Research Topics: Alcoholism Essays

Drug Prevention

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS               Alcohol use disorders are a problem of millions nationwide. It represents a major public health problem in the United States. Approximately 7.4% of the U.S. population meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence, a proportion that results in substantial costs to the individual and society, among them elevated morbidity and mortality rates, traffic accidents, injuries, crime, broken families, domestic violence and fetal alcohol syndrome (2004). It is also already considered a disease. The disease model of alcoholism has a history dating back more than two hundred years, and is considered by many to be the dominant paradigm guiding scientific inquiry and treatment approaches for much of the 20th century ( 2002). The concept gained popularity through its promotion by Alcoholics Anonymous.             The disease model of alcohol dependence, or “alcoholism”, remains the dominant conceptual model or paradigm of both alcohol and drug treatment, especially in the USA. However, this situation is changing in response to empirical evidence, managed care cost containment policies and greater pressures to demonstrate treatment efficacy and effectiveness (2004).             Today, a treatment industry based on the disease theory generates more than billion a year in revenues, and both supports and serves hundreds of thousands of individuals who have an emotional commitment (in the case of alcoholics) or an economic commitment (on the part of treatment providers) to the medical model of alcoholism (1995). Alcoholics Anonymous was developed by  and , both late-stage alcoholics and desperate for an alternative, in the late 1930s. According to various literatures and also what is written on their website, Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for Alcoholics Anonymous membership; the group is self-supporting through their own contributions. Alcoholics Anonymous is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. The primary purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous and its members is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety (1986).             This description also appears in most other literature published by Alcoholics Anonymous and is read at the start of nearly every Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Accordingly, it depicts the essentials of the Alcoholics Anonymous program that its members wish to convey to outsiders as well as to newcomers. The essentials of the Alcoholics Anonymous program are also represented by the twelve suggested steps Alcoholics Anonymous. All Alcoholics Anonymous members are strongly encouraged to use the “Twelve Steps” in dealing with their alcoholism and with life in general (1986).             Members of Alcoholics Anonymous believe alcoholism to be a progressive and eventually fatal disease that follows a progressive series of stages that lead to institutionalization in a mental hospital, jail, or death. While cultural variations (as well as the assumption that “alcoholism” is a social construction that emerged during a specific historical period) should be acknowledged, it should also be pointed out that the “disease” model of Alcoholics Anonymous has been applied cross-culturally. One might argue that the “disease” model must have some material validity for so many members in so many different cultures to find it descriptive of their own experiences ( 2000). An important activity that Alcoholics Anonymous promotes is alcoholics helping other alcoholics to stay sober through involvement in service work. Although the benefits of having a sponsor are apparent to the recipient, the Alcoholics Anonymous literature encourages alcoholics to help other alcoholics primarily as a method of strengthening their own sobriety. A continuing theme throughout Alcoholics Anonymous principles is the critical importance of recovering alcoholics shifting their focus from self to others. Through sponsorship and twelfth-step work, service involvement comprises a broad range of activities that involve directly helping other struggling alcoholics (2004). Although there is no formal definition of sponsorship, sponsors typically have some regular contact with their sponsees to provide guidance and encouragement, to discuss what challenges sponsees may be facing and to reinforce the Alcoholics Anonymous teachings and principles. Twelfth-step work also involves helping alcoholics more generally, although the manner of help is not concretely defined. It is described as taking on “the unspectacular but important tasks that make good twelfth-step work possible, perhaps arranging for the coffee and cake after the meeting, where so many skeptical, suspicious newcomers have found confidence and comfort in the laugher and talk. This is twelfth-step work in the best sense of the word (2004).” Alcoholics Anonymous is often criticized for being just another substitute addiction, emphasizing “powerlessness” to already disenfranchised groups, being a religion or cult, adhering to a medical model of disease instead of a strengths perspective, and other such areas of concern to social workers. Many of these interpretations are based on viewing Alcoholics Anonymous as an alternative treatment model or a rational service delivery model ( 1998). In spite of methodological problems aggravated by the anonymous, voluntary, self-selection of Alcoholics Anonymous membership, there is evidence to indicate that Alcoholics Anonymous is a very useful approach for alcoholics who are trying to stop drinking. Previously published studies found that greater involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous could modestly predict reduced alcohol consumption. Involvement or active participation in Alcoholics Anonymous processes (such as “working the 12 Steps”), rather than just attendance at their meetings, was related to positive outcomes in these findings and supported in other studies (1998).             The utilization of Alcoholics Anonymous services varies from individual to individual but research suggests that certain patterns occur in racial and ethnic perspectives. Racial differences in Alcoholics Anonymous affiliation may be influenced by many variables such as type and severity of alcohol problems. Research indicates that Hispanic clients are less likely than non-Hispanic white clients to attend Alcoholics Anonymous after treatment. Hispanic and non-Hispanic clients responded differently to encouragement to attend AA. Contrary to what many believed, differential rates of attendance in Alcoholics Anonymous by ethnicity were not related to ethnic differences in the practicing of prescribed Alcoholics Anonymous-related behaviors. As the principles of the group become internalized, Hispanics become less reliant upon continued attendance, much as one can learn to learn, through education, and thereby continue to grow in knowledge without continued attendance at formal classes ( 2002).             Black Americans are also found to be overrepresented in the public alcohol treatment system, but may be less likely to use Alcoholics Anonymous and other informal services. Ethnographic, clinical and epidemiological research has documented that at least some blacks participate in Alcoholics Anonymous ( 1999).             Alcoholics Anonymous has grown to become the largest and most popular mutual-help program in the U.S. for individuals with alcohol problems (2004). The frequency at which AA meetings occur on any given day in the majority of American cities and the absence of membership fees contribute to the popularity of this community-based resource.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Drug Prevention

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Alcohol use disorders are a problem of millions nationwide. It represents a major public health probl...

Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems (CPAP)

Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems (CPAP)               Alcohol dependence is the development of characteristic deviant behaviors associated with prolonged consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcoholism is a chronic illness of undetermined etiology with an insidious onset, showing recognizable symptoms and signs proportionate to its severity. Most of the time an approach has benefited so many alcoholics as effectively as the help they have offered themselves through coalitions and partnerships that are focused on alcohol prevention or intervention. One of these is the Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems (CPAP).             The goal of the Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems is to promote programs and procedures that help minimize problems of alcohol dependence and addiction. The coalition actively promotes restraint and abstinence against alcohol consumption in their agenda. It should more accurately be called the Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol. This coalition of groups is co-chaired by of the Alcohol Policies Project and Stacia Murphy of the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD) ( 2006).             Hacker has also headed the temperance-oriented Alcohol Policies Project of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) for three decades. He is Co-Chair of the Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems, whose members include the American Council on Alcohol Problems and many other restraint, abstinence, and discipline activist groups ( 2006). For this reason, the coalition is co-chaired by CSPI and NCADD, both groups where Hacker is part of.             The coalition is made up of groups or members including the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (), the American Council on Alcohol Problems (earlier called the Anti-Saloon League), the Temperance League of Kentucky, the General Board of Global Ministries, and the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol Problems ( 2006).             There are several issues which the Coalition has identified as priorities. These include: (a) restrictions on alcohol advertising; (b) improvements in alcoholic beverage labeling, including strengthening and expanding the current mandated warning label and providing additional consumer on alcoholic beverage containers, such as ingredients, alcohol content, calories, information about standard units of service, and a toll-free telephone number for consumer questions about alcohol; (c) increase in federal alcohol excise taxes and equalization of the tax rate on all beverage alcohol types; (d) stronger regulation of alcoholic beverage industry practices by federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Trade Commission; (e) expanded research on alcohol advertising, labeling and tax issues through the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public and private agencies; (f) promotion within the legislative and executive branches of government of a better understanding of alcohol as America’s costliest and most widespread drug problem; and (g) stronger demand-reduction policies related to alcohol, and proposals to expand public alcoholism treatment and prevention initiatives ( 2006).             Guiding committees, such as the CSPI, NCADD, American Public Health Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, among many others, meet periodically in Washington, DC to set the Coalition’s advocacy agenda and strategy. Organization members are invited to participate in CPAP meetings, keep informed through the CPAP listserv, sign onto coalition letters, and help disseminate grassroots action alerts that will advance the Coalition’s agenda ( 2006).             To summarize, the coalition offers programs that focuses on support or encouragement and education of the public regarding high-visibility, high-leverage alcohol policies, alcohol taxation, advertising and marketing, underage drinking, labeling and college binge drinking, which are issues considered as priorities of the coalition in their effort to minimize problems of alcohol dependence and addiction.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems (CPAP)

Coalition for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems (CPAP) Alcohol dependence is the development of characteristic deviant b...

