ALCOHOLISM AS A DISEASE.   Term Paper ID:22852 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Medical definition, physical & psychological effects, behavioral problems, family issues, types, dependency, treatment. Abstract.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Medical definition, physical & psychological effects, behavioral problems, family issues, types, dependency, treatment. Abstract. Paper Introduction: Alcoholism has been classified as a disease by the Joint Committee to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism. The term alcoholism has been used over the years for a conglomeration of symptoms and behaviors in an imprecise manner. It has been a term which is poorly understood, vague and often used with moral overtones (Morse & Flavin, 1994, p. 31). The alcoholic, having a disease, should not be excused from his or her behavior, or the consequences of imprudent actions. For the alcoholic, drinking alcohol is still a decision he or she is able to control. The revised definition of alcoholism is: a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. M. Alcoholics are unable to regulate theoccasions when they drink, where they drink, the length of time spentdrinking, the amount of alcohol consumed in a drinking episode, and thebehaviors accompanying the drinking of alcoholic beverages (Morse & Flavin,1994, p. The second type of alcoholic is a habitual user; he or she haslearned to use alcohol to relieve stress. & Payne, J. In B. K. 4) continued use despite social and personal problems which are exacerbated by the use of alcohol (DSM-IV-R, 1994, p. the number one sign ofthis distortion of thinking is the alcoholic's denial of his or her problemwith alcohol. The stomach and intestines canbecome irritated by the level of alcohol consumed and precipitate severegastritis or ulceration (Blum & Payne, 1994, p. The liver has limited capacity tofunction. This produces pain and swelling. 32). The definition of alcoholism also states that the alcoholic continuesto drink even in the face of adverse consequences. 6) important social and occupational activities are hampered by the use of alcohol. Thisoccurs when three or more of the following conditions are met in a 12 monthperiod: 1) an increased tolerance for more alcohol or a diminished effect from the same amount of alcohol. The revised definition of alcoholism is: a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. & Flavin, D. J. Social drinker oralcohol abuser can be a fine distinction. It is usually necessary for thesealcoholics to get inpatient treatment for their alcoholism. E. The pancreasmay be affected producing hypoglycemia, an inability of the body toregulate and raise the level of sugar in the blood. As the drinking of alcoholpersists and becomes heavy, the physiological effects begin to cause thedeterioration of the alcoholic's body. Even withinpatient treatment the relapse rate for these people is high (Blum &Payne, 1994, p. References Blum, K. Child Abuse &Neglect, 19, 519-53 . 3) recurrent legal problems as the result of the use of alcohol. 2) recurrent use in hazardous situations. A proposed intergenerational model ofsubstance abuse, family functioning, and abuse/neglect. (1995). revised.(1994). Alcoholism is a geneticallyinherited disease. SanDiego: Greenhaven Press, 29-33. The alcoholic's behavior may contribute to the disease, butthe person does not choose to become dependent on alcohol. Adverse consequencesinclude the health problems which are the result of the consumption oflarge quantities of alcohol ingested over a period of time, psychologicalconsequences, mood swings and changes in cognition and behavior, problemsin interpersonal functioning (child and spousal abuse, marital problems, co-worker difficulties, et cetera), difficulties at school or work, legal,financial and spiritual problems (Morse & Flavin, 1994, p. 2 ). The depression and sadness that can accompanyan alcoholic's drinking can lead many alcoholics to attempt suicide. Experts should continue todefine alcoholism as a disease. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. The lining of the esophagus canbecome irritated causing it to swell. (1994). In B. Theaddiction is not caused by any other hidden disease. O'Farrell, T. For treatment to be effective itmust take into account the alcoholic's ability to cope with stressfulsituations. The term primary means that alcoholism is not a symptom of anotherunderlying disease. 5) an ever greater amount of time is spent in obtaining alcohol, using and recovering from the use of alcohol. Child welfare agencies can be an effective means to force analcoholic into treatment. 21). If the treatment fails thelevel of violence within the family resumes. Alcoholism has been classified as a disease by the Joint Committee toStudy the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism. 181). (Morse & Flavin, 1994, p. The person mayhave difficulty performing cognitive tasks with or without alcohol (Blum &Payne, 1994, p. Theterm alcoholism has been used over the years for a conglomeration ofsymptoms and behaviors in an imprecise manner. It begins to deteriorate. 