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'''For patient information, click [[Alcoholism (patient information)|here]]'''
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{{SK}} Alcohol intoxication


==Identification and diagnosis==
==[[Alcoholism overview|Overview]]==


==Effects==
==[[Alcoholism historical perspective|Historical Perspective]]==
{{Main|Alcohol consumption and health#Heavy consumption}}
The primary effect of alcoholism is to encourage the sufferer to drink at times and in amounts that are damaging. The secondary damage caused by an inability to control one's drinking manifests in many ways. 


It is common for a person suffering from alcoholism to drink well after physical health effects start to manifest. The physical health effects associated with alcohol consumption may include [[cirrhosis]] of the liver, [[pancreatitis]], [[epilepsy]], [[polyneuropathy]], [[Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome|alcoholic dementia]], heart disease, increased chance of cancer, nutritional deficiencies, [[sexual dysfunction]], and death from many sources.
==[[Alcoholism pathophysiology|Pathophysiology]]==


===Social effects===
==[[Alcoholism differential diagnosis|Differentiating Alcoholism from Other Diseases]]==
The social problems arising from alcoholism can be significant.  Being drunk or hung over during work hours can result in loss of employment, which can lead to financial problems including the loss of living quarters.  Drinking at inappropriate times, and behavior caused by reduced judgment, can lead to legal consequences, such as criminal charges for drunk driving or public disorder, or civil penalties for tortious behavior.  An alcoholic's behavior and mental impairment while drunk can profoundly impact surrounding family and friends, possibly leading to [[marriage|marital conflict]] and [[divorce]], or contributing to domestic violence.  This can contribute to lasting damage to the emotional development of the alcoholic's children, even after they reach adulthood. The alcoholic could suffer from loss of respect from others who may see the problem as self-inflicted and easily avoided.


===Alcohol withdrawal===
==[[Alcoholism epidemiology and demographics|Epidemiology and Demographics]]==
Alcohol withdrawal differs significantly from most other drugs because it can be directly fatal.  While it is possible for [[heroin]] addicts, for instance, to die from other health problems made worse by the strain of withdrawal, an otherwise healthy alcoholic can die from the direct effects of withdrawal if it is not properly managed.  Heavy consumption of alcohol reduces the production of [[GABA]], which is a neuroinhibitor.  An abrupt stop of alcohol consumption can induce a condition where neither alcohol nor GABA exists in the system in adequate quantities, causing uncontrolled firing of the synapses.  This manifests as hallucinations, shakes, convulsions, seizures, and possible heart failure, all of which are collectively referred to as [[delirium tremens]].  All of these withdrawal issues can be safely controlled with a medically supervised detoxification program.


==Societal impact==
==[[Alcoholism risk factors|Risk Factors]]==


The various health problems associated with long-term alcohol consumption are generally perceived as detrimental to society, for example, money due to lost labor-hours, medical costs, and secondary treatment costs. Alcohol use is a major contributing factor for [[head injury|head injuries]], motor vehicle accidents, violence, and assaults. Beyond money, there is also the pain and suffering of the all individuals besides the alcoholic  affected. For instance, alcohol consumption by a pregnant woman can lead to [[Fetal alcohol syndrome]],<ref>CDC. (2004). ''Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis''. Can be downloaded at http://www.cdc.gov/fas/faspub.htm</ref> an incurable and damaging condition.<ref>Streissguth, A. (1997). ''Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Guide for Families and Communities''. Baltimore: Brookes Publishing. ISBN 1-55766-283-5.</ref>
==[[Alcoholism screening|Screening]]==


Estimates of the economic costs of alcohol abuse, collected by the World Health Organization, vary from one to six per cent of a country's GDP.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=World Health Organization | url=http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_status_report_2004_overview.pdf | format=PDF | title=Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004 | accessdate=2007-01-03 }}</ref> One Australian estimate pegged alcohol's social costs at 24 per cent of all drug abuse costs; a similar Canadian study concluded alcohol's share was 41 per cent.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=World Health Organization Global Alcohol Database | url=http://www.who.int/globalatlas/dataQuery/objectInterface.asp?objID=359&boCat=&p=null&lvl=0&catID=520700000000&level=2 | accessdate=2007-01-03 | title=Economic cost of alcohol consumption }}</ref>
==[[Alcoholism natural history, complications and prognosis|Natural History, Complications and Prognosis]]==


