Alcoholism is one of the oldest addictions known to man. Alcohol has been around since the dawning of time when our ancestors first figured out that fermented food could cause a person to feel inebriated. The history alcohol in the U.S. is actually pretty interesting.
Alcohol in Early America
When settlers first came to America, the use of alcohol, in the form of cider was pretty common. The cider of that age was mild and actually safer to drink than some of the water sources that were available. People of all ages would drink cider all day long, but usually with meals and not to excess. It was just a beverage with mild relaxing effects that was served at all social activities. There were very few problems with people who suffered from addiction to this drink because there was so much social pressure to use alcoholic drinks temperately. There were very few people that were walking around dead drunk. It one found themselves in that situation they were often publicly humiliated. It was not until the introduction of liquor a few centuries later that problems started to arise in America overall with alcoholism.
The introduction of liquor caused so many problems for so many people that it fueled the movement of temperance which later lead to the prohibition. There is definitely a potential for serious problems caused by alcohol and people should exercise caution with this potentially dangerous drug.
Alcohol Abuse in Teens
Probably the people with the largest potential for developing alcoholism in later life are those who drink to excess when they are teens. There are all kind of horror stories of teens drinking, not to mention urban myths such vodka tampons or teens tying to absorb alcohol through their eyeballs. The statistics of teen alcohol abuse are scary enough without the use of these crazy fabrications, mostly used by the media to increase ratings.
One fourth of all American teenagers have admitted to using alcohol in the past year. Teens drinking at parties and at other social events can cause alarm for any parent. The thought of someone’s child getting into a car with another teen who has been drinking is a very scary, but also a very realistic fear that parents face in this day and age. Sixty percent of all teen automobile deaths are due to drunk driving. The ones who do not die from these accidents are often handicapped for life. It is very important that parents educate their children to the facts of drunk driving. There are many resources available to parents who are trying to educate their children about these risks. There are many very alarming films that show kids in gruesome detail the results of drunk driving accidents.
Other Alcohol Related Risks
Apart from drunk driving related deaths, alcohol related fatalities make up one fourth of deaths in America every year. The really horrible thing about all these deaths is that they are all preventable. There are many people who are behind bars who killed someone while they were in a drunken rage. In addition to violent crimes, alcohol also causes liver disease, which if not taken care of in a timely manner can lead to death.
There are three stages of alcoholic liver disease. The first stage is what is known as a fatty liver. If someone is diagnosed with this condition and it is caused by alcohol, the only treatment that is necessary to reverse it is for the person to quit drinking. The second stage of alcoholic liver disease is inflammation of the liver, also known as alcohol induced hepatitis. This stage of alcoholic liver disease is also completely reversible; again the only treatment needed is for the person to quit drinking. However, this second stage of alcoholic liver disease can lead to the third stage, which is cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is not reversible and will eventually cause death. Cirrhosis is when the liver begins to produce scar tissue which eventually will overwhelm all the healthy liver tissue that a person has. Once this happens the only hope that a person has for surviving is to receive a liver transplant.
There are many physicians who are reluctant to perform a liver transplant on an alcoholic because they feel that the condition will just happen again with the new liver. There is a very long waiting list for people who are suffering from cirrhosis due to alcohol consumption. Most livers that people receive for a transplant come from cadavers, or people that recently died. This is the main reason that there is such a long waiting list for those people who need new livers. However, for those people who have a relative or loved one who is willing, there is also the potential for getting a liver transplant from a living person.
When a person gets a liver donation from a living person, the person that is the donor has a large portion of their liver removed to give to the person who is receiving the liver. This is a highly successful operation for both parties because of the livers amazing capacity for regeneration. The liver is one of the most regenerative organs in the body and the transplant process when performed successfully will eventually result in both parties eventually having complete healthy livers. However this is not always a guarantee for the person who needs a transplant because the operation is very painful for both parties, with the donor needing four months to a year of recuperation time. This is a very big favor to ask of someone and the fact that operation is needed because of a completely preventable disease can be a little off putting.
If you or someone you know is suffering from alcoholism, it is highly recommended that you seek treatment for this addiction as soon as possible. Alcoholism is one of the most dangerous forms of addiction and has many health as well as social and economic risks associated with it. Narconon Drug Treatment centers have a very high rate of success for people who are suffering from alcoholism as well. The torment and pain that is caused from alcoholism can be prevented. Get treatment today.