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF DRINKING

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF DRINKING   Introduction             Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is characterized by: desire or a strong need, or craving, to drink. It is also described as loss of control which is the frequent failure to stop drinking once an individual has begun. A person is physically dependent with alcohol if he experiences some symptoms such as sweating, nausea, shakiness, and anxiety when the person tries to stop the consumption of alcohol (, 2005). Alcoholism is defined as a chronic behavioral disorder which is manifested by undue preoccupation with alcohol to the detriment of physical and mental health, by a loss of control when drinking has begun (although it may not be carried to the point of intoxication), and by a self-destructive attitude in dealing with personal relationships and life situations ( 1997). Alcoholism, is the result of disturbance and deprivation in early infantile experience and the related alterations in basic physiochemical responsiveness; the identification by the alcoholic with significant figures who deal with life problems through the excessive use of alcohol; and a socio-cultural milieu which causes ambivalence, conflict, and guilt in the use of alcohol. Although it is noted that alcohol consumption is relatively low in Singapore, this does not mean that the country is free from problems associated with alcohol drinking. Hence, the main goal of this paper is to determine the extent of alcohol consumption in Singapore specifically among teenagers.  The use and misuse of alcohol by teenagers is a topic which is paid special attention and which can be explained by several reasons. First, it is apparent that most regular and serious drinking begins at this point. Second, teenage drinking was periodically linked with public disorder. It is the younger set who most likely indulges in a drinking pattern called binge drinking. It is “defined as men who consume five or more drinks at a single sitting and women who consume four or more” (2000). It is a tricky undertaking of actually quantifying binge drinking because it raises valid question such as whether the same number of drinks actually leads to the same amount of impairment and subsequent likelihood of negative consequences among heavy drinkers ( 2000, p.21). Moreover, concepts like impairment and tolerance present challenges for specific measurement. It can be considered that at a minimum, level of impairment must take into account the amount of food consumption and the time frame of the single sitting which can range from one or two hours to as many as eight hours. It is more acceptable to define binge drinking as the tendency to drink to get drunk so as to cover the different degrees of impairment and tolerance of people. This condition most often occurs in young people under the age of 25. Binge drinkers are also known to be more prone to both become a victim of violence and to commit a violent act as well. They are also not just prone to violence but also to sexual assault. Although binge drinkers are more likely to be men, studies have shown that women’s drinking consumption has also been increasing ( 1985).   Risks and Benefits It can be said that alcohol consumption may have risks and benefits. For some, alcohol drinking can serve society meaningfully as a ritual symbol, as a means of enhancing food, as a tension releaser, and as a way of developing social ease. Yet man has, under its influence, committed crimes of all sorts and at all levels. Alcohol, “symbolizes the paradox of the human condition” ( 1962, p. 2).               (1962, pp. 5-9) in a lengthy manner discussed the reasons. These are: 1. To counter depression; 2. To blur perceptions purposively; 3. To act as a defense mechanism; 4. To break down psychological barriers; 5. Used in ceremonies and religious rituals; 6. For social gatherings; 7.To achieve a state of bliss; and 8. To appease a non-drinking partner. The differences of their definitions, however, seem vague.              (1976), in a colourful manner describes the effects of alcohol upon people: Those who get high suddenly have a great deal of energy, which accounts in part for using the word high to describe the feeling. They ant to dance, or they become more talkative, or they laugh a lot. This is partly a physiological reaction. Alcohol contains calories, which provide energy. Also certain of the brain’s mechanisms are inhibited, resulting in the suppression of unpleasant       feelings or anxieties, and hyperactivity of other portions of the brain. But partly, again, it is also psychological. Drinkers deceive themselves that they are happy and free from care. With a few drinks in them, people begin to have fantasies in   which they are incredibly powerful (p. 76)             ’s description above puts into perspective the reasons why people drink.  (1991) emphasizes on the relevance of self-esteem. He cites that the lack of esteem, or its superfluity, has been linked to various illnesses. He posits that escape has been the reaction of humans to problems of the self.  Alcohol, like religion or spirituality, added  (1991) is one form of escape. Thus, he offers that people overindulge in alcohol because of the desire to escape, albeit temporarily, from the own self.  Ultimately, alcohol overindulgence leads to abuse. The blurring of the senses corollary to the downing of pints of beer or shots of tequila often leads to actions usually unintended for by the intoxicated.             Accountability             In order to solve the problems attached to alcohol misuse among teenagers, the government of Singapore, especially the health organizations, the parents and the entire community should be held responsible for this matter. Herein, the government must be able to strategically plan an activity which will make people be aware about alcoholism, its benefits if properly consumed and the risks that it may provide when an individual abuse it. The government should link with alcohol abuse/misuse prevention organizations. This association would save the government both time, effort and money that would be invested in research for treatment facilities. It would also express the message that the government is serious in its message to stop alcohol misuse and its adverse effects in all ways possible. Thus, when people realize this, an additional benefit would be confidence and pride accorded to the government. Furthermore, the government should also have an alliance with alcohol industry and other business sectors related to beverages. In this manner, marketing plans should be drawn up to outline the sponsorship of different activities. Local businesses other than pubs should be encouraged to join to show a stronger commitment to the community that they are doing business in. The members of the community will remember the businesses’ involvement in the cause and would reward the establishments with their loyalty which translates to profits. Their reputation would also increase and the bottom line would translate into profit again. Public houses and bars should be involved in another way. Developing and securing an alliance with the pubs and bars would ensure strict compliance of government guidelines on drinking unless they want to have their licenses revoked. This association would be beneficial to them because aside from getting to keep their licenses, they would also be able to attract other customers, most likely the older market that stayed away from community centres because of alcohol-related crimes happening. Owners of pubs and bars would naturally guarantee to keep their environments safe because the older clientele would provide bigger profit for them. The alcohol industry should be a strong partner in the campaign. An apparent alliance would dispel any thoughts, especially that of young people that the alcohol industry is on the side of binge drinking and is blindly ignoring the effects of adverse effects of the problem. It would ultimately be beneficial for the alcohol industry because their more expensive products would be bought due to the added business that pubs and bars would bring in from the older and more sophisticated clientele.   Proposal Although alcohol consumption can also be considered as an important aspect of social life in most areas, there is an undeniable perception of alcohol misuse as a chronic national problem. The availability of cheap alcoholic beverage have greatly influenced Singaporean drinking patterns, most especially the youth’s and have resulted to a phenomenon like binge drinking. It is interesting to note however that while there are actions that increase the social integration of alcohol and discourage alcohol-related problems, drinking itself is not being restricted. For this, it can be noted that there is a need for the Singaporean to tackle the issue of alcohol use and misuse. It is also recommended that the Singaporean must not only recognise that there is a problem in the increasing number of alcohol misuse in the country. It is also important to explore the signs and reasons of alcohol misuse because once a better understanding is reached; identification and education would be easier.  Treatment for those suffering from alcohol problems would also be beneficial for preventing alcohol-related crime and disorder and reduction of anti-social behaviour. It would also ultimately save the country economic and social costs. The government could mobilize local authorities to facilitate the proposed activities in their respective areas. It could also employ different departments to help in the planning and execution of the campaign. The government also holds the power to propose legislation that will affect alcohol-related problems. Although the government has advantages in single-handedly executing the campaign, what it lacks is the money, time and manpower the campaign so obviously needs. This can paralyse the whole cause in the middle of execution in case fiscal problems or more pressing national issues come up. The integration of the government, private and business sectors is another strategic option available to the government. The primary advantage to this is an integration of three factors: cause, government and business. The cause of preventing alcohol misuse, particularly binge drinking is a major national concern which the government is attempting to take care of. Available options are high because of its intensity and the need for involvement by the people. The government, therefore, should open the door to as many alternatives on hand as possible because of long terms goals of saving the burgeoning costs of alcohol-related problems.   Conclusion             The consumption of alcohol has received much attention throughout the world. Because of the growing problems related to alcohol misuse, many institutions have been alarmed with the negative effects of this not only to the person involved but most especially to society as a whole. In this analysis, it discussed the emerging problems of Singapore in terms of alcohol misuse among teenagers. The discussion also includes the healthy benefits of drinking moderately. The possible advantages of alcohol consumptions are shown in terms of personal, physical and social aspects. Herein, analysis shows that moderate drinking can be benefit the health of the person, but if an individual drinks too much, the alcohol can be a cause of some negative effects to the body and brains which may lead to more serious problems.             Hence it is important that the public must be aware of the consequences of drinking too much alcohol. With this, the government has an important part as well as the family, the society and the business sectors. These groups must joined together to provide effective campaign fro informing the public about the positive and negative effect of drinking alcohol. In addition, it should also be noted that alcohol drinking is a part of social interaction, but people must see to it that they know their limitations.   Reference Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF DRINKING

SOCIAL ASPECTS OF DRINKING Introduction Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is characterized by: desire or a strong need, or...

