PajMon Information Blog

Posts Tagged ‘hospitals’

the issue of alcohol abuse is one of our biggest health and social problems, ranking along with heart disease, mental illness, and cancer issues. yet, emphasis on the treatment of alcoholism has been greatly neglected and doesn’t reflect how serious the problem is.

in the usa, there are from 11 to 15 million people addicted to alcohol. the problem of alcoholism affects the individual, and ruins his life and others. it affects his health, happiness, personal safety, life span, and their family relationships.

alcohol abuse takes its toll in many many forms. approximately half of the traffic deaths each year are caused by a driver or pedestrian who had been drinking. one-half of those in our jails have been booked on drinking-related charges. about one-third of the homicides are related to alcohol abuse, and of all suicides reported, about one-fourth are alcohol-related.

in the business world, many billions of dollars are spent each year because of alcoholism. about one-half of america’s alcoholics are employed and lose about two or three times more workdays per year than the average worker does. also, these employees have about three times more of the off-job accidents than other workers do. they endanger the safety of those around them and affect the morale and the efficiency of all workers.

contrary to what most people think, the main majority of alcoholics are not bums. only five percent of all serious problem drinkers would fall into this area. instead, the problem drinker lives among us. he is able to live and work, but not as effectively and successfully as he could if he were not suffering from alcoholism.

alcoholics are your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends, or maybe even someone you love. in united states, there are more male alcoholics than female alcoholics.

the effects of alcohol on a person happen in stages. in the first stage, it affects his self-control and judgement. in the second stage, his memory, speech, physical reflexes, and thinking are affected.

the third stage finds them in a daze or perhaps even a coma. excessive and abusive use of alcohol over a long period of time can result in malnutrition and severe damage to the body organs, especially the brain and liver. the shakes, can occur as the result of damage to the nervous systems.

there is no “one cause” of alcoholism. people seem to use alcohol to escape something, to relieve tension, or to help them face their problems. alcohol is also used to cover up feelings of insecurity or guilt.

in the early stages, it is hard to tell a social drinker from a problem drinker, but there are some clues. these may include things such as promises to quit drinking; frequent drinking to relieve tension; increased tolerance to alcohol; and, changes in personality.

once in the middle state, the drinker usually tries to hide his drinking, and a morning drink is more likely to occur. also, during this time, the signs of drinking are more noticeable especially at work. the drinker finds it tough to feel good, or “high”, regardless of how much they drink.

the problem drinker now drinks daily just to make it each day. once in the final stages of alcoholism, loneliness, and isolation set in. the drinker lives to drink, will neglects his health, and suffers personality changes. they are very tense, irritable and alcohol becomes one of the most important thing in their life.

his health hits rock bottom, and physical weakness is brought on by his abuse of alcohol and the malnutrition that goes with it. the only solution to the problem of alcoholism is for the alcoholic to completely and totally quit drinking and never drink again!

alcoholism is a medical problem, and the a.m.a. urges hospitals and clinics to accept alcoholic patients. seeking treatment to help the alcoholic re-create his life without the use of alcohol is strongly recommended. fixing the health of the alcoholic is the first step. the second and hardest step involves the revitalization and well being of the total person.

we are dealing with a major problem–one that shows signs of steadily increasing. this disease of alcoholism is treatable and will yield to our efforts to control it. before it’s too late, we, as a nation, should work together in not only controlling alcoholism, but in preventing it as well.