Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence

Alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependence, has been identified by the American Medical Association as a disease with a definite set of signs and symptoms. This disease includes an intense craving for alcohol and one’s continued drinking despite negative consequences. The consequences of which we speak may be legal in nature, the loss of employment, health related or problems within the family.

There are four components to alcoholism: the craving (the compulsion and need to drink), physical dependence (withdrawal symptoms will occur if the use of alcohol is discontinued), impaired control (the inability for someone to limit their drinking at any given time) and tolerance (requiring increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel the same effects).

Why Is It Called a Disease?

It has taken considerable time and research, but alcoholism is now accepted as a disease. Like many other diseases, it has symptoms that include the need for alcohol despite negative consequences (poor health, job loss, divorce, etc). Alcoholism is a chronic and progressive illness and like other diseases, has a predictable course and is influenced genetically and environmentally. Furthermore, it is characterized by a preoccupation with the drug, distortions in one's thinking and denial.

Causes of Alcoholism

Alcoholism, alcohol dependence usually occurs gradually as drinking alcohol alters the balance of some chemicals within your brain, which inhibit impulsiveness and other chemicals which excite the central nervous system. In addition, alcohol also raises the levels of dopamine in the brain, which creates the pleasurable feelings associated with drinking alcohol.

Additional factors that can lead to alcoholism or alcohol abuse:

• Genetics: Certain genetic factors may cause a person to be vulnerable to alcoholism, alcohol abuse or drug addiction.
• Emotional state:  Extreme stress, depression, anxiety, or emotional pain can lead some people to alcohol abuse or alcoholism to block out the turmoil.
• Psychological factors: Having low-self esteem or dual diagnosis may make you more susceptible to alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Having friends who drink alcohol on a regular basis can bring you a step closer into alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
• Social and cultural factors: Advertising portrays alcohol in a glamorous fashion. The better it looks, the more likely someone is to drink more alcohol, possibly resulting in alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

Complications of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol considered a depressant, even though it may feel like a stimulant at times. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and affects the thought process, emotions and judgment. Alcohol abuse can impair, muscle coordination, depress the vital centers of your brain. Binge drinking has even been found to result in a life-threatening coma.
 Other severe alcohol related health problems may include:

• Liver disorders.  Alcohol abuse or alcoholism can cause alcoholic hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. Signs and symptoms of alcohol related hepatitis may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and tenderness, fever, yellowing of the skin (jaundice) and sometimes confusion. After years of alcohol abuse or alcoholism, hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis of the liver, the irreversible and progressive deterioration and scarring of liver.
• Gastrointestinal problems. Alcohol abuse can result in inflammation of the lining of the stomach (gastritis) and interfere with absorption certain nutrients. Alcohol abuse or alcoholism can also damage the pancreas, which produces the hormones that regulate your metabolism.
• Cardiovascular problems. Alcohol abuse or alcoholism can lead to high blood pressure and damage your heart muscle (cardiomyopathy). These conditions can increase your risk of heart failure or stroke.
• Diabetes complications. Alcohol abuse restricts the release of glucose from your liver and can increase the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This presents a serious situatuation if you have diabetes and are already taking insulin to lower your blood sugar level.
• Sexual function and menstruation. Alcohol abuse or alcoholism can cause erectile dysfunction in men. In women, it can interrupt menstruation.
• Birth defects. Alcohol use, alcohol abuse or alcoholism during pregnancy may cause fetal alcohol syndrome. This condition can result in birth defects, as well as, developmental disabilities.
• Neurological complications. Alcohol abuse or alcoholism can affect your nervous system and create difficulty with thought process, as well as, damage to the brain and dementia.
• Increased risk of cancer. Chronic alcohol abuse or alcoholism has been linked to cancer of the, larynx, liver and colon.