Alcoholism Addiction

This paper discusses the concept of addiction and some major points related to it. In relation to this concept is its relation to alcoholism, how it is developed, and its disease. This paper also emphasizes on the disease model of addiction or alcoholism as reported by E.M. Jellinek and other related authors.    Introduction One of the problems that the society faces today is the problem with addiction. Addiction may come in many forms and is usually associated with negative ideas or concepts. This concept of addiction would automatically suggest one person’s excessive wanting for something, and because the world at present has become more open to a lot of vices and worldly things, the concept of addiction may not be considered as something new. With the advancement of technology, addiction to video games is not a new idea to us. With the improvement of ways in planting and harvesting, addiction to prohibited drugs such as marijuana is no more taboo  With the increase in the production and the innovation of different alcoholic beverages, addiction with it is not anymore a new issue. However, although the addiction of several people may not be a big deal with a majority of the world’s population, the serious consequences that follow it may become inevitable. We may not admit it, but due to the negative notions we attach to this idea, addiction would still alarm us. Addiction and Its Models When we hear the word addiction, what comes first in our mind is its root word “addict”, which literally means a devotee, a fan or an enthusiast. More or less, we can admit that in one way or another, each of us have addictions, such as eating, sleeping, drinking, watching television, and the likes. As cited, we continue this addiction as we get immediate gratification from them and find them very hard to give up; a very good definition of addiction indeed (2005). Addiction is not just merely excessive use. It describes a chronic pattern of behavior that continues and is perceived to be hard or impossible to quit at any time. In addition, it is quite common for an addict to express the desire to stop the behavior, but find him or herself unable to cease (2006). In relation to this is the emergence of several thoughts of scientists and scholars regarding their different beliefs in addiction, especially in considering it as a disease. The Disease Model of Addiction describes addictions as a biologically bases, lifelong disease that involve a loss of control over behavior and requires medical or spiritual treatment for recovery. In the disease model, a tendency to addiction is either inherited or acquired by a person early in life (2006). In support to this claim, we can site a study wherein genetics may play a major role in determining the cause of addiction.  Many a study have shown that genetic components have been found to play a part in dependence on many of the most commonly used licit and illicit substances, suggesting that some people are more vulnerable than others to developing drug and alcohol problems ( 2005). It was explained that each individual possesses two alleles at each gene, one inherited from each parent. When different alleles of a gene are circulating in a population, the gene is said to be polymorphic, and these different alleles are represented as differences in the base sequence of the DNA coding for the gene product, a protein. As a result, the first level of genetic variation that can give rise to individual behavioral differences is due to DNA sequence differences (  2005). Moreover, there are also those in the field that would go further to say that genetics is almost the sole cause of addictive behavior. In a study done on genetic and environmental contributions to alcohol abuse and dependence in a population-based sample of male twins, it was found out that genetic factors played a major role in the development of alcoholism. This study also concluded that environmental factors shared by family members appear to have had little influence on the development of alcoholism in males ( 2005). This study supports the claim of the disease model as it states that current or recent problems or relationships are not believed to be the cause of the disease, and this includes the present environment, family, and society of the person. In addition, the disease model of addiction states that the habitual use of alcohol or drugs can be characterized as a disease. Studies show that irreversible changes occur in those who use substances repeatedly. When individuals become addicted to alcohol or drugs, those changes make being a normal drinker or social drug use impossible. The more severe the loss of control while using or drinking, the truer this is. Substance abuse becomes an obsession of the mind, in which the only thing that matters is drinking or using (2006). However, despite the explanation and the support of many on this matter, some contradicts the idea of the disease model. Critics of the disease model, particularly those who ascribe to the Life-Process Model of Addiction argue that the disease model is not founded on scientific principles and has negative social effects. The criticism is based on the argument that the disease approach has not discovered any biological mechanisms to identify addictive behavior. They argue that labeling people as addicts keeps them from developing self-control and stigmatizes them (2006). In contrast to the disease model of addiction, the Life-Process Model of Addiction is the view that addiction is not a disease but rather a habitual response and a source of gratification and security that can be understood only in the context of social relationships and experiences. This model of addiction is in direct opposition to the disease model of addiction. The proponents of this model argue that the biological mechanisms that might account for addictive behavior have not bee identified and thus do not support using the term disease, preferring to emphasize the individual’s ability to overcome addiction by repairing relationships and personal strength of will (2006). Disease Model of Alcoholism             One type of addiction is alcoholism. Alcoholism is also known as alcohol dependence and is considered a disease with symptoms such as craving or feeling a strong urge to drink; loss of control or not being able to stop once drinking has begun; physical dependence such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety; and tolerance or drinking greater amounts of alcohol to “get high” ( 2006). Many people believe that drinking alcohol will and may ease their problems regarding their family, work and the society, but in fact, it would not. Acquiring alcoholism may lead to more serious complications and fatal illnesses that would cause the person’s life.   Several think that alcoholism is a disease, and in fact this statement is supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2006), stating that is considered a disease. It states that the craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. It was further explained that like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person’s lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing it is influenced both by a person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle ( 2006).             The disease model of alcoholism has a history dating back more than two hundred years, and is considered by many to be the dominant paradigm guiding scientific inquiry and treatment approaches for much of the 20th century (2002). An early proponent of the disease model was E. M. Jellinek who published research in the 1940s and 1950s. His work, in conjunction with the growth of Alcoholics Anonymous, the self help movement which embraces its own version of the model, led to formal acknowledgement of alcoholism as a disease by the World Health Organization in 1955 (2006). However, as early as the 1960s, the disease model came under attack due to the emergence of anomalous scientific and clinical findings ( 2002). This in turn, affected the alcoholism treatment community in the United States and other countries. In line with this Jellinek felt that heavy drinking was initially a result of learning and that the disease of alcoholism developed at some point as drinking became increasingly excessive, and did not believe that an alcoholic lost control over his drinking every time he took alcohol. In relation to Jellinek’s belief that alcoholism is a result of learning is that it may depend on the person’s exposure to drinking. This is based on the assumption that the introduction of a substance into the body on a regular basis will inevitably lead to addiction (  2005). Furthermore, explanations for this are that some substances, when introduced to the body, cause a change to the body’s natural endorphin, producing capabilities. Endorphins are naturally occurring painkilling substances that bring about pleasurable feelings, the body can become reliant on the substance to release these endorphins either to avoid the withdrawal sensation or because the body has cut down on natural production ( 2005). With these, Jellinek identified five types of alcoholic ranging from mildly to severely alcoholic, and within this continuum, he distinguished between psychological and physical dependence, and continual and episodic drinking (‘Problem Drinking’ 2006). Jellinek came up with the idea of grouping different drinking patterns and naming them by giving each a Greek letter. One might think that the purpose of such a classification is to expand the range of alcoholism and include as many people as possible under the disease concept; but in contrary, it in fact tries to limit its scope, stating that most of the types described might be alcoholics, but they are not diseased because they do not suffer from loss of control (2006). <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; line-height: 200%"> Alpha Alcoholism. The earliest stage of the disease, manifesting the purely psychological continual dependence on the effects of alcohol to relieve bodily or emotional pain. This is the “problem drinker”, whose drinking creates social and personal problems. Whilst there are significant social and personal problems, these people can stop if they really want to; thus, argued Jellinek, they have not lost control, and as a consequence, do not have a disease.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; line-height: 200%"> Beta Alcoholism. Also called polyneuropathy or cirrhosis of the liver, from alcohol without physical or psychological dependence. These are the heavy drinkers, and drink almost every day. They do not have physical addiction and do not suffer withdrawal symptoms. This group does not have a disease.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; line-height: 200%"> Gamma Alcoholism. This involves acquired tissue intolerance, physical dependence, and loss of control. This is the A.A. or Alcoholic Anonymous alcoholic, who is very much out of control, and does have a disease.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; line-height: 200%"> Delta Alcoholism. Similar with Gamma alcoholism but with inability to abstain, instead of loss of control.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph; line-height: 200%"> Epsilon Alcoholism. The most advanced stage of the disease, manifesting as dipsomania, or periodic alcoholism.  </li> </ul> As earlier stated, the disease concept is controversial and not without critics (‘ 2006). Two well-known critics are  and   both of whom have written books, as well as articles disputing the disease concept of addiction.  Since the disease concept is attributed to Jellinek, a lot of criticism has been directed at his research, which was the basis for his conclusions about the disease concept. Jellinek’s data were gathered from questionnaires that were distributed to AA members through its newsletter, “The Grapevine” ( 2006). The result was, out of 158 questionnaires returned, 60 were discarded because members  had pooled and averaged their responses, and no questionnaires from women were used. Jellinek himself acknowledged that his data was limited. Therefore, one might wonder why Jellinek’s concept of the disease of alcoholism received such widespread acceptance ( 2006). One reason for the widespread acceptance of this concept is, as  noted, “The disease model has been so profitable and politically successful that it has spread to include problems of eating, child abuse, gambling, shopping, premenstrual tension, compulsive love affairs, and almost every other form of self-destructive behavior. From this perspective, nearly every American can be said to have a disease of addiction” (2006). Furthermore, it has opened new arguments to researchers. Since the introduction of the disease concept, research studies have examined a possible genetic link in alcoholism or addiction. One such study demonstrates that the offspring of alcoholics are approximately three to five times more likely to develop alcoholism that offspring of non-alcoholics. However, the genetic influence on other drug addiction has received less research attention (2006).  In addition, in 1983, there was a popular theory of alcohol addiction expressed by  in his book “The Disease Concept of Alcoholism”, that proposed that alcoholics produced a highly addictive substance called THIQ during the metabolism of alcohol. This substance is normally produced when the body metabolizes heroin and is supposedly not metabolized by non-alcoholics when they drink. The theory is that alcoholics are genetically predisposed to produce THIQ in response to alcohol, that the THIQ creates a craving for alcohol, and that the THIQ remains in the brain of the alcoholic long after the use of alcohol is discontinued. This would provide a physiological explanation for the fact that recovering alcoholics who relapse quickly return to their previous use patterns. More recent research on genetic causes of alcoholism has focused on some abnormality in a dopamine receptor gene and deficiencies in the neurotransmitter serotonin or in serotonin receptors ( 2006).  Jellinek’s Model and AA             Jellinek’s phase model of alcoholism has been the standard textbook description of the alcoholism process (1986). It has essentially gone unchallenged until recently. It has highly influenced most conceptualizations of alcoholism and its treatment within the past several decades. The phase model reflects Jellinek’s assessment and interpretation of data collected by the Grapevine, the official organ of A.A. The phase model characterizes the “alcoholic” as generally passing through four phases and these include the prealcoholic symptomatic phase, the prodromal phase, the crucial phase, and the chronic phase. The prealcoholic symptomatic phase is characterized by a progression from occasional to almost daily relief drinking; that is, drinking to relieve tension. The second phase, the prodromal phase, is marked by “blackouts.” These losses of memory occur after a moderate amount of alcohol has been consumed; although persons affected may be able to carry on complex activities, they fail to recall them the following day. The prodromal phase is followed by the crucial phase. This phase is initiated by loss of control over drinking, that is, “any drinking of alcohol starts a chain reaction which is felt by the drinker as a physical demand for alcohol” (1986). Other characteristics of this phase include aggressive behavior, drinking rationalizations, remorse, periods of abstinence, and morning drinking. The last phase, the chronic, begins when drinkers can no longer hang on during the daytime and subsequently begin to engage in benders or periods of prolonged intoxication. Other features of this phase include impairment of thinking, indefinable fears, tremors, psychomotor inhibition, and loss of tolerance. During this phase, individuals control these symptoms by drinking ( 1986).   Conclusion Addiction now becomes purely negative and problematic. The bright side is that addiction is a treatable disease. Many people who are addicted feel hopeless about their situation. They feel that they cannot stop using and cannot face life without the help of drugs or alcohol. The disease model offers a hopeful alternative. Treatment and sobriety can allow people to lead fulfilling lives ( 2006). Alcoholism should not be judged as a problem of willpower, misconduct, or any other unscientific diagnosis. The problem must be accepted for what it is, a biopsychosocial disease with a strong genetic influence, obvious signs and symptoms, a natural progression and a fatal outcome if not treated (1998). We must know our roles in helping to combat this problem and with the advice and help of our loved ones; we can start by educating and convincing others to have a healthy lifestyle. This task might be overwhelming, but through strong intervention, this disease will be lessened and better results will be achieved.             Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Alcoholism Addiction