A study quantified the cost to the UK of ''all'' forms of alcohol misuse as £18.5–20 billion annually (2001 figures).<ref>{{cite web | publisher=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3122244.stm | title=Q&A: The costs of alcohol | date=19 September 2003 }}</ref><ref name=cosu/>
==[[Alcoholism diagnosis|Diagnosis]]==
[[ Alcoholism diagnostic criteria | Diagnostic Criteria]] | [[Alcoholism history and symptoms|History and Symptoms]] | [[Alcoholism physical examination|Physical Examination]] | [[Alcoholism laboratory findings|Laboratory Findings]] | [[Alcoholism electrocardiogram|Electrocardiogram]] | [[Alcoholism chest x ray|Chest X Ray]] | [[Alcoholism CT|CT]] | [[Alcoholism echocardiography or ultrasound|Echocardiography or Ultrasound]] | [[Alcoholism other diagnostic studies|Other Diagnostic Studies]]


===Stereotypes===
==Treatment==
[[Image:Imlauer Ihr zu Fuessen 1883.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Depiction of a wino or town drunk]]
[[Alcoholism medical therapy|Medical Therapy]] | [[Alcoholism secondary prevention|Secondary Prevention]] | [[Alcoholism cost-effectiveness of therapy|Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy]] | [[Alcoholism future or investigational therapies|Future or Investigational Therapies]]
[[Stereotype]]s of alcoholics are often found in fiction and popular culture.  The 'town drunk' is a stock character in Western popular culture.


Stereotypes of drunkenness may be based on racism, as in the depiction of the Irish as heavy drinkers.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.finfacts.ie/Private/bestprice/alcoholdrinkconsumptionpriceseurope.htm | title=World/Global Alcohol/Drink Consumption 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://clippednews.wordpress.com/2007/03/14/the-worlds-drunks-the-irish/ | title=The World’s Drunks: The Irish }}</ref> In Australia and Canada, Aboriginal people have similarly been stereotyped as alcoholics.
==Case Studies==
 
:[[Alcoholism case study one|Case #1]]
===Politics and public health===
{{details|Addiction recovery groups}}
Because alcohol use disorders are perceived as impacting society as a whole, governments and parliaments have formed alcohol policies in order to reduce the harm of alcoholism. The [[World Health Organization]], the European Union and other regional bodies are working on alcohol action plans and programs.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Adult Children of Alcoholics]]
* [[Adult Children of Alcoholics]]
* [[Alcohol consumption and health]]
* [[Alcohol consumption and health]]
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** [[Liver function tests]]
** [[Liver function tests]]


==References==
{{WH}}
{{reflist|2}}
{{WS}}
 
==Further reading==
* Berry, Ralph E.; Boland James P. ''The Economic Cost of Alcohol Abuse'' The Free Press, New York, 1977 ISBN 0-02-903080-3
* Royce, James E. and Scratchley, David  ''Alcoholism and Other Drug Problems'' Free Press, March 1996 ISBN-10: 0-684-82314-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-684-82314-0
* Valliant, George E., ''The Natural History of Alcoholism Revisited, Harvard University Press, May 1995 ISBN-10: 0-674-60378-8 ISBN-13: 978-0-674-60378-3
*Pence, Gregory, "Kant on Whether Alcoholism is a Disease," Ch. 2, The Elements of Bioethics, McGraw-Hill Books, 2007 ISBN-10: 0-073-13277-2.
* Milam, Dr. James R. and Ketcham, Katherine  ''Under The Influence: A Guide to the Myths and Realities of Alcoholism.'' Bantam, 1983, ISBN 0-553-27487-2
*Warren Thompson, MD, FACP. “[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic98.htm Alcoholism].” Emedicine.com, June 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
*[http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Social/Module2Etiology&NaturalHistory/Module2.html Etiology and Natural History of Alcoholism]. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
 


[[Category:Substance abuse]]
[[Category:Substance abuse]]
[[Category:Psychiatry]]
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Latest revision as of 17:38, 31 October 2014

For patient information, click here.

Alcohol and Health
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