Many will wonder why we should discuss alcohol as abuse. Firstly, both cigarette smoking and alcohol are classified as drug abuse according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The World Health Organization has repeatedly stated that no amount of alcohol is safe.
Secondly, according to data provided by the Centre, substance abusers in J&K encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from cannabis to sedatives to inhalants. The breakdown includes approximately 5.4 lakh individuals abusing opioids, 4.20 lakh using alcohol, 1.4 lakh consuming cannabis, and 1.35 lakh inhaling substances.
According to statistics compiled by the J&K government, in 2023 alone, 11,476 patients visited various drug de-addiction centers across J&K seeking treatment and counseling to combat substance abuse, including alcohol abuse.
As a medical professional, I want to address common concerns about alcohol abuse. First, it's important to understand that you are not alone if you struggle with alcohol. In the United States alone, about 38 million adults drink too much, and 88,000 people die each year as a result.
When seeking help for alcohol abuse, you'll likely work with both psychologists and psychiatrists. These professions complement each other in treating addiction. A psychologist will explore your drinking habits through detailed conversation, possibly speaking with family members with your permission. They'll schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress as you work to reduce or eliminate alcohol use.
Psychologists help by discussing how drinking affects your life, guiding you to treatment options, providing practical daily tips for cutting back, discussing your outlook, and referring you to specialists when needed.
A psychiatrist approaches the issue differently, conducting physical examinations and taking detailed medical histories. They use laboratory and imaging tests to assess potential organ damage from alcohol consumption and evaluate how drinking affects your emotions and behavior.
One crucial role of psychiatrists is managing withdrawal symptoms. It's dangerous to suddenly stop drinking without medical supervision, as life-threatening withdrawal symptoms can occur, including tremors, weakness, persistent vomiting, blurred vision, and heart palpitations. Alcohol withdrawal delirium is especially dangerous, with symptoms including disorientation, agitation, hallucinations, and potentially fatal seizures.
There are two main types of alcohol abusers. Type 1 represents about 75% of alcoholics and involves adult-onset, steady, gradually escalating consumption. Type 2, accounting for 25% of alcoholics, begins in adolescence and often includes a strong family history and antisocial characteristics.
Many people wonder why alcohol abuse can go unnoticed for so long. Alcohol stimulates dopamine release, producing euphoria and enjoyment. Over time, dopaminergic neurons atrophy, and natural dopamine levels decline, creating feelings of malaise that alcohol temporarily relieves. This creates a painful cycle of dependency. In early stages, alcoholics often function adequately and go unrecognized by physicians until their social lives, work performance, and physical health begin to deteriorate.
Medical professionals use several screening tools to identify alcohol problems. The CAGE questionnaire is a simple, widely used assessment asking if you've felt you should Cut down on drinking, been Annoyed by criticism of your drinking, felt Guilty about alcohol use, or needed an Eye-opener drink first thing in the morning.
For diagnosis, we also rely on biological markers. Chronic drinking elevates serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and red blood cell mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Together, these markers identify approximately 90% of alcoholics.
Long-term alcohol abuse leads to numerous complications including gastric ulcers, anemia, cirrhosis, impotence, severe nerve weakness from vitamin B deficiencies, heart diseases including myopathy and cardiac myopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy (characterized by confusion, ataxia, and eye movement dysfunction), and potentially complete memory loss.
Seeking help is the first step toward recovery and demonstrates tremendous courage. Treatment approaches vary based on symptom severity, with the goal of reducing or eliminating alcohol use. Options include one-on-one or group therapy, outpatient programs with regular office visits, or residential rehabilitation programs offering intensive treatment in a controlled environment.
For Family Members
When supporting someone with alcohol addiction, avoid using derogatory language or abuse. Focus instead on treating medical complications while involving family members in the treatment process. Evaluate how family dynamics might contribute to the problem or help resolve it. Group therapy has proven particularly effective for many patients. Remember that early intervention significantly improves outcomes, so encourage seeking professional help as soon as possible.
(The author can be contacted at arifmaghribi@yahoo.com)
Have you liked the news article?