What Do You Know About Alcohol Abuse?

The NIAAA reported that in 2001 to 2002 (the latest statistics available), the highest rate of alcohol abuse was among young adults, 18 to 29 years old. No matter what age, though, alcohol abuse can lead to a host of health problems, including liver cirrhosis, damage to the immune system, and brain damage. Heavy drinking raises the risk of developing cancer of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx. Alcohol also increases the risk of death from vehicular crashes, recreational injuries, and work-related injuries.

For men, it's two drinks. A drink is defined as one 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. Women have a lower recommended drinking limit than men because women become more impaired than men after drinking the same amount of alcohol. This may be because their bodies are, on average, smaller. Heavy drinking is defined as more than 14 drinks per week or four at one sitting for men, and more than seven drinks per week or three at one sitting for women.

Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in personal and legal problems because of alcohol. A person who abuses alcohol doesn't have the strong craving for alcohol that marks an "alcoholic"—someone with alcohol dependency or addiction. But he or she can still experience many of the same health problems, as well as face increased risk for death or injury through falls and accidents.

A person who has a family history of alcohol abuse or alcoholism is at greater risk for abusing alcohol. Alcohol abuse is also more common among adolescents who have been abused and among victims of violence. Alcohol abuse also is associated with depression, conduct disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide.

Alcoholism is also called alcohol dependence and has four symptoms: a strong craving for alcohol; a loss of control over how much alcohol is consumed at any one time; withdrawal symptoms if alcohol is not consumed regularly; and the need for increasing amounts of alcohol to feel good. An alcoholic cannot simply use "will power" to stop drinking; his or her need for alcohol can be as great as the need for food or water. Most alcoholics need treatment and support to recover. For someone who abuses alcohol but has not become dependent, intervention and education often will be enough to stop the abuse, although sometimes professional help also is necessary.

Mixing alcohol with either over-the-counter or prescription medications can be dangerous or even fatal. More than 150 medications interact harmfully with alcohol. Alcohol also can make many chronic conditions of older people worse. These include high blood pressure and ulcers. Older people also have slower reaction times, as well as possible problems with hearing and seeing. These factors combined with drinking can raise the risk for falls, car crashes and other injuries in older adults.

Alcoholism also increases your risk for type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack, falls, and accidental death. Although some studies have shown a link between alcoholism and an increased risk for cognitive decline, the National Institutes of Health says that researchers still aren’t sure whether this condition actually causes it.

Keep a diary for a week to track why and how much you drink. Wait an hour between drinks to slow down alcoholic intake. Pick one or two days a week to abstain from alcohol. If you think you may have a problem with alcohol, ask yourself these questions: Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking? Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover? If you answered "yes" to one of these questions, you may have a problem with alcohol. If you had more than two "yes" answers, it is very likely that you have a problem with alcohol. Talk to your health care provider to help you plan the best course of action.