The noun ‘alcoholism’ has various meanings. Traditionally, alcoholism is the word that refers to the condition that results from the repeated consumption of alcoholic beverages. Medically, alcoholism is referred to as a disorder that results from an importunate consumption of liquor regardless of the several disagreeable effects.



One should not interchange the mere consumption of alcohol with the clinical definitions of alcoholism. It a fact that the definition of alcoholism is related to the use of alcoholic beverages but the constancy and the measure of alcohol usage are the important factors that are used to identify whether a man is experiencing alcoholism or not.

The effects of alcohol addiction are classified under two categories: the short-term effects and the long-term effects.

We all know that alcohols, most notably ethyl alcohol, are potential central nervous system (CNS) sedatives. The toxicity level depends on various factors. For example, the level of toxicity is lower when alcohol is took in after having lunch as compared to the level of toxicity when the alcohol is consumed before eating. In terms of hydration, the level of toxicity is lower if the alcohol is diluted first prior to consumption.

The side-effects of alcohol in the human system are described to be ‘biphasic’. The word biphasic is used to describe the effects of alcohol drinking that changes from time to time. Alcohol initially provokes euphoria and leisure. Too much consumption of alcohol may progress to blurred vision and coordination problems. Biologically speaking, when alcohol is used, it is released to the blood vessels and is diffused to all biological tissues in the human body.

(A) HEART DISEASE: The people who consume alcoholic drinks may develop lots of cardiovascular diseases. Heart attack or congestive heart failure may develop if the alcohol addiction continues.

(B) LIVER DISEASE: Numerous liver-related disorders may develop as a side-effect of alcohol addiction. Some of liver disorders that results from alcohol consumption are hepatic steatosis, progressive inflammatory liver injury, liver fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis.

(C) CANCER: Different kinds of cancers like leukemia, melanosarcoma, prostate cancer and medullary carcinoma may develop as a result of alcohol consumption.

(D) OTHER EFFECTS: Drinking alcohol may cause the problems of obesity and fatal alcohol syndrome that progresses to the disintegration of the CNS.

Alcohol Addiction Determination

(1) Screening: The screenings are basically self-reports that are used to determine the presence of alcoholism addiction. Examples of the substantial screening test procedures are CAGE Questionnaire, ADD Questionnaire, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, AUDI Test, and the Paddington Alcohol Test.

(2) Blood and urine examinations: By testing the urine and the blood of the patient, the status of alcohol addiction may possibly be identified. Alcohol addiction may be tested through various indicators that includes red blood cell enlargement, GGT elevation, SGOT and SGPT ratio, and CDT elevation.

(3) Others: A number of processes including the determination of the genetic predisposition or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are intended to recognize the alcohol addiction status and the level of toxicity.

Same as the medical and psychological procedures used for drug addiction, the treatment alcoholism addiction is also classified into two different sections which are alcoholic detoxification and advising. The mentioned treatment procedures have to be conducted concurrently. By performing the detox processes, the body of the person with alcoholic issues is cleansed. By conducting the advising or the intervention techniques, the person with alcohol addiction may be motivated to give up alcohol addiction.

It is necessary to spread awareness regarding the negative side-effects of alcohol abuse to the entire system of the people to decrease the number of people who are considered to be alcoholics.