Other complications of alcoholism and alcohol abuse may include:

• Higher rate of suicide
• Poor performance at work or school
• Increased likelihood of motor vehicle fatalities and arrest for drunken driving
• Greater susceptibility to accidental injuries from other causes
• Domestic abuse and divorce

Gay Alcoholism Treatment and Gay Alcohol Rehab

Most people, gay or heterosexual, suffering from alcoholism, alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency enter alcohol rehab or alcohol detox reluctantly. This is due primarily to the denial that accompanies this illness, which tells them that they really don’t have a problem or that it isn’t really that bad. For the alcoholic resistant  to entering an alcohol treatment program or alcohol detox, intervention may be the key to breaking through a person’s denial. A professional intervention may help the alcoholic recognize and accept the need for alcohol rehab or alcohol detox. If you have questions concerning how to best design an intervention call us at  1-800-231-1820  and one of our addiction treatment professionals will assist you.

For years, alcohol treatment programs have catered to the heterosexual population, asking the gay, lesbian population to fit into their addiction treatment program. In effect, what they were asking was for the gay addict or lesbian alcoholic to share honestly and trust those individuals that could have been the source of their shame from years of prejudice, homophobic behavior or discrimination. We wonder how comfortable a heterosexual would be in a gay alcohol rehab or gay addiction treatment program. For the reason mentioned above, gay alcohol rehabs were formed or at the least, comprehensive gay alcohol treatment components were formed within alcoholism treatment programs.

Determining your level of addiction and alcoholism

The first step in a gay alcohol rehab or a gay alcohol treatment program is to determine whether you're alcohol dependent. If you are dependent on alcohol, have many of the signs and symptoms of an alcoholic, trying to control your drinking will only prolong the pain. Complete abstinence from alcohol is the only solution and most people achieve that goal through a combination of alcohol detox, alcohol rehab, therapy and self help groups.

Gay Alcohol Treatment Programs

Most gay alcohol treatment programs include group psychotherapy, individual therapy, family therapy, specialty groups, educational lectures, recreational therapy, nutritional counseling, art therapy, medication management and participation in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Here is what you might expect from a typical residential alcohol treatment program or gay alcohol rehab:

• Gay Alcohol Detox: A gay alcohol treatment program or gay alcohol rehab usually begins with detox or detoxification. This usually takes between four to seven days, depending upon a variety of factors (amount of alcohol, frequency, any other drugs involved, medical problems etc.). Medications are provided to reduce or sometimes eliminate the symptoms associated with withdrawal, in conjunction with counseling.
• Medical Assessment and Gay Alcohol Rehab Treatment: In many cases, people have developed medical problems as a result of their alcoholism. (some of these problems are listed above) With this in mind, patients are provided with a comprehensive physical examination. Most medical problems can be treated within the alcohol rehab. For the medical problems that can not, referral is made to an appropriate healthcare professional.  
• Psychiatric Assessment and Treatment: Many people who access an alcohol treatment program or alcohol rehab seem to have an accompanying psychiatric disorder.  For this reason, every person is provided with a thorough psychiatric evaluation. Those people who are found to have a psychiatric diagnosis in conjunction with their alcoholism have a dual diagnosis.  Both of these issues should be treated while in alcohol rehab.
• Acceptance and abstinence. For alcoholism treatment to be effective, a person must accept the fact that they can not control their drinking and the only solution lies in abstinence. The issue that stands in the way of this process is referred to as denial.
• Relapse Prevention: As with most diseases, relapse does occur. Unfortunately, in the area of alcoholism treatment or alcohol rehab, relapse occurs in far too many cases. The primary reason for relapse is usually found in a person’s resistance or reluctance to follow one or more of the components of their relapse prevention plan. A relapse prevention plan is a crucial part of a person’s alcohol rehab. Without it, treatment is not complete. Relapse does not have to be a part of one’s recovery, but if it does occur, immediately contact your alcohol rehab, your therapist or sponsor.
• Family Program: It has long been recognized that alcoholism is a family illness and has profound effects upon the family unit. With the gay, lesbian population, those issues are even more complex as we add issues of sexual preference, coming out, homophobia and a host of other problems to the mix. For this reason, an effective alcohol rehab should have a strong family component as the centerpiece for its clinical program

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