Alcohol Abuse

In the United States, approximately 8 percent of people aged 18 and older suffer from alcohol abuse and/or dependence. This abuse or dependence costs upwards of $1.7 billion in medical treatment, lost earnings, casualty damages and criminal/legal costs.

Alcohol abuse has been a rising problem over the past three decades. With the continued exposure to alcohol, how does the human body respond or adapt? The body's increased tolerance to alcohol involves the following changes:

• Increase in level of liver's enzymes that are used to break down alcohol
• Increase in activity of brain and nervous-system neurons

These bodily adaptations change a person's behavior.

The levels of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver increase in response to long-term alcohol exposure. This means that the body becomes more efficient at eliminating the high levels of alcohol in the blood. However, it also means that the person must drink more alcohol to experience the same effects as before, which leads to more drinking and contributes to addiction.

The normal chemical and electrical functions of nerve cells increase to compensate for the inhibitory effects of alcohol exposure. This increased nerve activity helps people to function normally with higher BAC; however, it also makes them irritable when they are not drinking. Furthermore, the increased nerve activity may make them crave alcohol. Most certainly, the increased nerve activity contributes to hallucinations and convulsions (e.g. delirium tremens) when alcohol is withdrawn, and makes it difficult to overcome alcohol abuse and dependence.

In addition to these adaptations, there are many adverse physical effects that result from long-term exposure to alcohol:

• The increased activity in the liver causes cell death and hardening of the tissue (cirrhosis of the liver).
• The brain cells in various centers die, thereby reducing the total brain mass.
• Stomach and intestinal ulcers can form because the constant alcohol use irritates and degrades the linings of these organs.
• Blood pressure increases as the heart compensates for the initially reduced blood pressure caused by alcohol.
• Male sex-cell (sperm) production decreases because of decreased sex-hormone secretion from the hypothalamus/pituitary and, possibly, direct effects of alcohol on the testes.
• Poor nutrition decreases levels of iron and vitamin B, leading to anemia.
• Because alcoholics lose balance and fall more often, they suffer more often from bruises and broken bones; this is especially true as they get older.

Finally, alcohol abuse and dependence cause emotional and social problems. Because alcohol affects emotional centers in the limbic system, alcoholics can become anxious, depressed and even suicidal. The emotional and physical effects of alcohol can contribute to marital and family problems, including domestic violence, as well as work-related problems, such as excessive absences and poor performance.

Help is Available

If you, or someone you care about, suffers from alcohol-related problems, there is help available. Please contact Alcoholics Anonymous in your area, or click here for a list of resources available.

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