This paper discusses the concept of addiction and some major points related to it. In relation to this concept is its relation to alcohol...

ALCOHOLISM

Counseling and Alcoholism Effective Ways of Motivating Treatment for Alcoholic Adolescents   Introduction             Alcoholism is one of the problems that the society faces today. It does not only affect certain individuals and families, but the whole community as well. It has been reported that approximately 14 million Americans or about 7.4% of the adult population meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism (‘’ 2006). In addition, many diseases are being attributed to alcoholism, such as cancer, psychological disorders, ulcers, brain damage, glandular problems, birth defects and other bodily malfunctions. These diseases cause the lives of many Americans annually. Moreover, adults are not the only ones suffering from alcoholism, but teenagers as well. The community and the society become affected with the issue of alcoholism, as many teenagers commit crimes as an effect of drinking alcohol. It has been reported that the total cost attributable to underage drinking, including costs of traffic crashes, violent crime, injuries, and treatment, is over billion per year (‘’ 2006). With these problems, it is necessary to propose treatment of alcoholism at an early age, preferably to teenagers or adolescents. With an early treatment, the incidence of alcoholism can be lessened in adult years. In this paper, the effective ways of motivating treatment for alcoholic teenagers or alcoholics will be presented. These ways will be evaluated and assessed to examine its effectiveness in convincing adolescents for early treatment of alcoholism. The hypothesis of this study is to prove whether adolescents with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to become alcoholics in the future. This will be proven and supported by the discussion of related studies already done.   Definition of Terms Alcoholism – consumption of alcoholic beverages to the extent that it interferes with the drinker’s normal personality, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm (‘’ 2006).   Binge drinking – the irresponsible, heavy drinking that often comes under the disguise of fun and games (‘ 2001).   Extraversion – easily expresses emotions, not drained by social interaction, smiles a lot, believes most people like or will like them, bold, likes to lead, gregarious (‘’ 2006).   Hallucinations – sensory perceptions that are unrelated to outside events or seeing or hearing things that are not there (‘’ 2006).   Homicide – the act of killing a human being (‘’ 2006).   Suicide – the act of willfully ending one’s own life (‘’ 2006).   Review of Literature Facts on Alcoholism             Alcoholism is also known as alcohol dependence and is considered a disease with symptoms such as craving or feeling a strong urge to drink; loss of control or not being able to stop once drinking has begun; physical dependence such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety; and tolerance or drinking greater amounts of alcohol to “get high” (‘’ 2006). Many people believe that drinking alcohol will and may ease their problems regarding their family, work and the society, but in fact, it would not. Acquiring alcoholism may lead to more serious complications and fatal illnesses that would cause the person’s life.             Several think that alcoholism is a disease, and in fact, the  (2006) is supporting this statement. The Institute explains that the craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water, and an alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. Moreover, like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, which means that it lasts a person’s lifetime, usually follows a predictable course, and has symptoms (‘ 2006). The risk for developing alcoholism is influenced by both the person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle (‘’ 2006).              It has been reported that alcoholism was first recognized as a disease in the 1930s by a group called “Alcoholics Anonymous”, and since then, the American Medical Association has recognized alcoholism as a serious and chronic disease (‘?’ 2005). Alcoholism takes time to develop, but once it develops, it does not go away (‘’ 2005). Cure is not available for alcoholism, but is treatable, and with proper treatment, an alcoholic will be able to reclaim his or her normal, satisfying lifestyle (‘’ 2005).             It has been reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are about 2 billion people worldwide who consume alcoholic beverages and  76.3 million with diagnosable alcohol use disorders (‘’ 2004, p. 7). From a public health perspective, the global burden related to alcoholism and alcohol consumption, both in terms of morbidity and mortality, is considerable in most parts of the world (‘ 2004, p. 7). Moreover, given alcohol’s significance in world health, the World Health Organization has been developing a database since 1996, named the Global Alcohol Database, in its aim in providing a standardized reference source of information for global epidemiological surveillance of alcohol use and its related problems (‘’ 2004, p. 7). This database will be helpful for the organization to record the incidence of alcoholism worldwide. This is essential so the government can take action and responsibility in proposing or implementing programs to help lessen the incidence of alcoholism.   Similarly, in the United States, alcohol is still the number one drug problem, and affects adolescents, middle-aged people and senior citizens, and people of all races, religions, intelligence levels and professions (‘’ 2005). In fact, there are approximately 18 million alcoholics in America (‘’ 2005), and this high incidence affects many aspects in the society. In 1995, the estimated annual cost of alcohol abuse in the United States was 6.5 billion, where alcohol use disorders cost .7 billion more than the estimated annual economic cost of illegal drug use and .5 billion more than the estimated annual economic cost of smoking (‘’ 2006).      Effects of Alcoholism              Alcoholism presents a variety of effects, not only on the physical or biological aspect of an individual, but on the society as well. It has been reported that short-term physical effects of alcohol use include distorted vision, hearing and coordination, altered perceptions and emotions, impaired judgment and hangovers (‘’ 1999). On the other hand, long-term physical effects of heavy alcohol use include loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies, stomach ailments, skin problems, sexual impotence, liver damage, heart and central nervous system damage, and memory loss (‘’ 1999). Long-term physical effects also include diseases and organ malfunctions. These diseases include brain damage, which varies from psychosis to permanent memory loss; cancer, such as in the mouth, esophagus, and stomach due to the irritating effects of alcohol; heart disease, such as an enlarged heart and congestive heart failure; liver damage leading to cirrhosis or scarring of the liver and liver cancer; ulcers that produces stomach and intestinal irritation; glandular problems in the adrenal and pituitary glands; and birth defects on women who drink alcohol during pregnancy (‘’ 2005). This condition is known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS (‘’ 2005).             Aside from the diseases caused by alcoholism, it also presents psychological and psychiatric problems, which in turn determines social issues happening in the society, such as suicide, accidents, and crimes. Some of these problems include depression, which can be triggered by alcoholism and vice versa; anxiety, which occurs during attempted withdrawal; change in personality with loss of normal behavior and appearance; and hallucinations, which is an affect of alcohol withdrawal (‘’ 1997). These psychiatric problems often lead to social issues such as suicide, which is result of depression; accidents, being a result of drunk-driving; and physical abuse, which are the cause of a large portion of homicides, child abuse cases and other domestic violence cases (‘’ 2005).   Adolescent Alcoholism             Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are not only adult problems, but they also affect a significant number of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 20, even though drinking under the age of 21 is illegal (2000). According to a research done by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, adolescents who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21 ( 2000). In addition, drinking at an early age can also be associated with alcohol-related violence, not only among persons under the age of 21 but among adults as well ( 2000).             It has been estimated that over three million teenagers are alcoholics, and several million more have a serious drinking problem that they cannot manage on their own ( 2000). This is why early treatment of alcoholism in adolescents must be done to prevent further damage on their lives. It has been mentioned earlier that alcoholism presents grave threats on the lives of many individuals, especially on the lives of many teenagers. These threats include accidents associated with drunk driving, and crimes. It has been reported that the three leading causes of death for 15 to 24 year olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides, and alcohol is a leading factor in all three ( 2000). While drinking may be a singular problem behavior for some, research suggests that for others if may be an expression of general adolescent turmoil that includes other problem behaviors and that these behaviors are linked to unconventionality, impulsiveness, and sensation seeking ( 2000).             It has been reported that binge drinking, often begins around the age of 13, tends to increase during adolescence, peak in young adulthood in the ages between 18 to 22, then gradually decreases ( 2000). Individuals who increase their binge drinking from the age of 18 to 24 and those who consistently binge drink at lease once a week during this period may have problems attaining the goals typical of the transition from adolescence to young adulthood ( 2000). These goals include marriage, education, employment, and financial independence (2000).             