Alcoholism
Signs of a High-Functioning Alcoholic
By Susan Campbell
It is not always easy to spot an alcoholic. Not everyone who has a drinking problem is falling down on a park bench with a brown paper bag concealing the bottle in their hand. Nor is every alcoholic spending their evenings perched on a bar stool ordering round after round to satisfy an addiction.
For the high-functioning alcoholic, it is very easy for those around him or her to never have a clue that there is even a problem as the alcoholic hides it well. The New York Times recently featured a piece that discussed a new book about people who operate this way: “Understanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic” (Praeger Publishers).
Terrorist Attacks Lead to Increased Use of Alcohol
In the aftermath of terrorist attacks such as September 11, 2001, the Oklahoma City Bombings of 1995, and the Intifada uprisings in Israel, more people are turning to alcohol use and abuse. According to researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the University of Michigan, approximately one in 12 people exposed to terrorism report increased use and abuse of alcohol. This data was used to study the prevalence and likelihood of addictive behavior following terrorist acts.
The results indicated that almost ten percent of the general population surveyed in these settings reported increased or problematic alcohol consumption. The estimate dropped to seven percent after adjusting for the type of attack, the type of population surveyed (survivors, responders, or the general population), and the time following the incident when the survey was conducted. But investigators estimated a one in four chance that the rate could be doubled. The study found similar rates of increase of drug and cigarette use.
The authors of the study note that their results are consistent with research indicating that people who experience trauma may use substances to cope with stress and anxiety. While there was a great deal of variability in their findings, Charles DiMaggio, PhD, assistant clinical professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health and lead author of the study, said, “These kinds of numbers indicate the potentially pervasive behavioral health effects of man-made disasters like terrorism. We hope our results can help direct interventions following terrorist incidents.”
Source: Science Daily, Terrorist Attacks Provoke Surge in Alcohol and Drug Use, May 8, 2009
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Smoking Hinders the Brain’s Recovery from Alcohol Abuse
After quitting drinking, many recovering alcoholics turn to smoking cigarettes to help manage their negative moods and keep their minds off of wanting to drink. Researchers agree that the rate of smoking among recovering alcoholics is more than triple the general population’s rate. But besides the obvious health risks of smoking such as lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, it has recently been found that smoking interferes with the brain’s ability to recover from alcohol abuse.
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Personality Plays into Likelihood for Alcohol Dependence
According to a recent Science Daily report, whether or not a person develops a dependence upon alcohol may have a lot to do with his or her personality.
Researchers studied a group of alcohol-dependent individuals who have an inactive form of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2). These individuals would normally have a low incidence of alcoholism because this inactive form of ALDH2 causes negative symptoms when drinking alcohol, such as flushing, nausea, and headaches.
The results from this study suggested that personality factors associated with a tendency toward alcohol dependence were impulsiveness, aggressiveness, and risk-seeking behaviors.
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Eating Disorders and Alcoholism
In recent years, studies have shown that almost half of those who have an eating disorder also regularly abuse drugs or alcohol. Approximately 35% of people who abuse drugs or alcohol also have an eating disorder. This trend is particularly common in young teenage girls, so parents should take note of this in case they are ever faced with either problem.
Research Suggests Alcohol More Damaging than Marijuana
In the countless national campaigns that stress to students the importance of staying away from drugs and alcohol, the younger generation is led to believe that both categories are inherently bad and have the same adverse effects. Instead, recent Clinical EEG and Neuroscience news suggests that alcohol is far more damaging than marijuana when measuring the impact on adolescents.
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CDC Reports Binge Drinking Higher for Men than Women
Alcohol-related deaths tend to deliver a different type of shock to family members as the death is completely preventable. Now, emerging news as to the type of drinking that is contributing to these deaths is gaining increased attention as it differs from once-common beliefs.
According to recent reports from the All Gov website, more than 50 percent of all alcohol-related deaths in the United States were caused by binge drinking. Defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion for men and four for women, binge drinking was found by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to be more prevalent among men.
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Six Million U.S. Women Report Problem with Alcohol
Alcohol is a problem for nearly six million women in the U.S. who abuse or are dependent upon the substance. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University announced these statistics this month as part of Alcohol Awareness Month.
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Balance Measured in Sober Alcoholics
Long-term alcohol use can wreak havoc on a person’s system, eliminating the ability to function properly in certain areas. Now, new research suggests that while long-term sobriety can help to improve balance problems in alcoholics, some may not be able to regain full stability while standing.
A post in Business Week captures certain elements of this study, including the fact that this lack of stability – which is the result of alcohol-related brain injury – can increase the risk of fall-related injury and death.
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