reasons for these compulsions, one can better learn how to help.

Many researchers believe that addiction is a behavior that can be controlled to some extent and also a brain disease. And since some testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) found that all addictions tend to cause nearly the same reactions inside the brain, there could be one type of control model for addiction health-related issues. (Understanding Addiction By Jack Strom)

Addiction Help Center contains an abundance of material to help with any and all types of addiction, as well as finding support groups in your own community. By using a variety of sources, including recent news articles, Addiction Help Center can help with any and all types of addictions.

http://www.addictionhelpcenter.com

What is an Addiction?

The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us. -- Alcoholics Anonymous

An addiction is a psychological and physiological dependance on a substance or activity. There are many common addictions, some include: nicotine, illicit drugs, alcohol, food, sex, and gambling. Physiological dependence means that the body has become so accustomed to a drug or drugs and thinks it needs such chemicals to function. When a person addicted to a drug starts going through withdrawals, physiological dependence and the pain it causes can be witnessed. Psychological dependence is basically when the brain is convinced that it needs the drug to survive. This is why addiction is so powerful, and so hard to overcome.

Presently there are over 2 million illicit drug addicts and over 4 million suffering from one type of addiction or another. Because addiction doesnt only effect the addict, but everyone else around him, his family, co workers, friends, and nabours, addiction is a very serious problem. Of course there are different types and ranges of addictions. Some can be more serious than others. For instance, in my opinion, addiction to heroin is more serious than addiction to junk food. However this point is debatable because over eating of junk food can lead to wieght gain and diabetes. The point is, no addiction should be treated lightly, and help should be given as needed.

Recovery from addiction is possible,the key steps are as follows. First off admit to yourself that you have a problem with a substance and you need to give it up. Without this first step, no further recovery can be made. Next, you have to detoxify to remove the addictive and harmful chemicals from your body. This step should be done with medical help, since detoxification requires abstinence from the substance, withdrawal symptoms develop. Withdrawal symptoms occur when the body cannot get the substance which it believes is vital, and in turn goes haywire. Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and include the following; nausea, hallucinations, anxiety, panic attacks, hot and cold sweats, diarrhea, constipation, headaches,tremors, insomnia, and many others. Along with these methods, group therapy, or one on one counselling should be applied to ensure a healthy addiction free future and complete the treatment program.

Tyler Falls - What is an Addiction