Moreover, alcohol use among adolescents has also been associated with considering, planning, attempting, and completing suicide ( 2000). Research does not indicate whether drinking causes suicidal behavior, only that the two behaviors are correlated ( 2000). Suicide is also related to depression and anxiety, for these behaviors somehow trigger alcoholics to result to suicide. In addition, these behaviors can also become severe with the influence of alcohol. This is why during the event of suicide, the alcoholic has already experienced severe depression and anxiety prior to the activity, including the fact that with the influence of alcohol, a person cannot make sound judgments.             Furthermore, the influence of peers can also be attributed to adolescent drinking. More often than not, adolescents become exposed to alcohol drinking through their peers. With this, the role of the parents becomes crucial in the discipline of their children. Proper guidance must be given to adolescents regarding drinking alcohol. Education also is important, for information regarding alcoholism and drug abuse must be give to adolescents for early prevention.   Parental Guidance and Influence              (2000) reports that parents’ drinking behavior and favorable attitudes about drinking have been positively associated with adolescents’ initiating and continuing drinking. Children who were warned about alcohol by their parents and children who reported being closer to their parents were less likely to start drinking ( 2000). Lack of parental support, monitoring and communication has been significantly related to frequency of drinking, heavy drinking, and drunkenness among adolescents ( 2000). Harsh, inconsistent discipline and hostility or rejection toward children has also been found to significantly predict adolescent drinking and alcohol-related problems ( 2000).   Adolescent Drinking Study              In relation to this is the study done by  (1999) regarding the familial density of alcoholism and onset of adolescent drinking. According to the authors, the purpose of the study was to assess the age of onset to begin drinking in relation to family history of alcoholism using survival analysis, and to examine the importance of selected risk factors in predicting outcome, using a Cox proportional hazards model analysis (1999). The study examined 52 children and adolescents at low risk for developing alcoholism and 73 children and adolescents from high-risk families, with the ages of 7 to 18 years old and evaluated annually to provide 2.1 waves of longitudinal data concerning age of onset along with a number of predictors ( 1999). These predictors include positive familial loading of alcoholism, extraversion, and manifest anxiety scores (1999). It has been reported that a number of normal population studies have shown that initiation of drug use in adolescence follows a predictable pattern in which adolescents first use licit drugs like alcohol and cigarettes, before they try marijuana and illicit drugs ( 1999). Furthermore, the identification of this sequence in adolescence, along with adult follow-up, has allowed for the determination that the earlier an adolescent begins to experiment with alcohol and cigarettes the greater the severity and persistence of problems with illicit drugs (cited in  1999). Excessive drinking during adolescence has also been found to be predictive of later problems with alcohol (1999). In relation, a study done by  in the year 1988 found that self-reported frequency of intoxication between the ages of 14 and 16 was predictive of being in Swedish registries for alcohol abuse in young adulthood. Similarly, the report of  in 1997 shows that age of onset to begin regular drinking predicts the likelihood of adult alcohol dependence in a large population-based sample, further suggests the importance of determining the factors that predict initiation of drinking in youth.             With these findings involving the general population, the initiation of alcohol use in normal populations of adolescents may differ from that seen among adolescents who come from families with histories of alcohol and drug dependence (1999). Moreover, the factors predicting onset in high-risk families may differ from that seen in the general population surveys of adolescents ( 1999). This is why a study tracing the family histories of adolescents is important. It has long been known that a positive family history is one of the most powerful predictors of risk for becoming alcoholic (cited in  1999). Alcoholics with a family history of alcoholism in fact appear to have an earlier onset of problem-related drinking and an earlier onset of regular drinking, both of which appear to be highly correlated (cited in  1999). Therefore, it would just appear reasonable to predict that the children of alcoholic parents might become more susceptible for development of early-onset regular drinking and/or alcohol abuse compared to children of non-alcoholics ( 1999). With these reasons, it is considerable to target to those children and adolescents in particular who have begun to drink earlier than their low familiar risk counterparts for specialized intervention and treatment ( 1999). In addition, according to (1999), children of alcoholics are typically considered to be at greater risk for developing alcohol problems due to the presence of alcoholism in one or more members of their nuclear or extended family. However, these high risks children frequently come from multi-problem backgrounds (1999).             With the information and problem in mind, the study conducted examined two major groups, namely, the high-risk group and the low-risk group. The high-risk group consisted of children and adolescents from high-density multi-generational alcoholism families, while the low-risk group consisted of children and adolescents with one of their parents coming from a “low-risk” target pedigree ascertained as part of a larger family study designed to assess the role of familial or genetic factors in the development of alcoholism ( 1999). Furthermore, the socioeconomic status and family stability of the participants were also determined.             Results of the study indicate that there appears to be converging evidence that high-risk children not only drink earlier but also drink more during adolescence than do low-risk children (1999). These findings are further proven by the examination of the quantity per occasion consumed by individuals who had begun drinking revealed risk group differences as well ( 1999). Moreover, although the primary focus of the study is on intergenerational transmission of alcohol dependence, clarifying the patterns of use of other drugs such as marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, opioids, hallucinogens and tobacco was also of interest ( 1999). The tests revealed that among the 26 drinkers identified, seven came from low-risk families and did not report any drug use other than cigarette smoking ( 1999). In contrast, 42% of the high-risk subjects who drank regularly also reported some form of drug use along with cigarettes ( 1999).             In discussion, the study implies that high-risk children begin drinking earlier than low-risk children do, and its significance is that population-based samples have demonstrated that the risk for developing alcohol dependence can be predicted by the age of onset to begin drinking (cited in 1999). In addition, the strongest predictor for alcoholism is extraversion ( 1999). Moreover, the results also suggest that the high-risk children will be likely to develop problems at a higher rate than other groups ( 1999). With this information, it will be helpful to propose effective ways for treatment of adolescent alcoholics at an early age. This is to prevent more grave consequences on the lives of the adolescent alcoholics, such as discontinuing education, substance misuse, and committing crimes.       Ways of Motivating Treatment             At some point, many alcoholics will choose to become treated of their disease. This is why motivation of alcoholics, especially of alcoholic adolescents must be effective to propose treatment. Treatment at an early age will be beneficial so as not to result to worse consequences or events.             It has been reported that once a diagnosis of alcoholism is made, the next major step is getting the patient to seek treatment, and one study suggests that the main reasons alcoholics do not seek treatment are due to lack of confidence in successful therapies; denial of their own alcoholism; and the social stigma attached to the condition and its treatment (‘’ 2006).   Recognizing the Problem – It has been reported that the first and most important step in getting appropriate treatment for alcoholism is recognizing that you have a problem, and often, family members and close friends initiate treatment for the person with the addiction (‘’ 2004).             In addition, the alcoholic patient and everyone involved should fully understand that alcoholism is a disease, and responses to this disease are not character flaws but symptoms, just as pain or discomfort are symptoms of other illnesses (‘’ 2006). They should also realize that treatment is difficult and sometimes painful, just as are treatments for other life-threatening diseases, such as cancer, but that treatment is the only hope for a cure (‘’ 2006).   Role of Family and Friends – Another effective way for motivation are the intervention of family members, employers, and therapists, which can be very effective in motivating a person to quit (‘’ 2006). This can also help in reducing drinking over the short term (‘’ 2006). Moreover, even brief interventions from a primary care doctor and self-help information can be helpful in reducing harmful drinking, for studies report, that only regular follow-up and reinforcement will sustain quit rates and possibly even improve survival rates (‘’ 2006).   Personal Intervention Meetings – It has been reported that the best approaches for motivating a patient to seek treatment are interventional group meetings between people with alcoholism and their friends and family members who have been affected by the alcoholic behavior (‘’ 2006). Using this approach, each person affected offers a compassionate but direct and honest report describing specifically how the person has been hurt by their loved one’s alcoholism (‘’ 2006).             Moreover, the family and friends should express their affection for the patient and their intentions for supporting the patient through recovery, but they must strongly and consistently demand that the patient seek treatment (‘’ 2006). Children may even be involved in this process, depending on their level of maturity and ability to handle the situation (‘’ 2006). With this interventions, the alcoholic adolescents can be helped by their parents and loved ones, and be guided regarding what they should do with their life.   Employer Intervention – For adolescents who are working, their employers can be also particularly effective (‘’ 2006). Their approach should also be compassionate but strong, threatening the employee with loss of employment if he or she does not seek help (‘’ 2006). Some large companies provide access to inexpensive or free treatment programs for their workers (‘’ 2006). These rehabilitation programs can be helpful for the alcoholics to realize their worth as individuals in the company. In this way, they can be motivated to undergo treatment and in turn, become productive.   Long-Term Treatment – This is when the alcoholic decides to participate in the treatment from the Alcoholics Anonymous. To achieve total abstinence as being done by the patients, the alcoholic aims to avoid high-risk situations and replace the addictive patterns with satisfying, time-filling behaviors (‘’ 2006).             Moreover, many alcohol treatment programs are based on the 12-step program, which is used in Alcoholics Anonymous, where the alcoholics are encouraged to be open and share experiences, but are not required to do so (‘’ 2006). Those who are serious about quitting must seek out a sponsor, which help them through their recovery process, and this person is available to them in case they are having a weak moment or if they just need words of encouragement (‘’ 2006).   Inspiring Words – It has been reported that alcohol treatment programs are designed to get the person back on track physically and emotionally, so that they can face their addiction and gain control of their lives (‘’ 2006). Self-esteem and self-worth is greatly distorted by the addiction, so treatment interventions include group and individual therapy to get at the root of the trauma which may have caused the cycle to begin in the first place (‘’ 2006). Inspiring words can be beneficial for the alcoholic adolescent to become motivated to undergo treatment. With this, the family and friends can help by talking frequently to the patient.   Drugs and Medication – The alcoholic must discover what causes them to drink, whey they cannot stop, and what counter measures they can use when these triggers occur (‘’ 2006). Recovering alcoholics may also benefit from prescribed medications, such as anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs to help them control their physical symptoms of withdrawal, which can only be prescribed by a medical doctor or psychiatrist (‘’ 2006). However, the parents or guardian of the patient must supervise the patient in administering treatment of drugs. In this way, the patient can be given the proper dose of the medication and can be ensured of proper treatment.   Preventive Measures             The saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ is applicable in this situation. With earlier prevention and information, many adolescents will not be involved in drinking at an early age. With this, parents and guardians of the adolescents must take responsibility over them to inform them of the consequences of being an alcoholic.             It has been reported that one way to prevent adolescent drinking is to stay involved and interested in the teenager’s life (‘’ 2004). In this way, the parents know the activities of their children, including their peers and their schedule in school. Another way is to talk openly to your children, especially to pre-teens and teens, about the widespread presence and dangers of alcohol and drugs (‘’ 2004). This will serve as a warning for them and information to prevent the incidence of alcoholism. Act as a role model and do not drink excessively or use other drugs or smoke (‘’ 2004). The adolescents will realize that their parents are good example of moral values, and not indulge themselves to becoming alcoholics.             With these, the parents can interact properly with their children and somehow monitor their behavior. The key concept in this issue is communication. With good and constant communication, parents and children can have a good and lasting relationship. This can help both parties to educate one another regarding life and become involved with the activities of one another. Good communication can help each other create a good environment for one another.   Methodology             A three-stage stratified sampling method will be used in this study. In the first stage of sampling, six cities will be stratified into eastern and western United States. In addition, three cities from the eastern part of the United States, namely, Mississippi, New York and Florida will be chosen, and three cities from the western part, namely California, Wyoming and Oregon, will be chosen for data gathering and comparison. In the second stage of sampling, one rural city and one city region will be randomly selected from each state. In the third stage of sampling, individuals will be randomly chosen from the selected city and only one participant will be selected from each household.      A total of 30 participants aged 13 to 20 years will be randomly selected from the population and will be invited to participate. This age bracket will be considered because at these ages, adolescents become exposed for the first time to alcoholic drinks or beverages. The socioeconomic status of the participants will also be considered, as with their classification, whether they belong to a rural or an urban city. Aside from these, the education of the participants will also be considered. Education is also a good basis for the knowledge of the participants regarding alcoholism.                 Data will be collected in the participants’ residential area, and during the visits, the participants will be asked to answer a questionnaire to obtain information on demographic characteristics, including age, sex, education, and occupation. Obtaining data through questionnaire will be easier for evaluation of the participants’ exposure and interest in alcoholic drinks. The questionnaire that will be distributed to the participants will have 20 questions, and will be answered by each of the participants with the supervision of the researcher. In addition, a simple interview will be also be administered by the researcher to somehow interact with the participants.             From these questionnaires, a data will be generated and will serve as a survey on the exposure of the participants to alcoholic drinks or beverages. These data will be helpful in assessing their interest and opinion regarding treatment, if ever they will be diagnosed to suffer from alcoholism. The questionnaires will not only include questions regarding the participants’ exposure to alcohol, but will contain questions talking about the common symptoms being experienced by alcoholics. These will be helpful for evaluation and examination of the participants. If ever the results will indicate a positive diagnosis for alcoholism as indicated by the symptoms listed in the questionnaire, then the researcher can refer the participants to a hospitals or rehabilitation centers for treatment.             To check the reliability and the significance of the study, statistical analysis will be also be used. Statistical tools will be helpful to assess the significance and the relationship of demographic factors and the data gathered from the participants. All the calculations will be weighted to evaluate and assess the interest of the participants for possible treatment. In this light, the researcher can assess if the treatments proposed to alcoholics are effective to motivate them to participate and undergo treatment.        Summary             The possible results of the study would somehow become helpful in the fulfillment of its aim to detect the earliest possible age of adolescents to become exposed to alcoholic drinks. This study can also assess the relationship of having a family history of alcoholism and its effect to adolescent alcoholism. Potential implication of the study would include the evaluation of the researcher of the conditions existing among the adolescents in the United States. This study would also provide information and knowledge on adolescent alcoholism, which can be attributed to the adolescents’ exposure or none exposure to alcoholic drinks or beverages. Another implication of the study also includes the development of more effective ways of treatment for alcoholics. These also include the improvement of the existing treatments, and the conceptualization of new ones to motivate the adolescents for treatment of alcoholism at an early age. This study also has several limitations. One of its limitations is that it covers only a small number of participants, and due to limited budget, cannot cover the entire United States for obtaining data. Another limitation, is that the survey does not represent the total population of the adolescents with the age of 13 to 20 years, due to the limited number of participants to be included. Another limitation is that this study would not obtain blood samples from the participants to examine their blood alcohol content. This can be helpful to assess the condition of the participants.                Bibliography   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

ALCOHOLISM

Counseling and Alcoholism Effective Ways of Motivating Treatment for Alcoholic Adolescents Introduction Alcoholism is on...

Alcoholism Addiction

This paper discusses the concept of addiction and some major points related to it. In relation to this concept is its relation to alcoholism, how it is developed, and its disease. This paper also emphasizes on the disease model of addiction or alcoholism as reported by E.M. Jellinek and other related authors.    Introduction One of the problems that the society faces today is the problem with addiction. Addiction may come in many forms and is usually associated with negative ideas or concepts. This concept of addiction would automatically suggest one person’s excessive wanting for something, and because the world at present has become more open to a lot of vices and worldly things, the concept of addiction may not be considered as something new. With the advancement of technology, addiction to video games is not a new idea to us. With the improvement of ways in planting and harvesting, addiction to prohibited drugs such as marijuana is no more taboo  With the increase in the production and the innovation of different alcoholic beverages, addiction with it is not anymore a new issue. However, although the addiction of several people may not be a big deal with a majority of the world’s population, the serious consequences that follow it may become inevitable. We may not admit it, but due to the negative notions we attach to this idea, addiction would still alarm us. Addiction and Its Models When we hear the word addiction, what comes first in our mind is its root word “addict”, which literally means a devotee, a fan or an enthusiast. More or less, we can admit that in one way or another, each of us have addictions, such as eating, sleeping, drinking, watching television, and the likes. As cited, we continue this addiction as we get immediate gratification from them and find them very hard to give up; a very good definition of addiction indeed ( 2005). Addiction is not just merely excessive use. It describes a chronic pattern of behavior that continues and is perceived to be hard or impossible to quit at any time. In addition, it is quite common for an addict to express the desire to stop the behavior, but find him or herself unable to cease (2006). In relation to this is the emergence of several thoughts of scientists and scholars regarding their different beliefs in addiction, especially in considering it as a disease. The Disease Model of Addiction describes addictions as a biologically bases, lifelong disease that involve a loss of control over behavior and requires medical or spiritual treatment for recovery. In the disease model, a tendency to addiction is either inherited or acquired by a person early in life ( 2006). In support to this claim, we can site a study wherein genetics may play a major role in determining the cause of addiction.  Many a study have shown that genetic components have been found to play a part in dependence on many of the most commonly used licit and illicit substances, suggesting that some people are more vulnerable than others to developing drug and alcohol problems (2005). It was explained that each individual possesses two alleles at each gene, one inherited from each parent. When different alleles of a gene are circulating in a population, the gene is said to be polymorphic, and these different alleles are represented as differences in the base sequence of the DNA coding for the gene product, a protein. As a result, the first level of genetic variation that can give rise to individual behavioral differences is due to DNA sequence differences ( 2005). Moreover, there are also those in the field that would go further to say that genetics is almost the sole cause of addictive behavior. In a study done on genetic and environmental contributions to alcohol abuse and dependence in a population-based sample of male twins, it was found out that genetic factors played a major role in the development of alcoholism. This study also concluded that environmental factors shared by family members appear to have had little influence on the development of alcoholism in males ( 2005). This study supports the claim of the disease model as it states that current or recent problems or relationships are not believed to be the cause of the disease, and this includes the present environment, family, and society of the person. In addition, the disease model of addiction states that the habitual use of alcohol or drugs can be characterized as a disease. Studies show that irreversible changes occur in those who use substances repeatedly. When individuals become addicted to alcohol or drugs, those changes make being a normal drinker or social drug use impossible. The more severe the loss of control while using or drinking, the truer this is. Substance abuse becomes an obsession of the mind, in which the only thing that matters is drinking or using ( 2006). However, despite the explanation and the support of many on this matter, some contradicts the idea of the disease model. Critics of the disease model, particularly those who ascribe to the Life-Process Model of Addiction argue that the disease model is not founded on scientific principles and has negative social effects. The criticism is based on the argument that the disease approach has not discovered any biological mechanisms to identify addictive behavior. They argue that labeling people as addicts keeps them from developing self-control and stigmatizes them ( 2006). In contrast to the disease model of addiction, the Life-Process Model of Addiction is the view that addiction is not a disease but rather a habitual response and a source of gratification and security that can be understood only in the context of social relationships and experiences. This model of addiction is in direct opposition to the disease model of addiction. The proponents of this model argue that the biological mechanisms that might account for addictive behavior have not bee identified and thus do not support using the term disease, preferring to emphasize the individual’s ability to overcome addiction by repairing relationships and personal strength of will (2006). Disease Model of Alcoholism             One type of addiction is alcoholism. Alcoholism is also known as alcohol dependence and is considered a disease with symptoms such as craving or feeling a strong urge to drink; loss of control or not being able to stop once drinking has begun; physical dependence such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety; and tolerance or drinking greater amounts of alcohol to “get high” ( 2006). Many people believe that drinking alcohol will and may ease their problems regarding their family, work and the society, but in fact, it would not. Acquiring alcoholism may lead to more serious complications and fatal illnesses that would cause the person’s life.   Several think that alcoholism is a disease, and in fact this statement is supported by the   (2006), stating that is considered a disease. It states that the craving that an alcoholic feels for alcohol can be as strong as the need for food or water. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems. It was further explained that like many other diseases, alcoholism is chronic, meaning that it lasts a person’s lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms. The risk for developing it is influenced both by a person’s genes and by his or her lifestyle (2006).             The disease model of alcoholism has a history dating back more than two hundred years, and is considered by many to be the dominant paradigm guiding scientific inquiry and treatment approaches for much of the 20th century (2002). An early proponent of the disease model was E. M. Jellinek who published research in the 1940s and 1950s. His work, in conjunction with the growth of Alcoholics Anonymous, the self help movement which embraces its own version of the model, led to formal acknowledgement of alcoholism as a disease by the World Health Organization in 1955 ( 2006). However, as early as the 1960s, the disease model came under attack due to the emergence of anomalous scientific and clinical findings (2002). This in turn, affected the alcoholism treatment community in the United States and other countries. In line with this Jellinek felt that heavy drinking was initially a result of learning and that the disease of alcoholism developed at some point as drinking became increasingly excessive, and did not believe that an alcoholic lost control over his drinking every time he took alcohol. In relation to Jellinek’s belief that alcoholism is a result of learning is that it may depend on the person’s exposure to drinking. This is based on the assumption that the introduction of a substance into the body on a regular basis will inevitably lead to addiction ( 2005). Furthermore, explanations for this are that some substances, when introduced to the body, cause a change to the body’s natural endorphin, producing capabilities. Endorphins are naturally occurring painkilling substances that bring about pleasurable feelings, the body can become reliant on the substance to release these endorphins either to avoid the withdrawal sensation or because the body has cut down on natural production ( 2005). With these, Jellinek identified five types of alcoholic ranging from mildly to severely alcoholic, and within this continuum, he distinguished between psychological and physical dependence, and continual and episodic drinking ( 2006). Jellinek came up with the idea of grouping different drinking patterns and naming them by giving each a Greek letter. One might think that the purpose of such a classification is to expand the range of alcoholism and include as many people as possible under the disease concept; but in contrary, it in fact tries to limit its scope, stating that most of the types described might be alcoholics, but they are not diseased because they do not suffer from loss of control ( 2006). <ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Alpha Alcoholism. The earliest stage of the disease, manifesting the purely psychological continual dependence on the effects of alcohol to relieve bodily or emotional pain. This is the “problem drinker”, whose drinking creates social and personal problems. Whilst there are significant social and personal problems, these people can stop if they really want to; thus, argued Jellinek, they have not lost control, and as a consequence, do not have a disease.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Beta Alcoholism. Also called polyneuropathy or cirrhosis of the liver, from alcohol without physical or psychological dependence. These are the heavy drinkers, and drink almost every day. They do not have physical addiction and do not suffer withdrawal symptoms. This group does not have a disease.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Gamma Alcoholism. This involves acquired tissue intolerance, physical dependence, and loss of control. This is the A.A. or Alcoholic Anonymous alcoholic, who is very much out of control, and does have a disease.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Delta Alcoholism. Similar with Gamma alcoholism but with inability to abstain, instead of loss of control.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: justify; line-height: 200%"> Epsilon Alcoholism. The most advanced stage of the disease, manifesting as dipsomania, or periodic alcoholism.  </li> </ul> As earlier stated, the disease concept is controversial and not without critics (2006). Two well-known critics are   both of whom have written books, as well as articles disputing the disease concept of addiction.  Since the disease concept is attributed to Jellinek, a lot of criticism has been directed at his research, which was the basis for his conclusions about the disease concept. Jellinek’s data were gathered from questionnaires that were distributed to AA members through its newsletter, “The Grapevine” ( 2006). The result was, out of 158 questionnaires returned, 60 were discarded because members  had pooled and averaged their responses, and no questionnaires from women were used. Jellinek himself acknowledged that his data was limited. Therefore, one might wonder why Jellinek’s concept of the disease of alcoholism received such widespread acceptance (2006). One reason for the widespread acceptance of this concept is, as Peele noted, “The disease model has been so profitable and politically successful that it has spread to include problems of eating, child abuse, gambling, shopping, premenstrual tension, compulsive love affairs, and almost every other form of self-destructive behavior. From this perspective, nearly every American can be said to have a disease of addiction” (2006). Furthermore, it has opened new arguments to researchers. Since the introduction of the disease concept, research studies have examined a possible genetic link in alcoholism or addiction. One such study demonstrates that the offspring of alcoholics are approximately three to five times more likely to develop alcoholism that offspring of non-alcoholics. However, the genetic influence on other drug addiction has received less research attention ( 2006).  In addition, in 1983, there was a popular theory of alcohol addiction expressed by  in his book “The Disease Concept of Alcoholism”, that proposed that alcoholics produced a highly addictive substance called THIQ during the metabolism of alcohol. This substance is normally produced when the body metabolizes heroin and is supposedly not metabolized by non-alcoholics when they drink. The theory is that alcoholics are genetically predisposed to produce THIQ in response to alcohol, that the THIQ creates a craving for alcohol, and that the THIQ remains in the brain of the alcoholic long after the use of alcohol is discontinued. This would provide a physiological explanation for the fact that recovering alcoholics who relapse quickly return to their previous use patterns. More recent research on genetic causes of alcoholism has focused on some abnormality in a dopamine receptor gene and deficiencies in the neurotransmitter serotonin or in serotonin receptors (2006).  Jellinek’s Model and AA             Jellinek’s phase model of alcoholism has been the standard textbook description of the alcoholism process (1986). It has essentially gone unchallenged until recently. It has highly influenced most conceptualizations of alcoholism and its treatment within the past several decades. The phase model reflects Jellinek’s assessment and interpretation of data collected by the Grapevine, the official organ of A.A. The phase model characterizes the “alcoholic” as generally passing through four phases and these include the prealcoholic symptomatic phase, the prodromal phase, the crucial phase, and the chronic phase. The prealcoholic symptomatic phase is characterized by a progression from occasional to almost daily relief drinking; that is, drinking to relieve tension. The second phase, the prodromal phase, is marked by “blackouts.” These losses of memory occur after a moderate amount of alcohol has been consumed; although persons affected may be able to carry on complex activities, they fail to recall them the following day. The prodromal phase is followed by the crucial phase. This phase is initiated by loss of control over drinking, that is, “any drinking of alcohol starts a chain reaction which is felt by the drinker as a physical demand for alcohol” (1986). Other characteristics of this phase include aggressive behavior, drinking rationalizations, remorse, periods of abstinence, and morning drinking. The last phase, the chronic, begins when drinkers can no longer hang on during the daytime and subsequently begin to engage in benders or periods of prolonged intoxication. Other features of this phase include impairment of thinking, indefinable fears, tremors, psychomotor inhibition, and loss of tolerance. During this phase, individuals control these symptoms by drinking (1986).   Conclusion Addiction now becomes purely negative and problematic. The bright side is that addiction is a treatable disease. Many people who are addicted feel hopeless about their situation. They feel that they cannot stop using and cannot face life without the help of drugs or alcohol. The disease model offers a hopeful alternative. Treatment and sobriety can allow people to lead fulfilling lives ( 2006). Alcoholism should not be judged as a problem of willpower, misconduct, or any other unscientific diagnosis. The problem must be accepted for what it is, a biopsychosocial disease with a strong genetic influence, obvious signs and symptoms, a natural progression and a fatal outcome if not treated (1998). We must know our roles in helping to combat this problem and with the advice and help of our loved ones; we can start by educating and convincing others to have a healthy lifestyle. This task might be overwhelming, but through strong intervention, this disease will be lessened and better results will be achieved.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Alcoholism Addiction

This paper discusses the concept of addiction and some major points related to it. In relation to this concept is its relation to alcohol...