4th ed. When theliver is scarred, the blood flow through the liver is impeded; its abilityto detoxify alcohol is impaired and, the liver's ability to synthesizeprotein needed for the body is reduced (Blum & Payne, 1994, p. 7) the use of alcohol continues even when the person knows that alcohol is harming himself or herself (DSM-IV-R, 1994, p. Alcoholism is a disease in and of itself. As a disease,alcoholism is involuntary. Alcohol abuse (A1) occurs when any one of the following occur duringa 12 month period: 1) recurrent failure to fulfil major occupational obligations. It has been a term which ispoorly understood, vague and often used with moral overtones (Morse &Flavin, 1994, p. The second type of alcoholic,although there is no genetic predisposition toward alcoholism, hasdeveloped the habit of excessive drinking of alcohol as the result ofenvironmental factors (Blum & Payne, 1994, p. 32-33). The DSM-IV-R gives three types of alcohol misuse. (1994). The risk to the childinside and outside of the family increases (Sheridan, 1995, p. If the alcoholic continues to drink heavily,cirrhosis may develop where the liver tissue becomes scarred. The highest andmost destructive category of alcohol misuse is alcohol dependency. In alcoholics with a genetic component, the ability toabstain from alcohol is hampered from birth. Sheridan, M. Alcoholism is a disease which can be controlled and should not beused as an excuse for improper conduct. The alcoholic, having a disease, should not beexcused from his or her behavior, or the consequences of imprudent actions. (1995). 2 ). If thedisease is not stopped, these changes can cause the organs of the body tobecome impaired and damaged to the point where the victim dies (Morse &Flavin, 1994, p. The alcoholic endangers more than himself or herself. 31-32). Alcoholism, if undetected and uncontrolled, is progressive and can befatal. Leone, et al (eds.) Alcoholism. As a parent becomes dependant onalcohol and spends an ever increasing amount of time under the influence,the ability of the parent to take care of the child physically,emotionally, and financially becomes hampered. The thinking of the alcoholic is distorted. Marital violence beforeand after alcohol treatment. Over 5 percent of allcases handled by child welfare departments have a parent with a substanceabuse problem (Sheridan, 1995, p. The alcoholic is able to control his orher behavior just as a diabetic is able to control his or her ingestion ofsugar and must to control the progression of the disease. Journal of Consulting and ClinicalPsychology, 63, 256-262.----------------------- 9 The definition ofalcoholism is not clear in the minds of most people. The warningsigns and symptoms of alcoholism need to be disseminated to the public toprotect both the alcoholic from himself or herself and to allow the publicto intervene to protect the alcoholic's family. In the alcoholic, the liver is usually worked beyond it abilityto function. In other words, a person does not try to becomean alcoholic. The first type has agenetic predisposition toward alcoholism. The alcoholic has impaired control; this does not imply thatthe alcoholic is without any ability to control his or her drinking onlythat it is more difficult for the alcoholic individual to do so compared tothe non-alcoholic person. Washington, D. 526).Marital violence has been shown to decrease when alcohol treatment issuccessful (O'Farrell & Murphy, 1995, p. 22). Alarger number of individuals, with alcoholism, attempt suicide than in thenormal population (Blum & Payne, 1994, p. Hepatitis causesthe liver cells to dies. The pharmacological effect of alcohol on the alcoholic's brainand memory, the influence of euphoric recall on the alcoholic's perceptionand insight, the alcoholic's ability to use suppression and repression asdefence mechanisms, and the social and cultural enabling behavior of thepeople around the alcoholic all contribute to the alcoholic's self-denialof his or her problem with consumption of alcoholic beverages (Morse &Flavin, 1994, p. 262). 2) withdrawal symptoms, chills, sweats, nausea. 2 ). The alcoholic, who inherits a predisposition toward alcoholism, alsoexhibits other abnormal signs. Disease and statistical manual of mental disorders. This type of alcoholic has extreme difficulty inmaintaining abstinence from alcohol. Along with the physiological effects caused to the body of thealcoholic, by his or her continued drinking, are the psychological problemsexperienced. The disease, over time, causes physical, emotional, and socialchanges in a person which compound each other and are cumulative. 31). 33). The liver, in a healthy individual, synthesizes proteins from aminoacids, help to metabolize carbohydrates and fats, detoxifies dangerouscompounds, and metabolizes alcohol. 519). 3) alcohol is used in greater quantities than planned or expected. For the alcoholic, drinking alcohol is still a decision he or she is ableto control. 32). J. Denial of alcohol abuse extends to include a range ofbehaviors and psychological maneuvers that decrease the person's awarenessthat alcohol use is the primary cause of the person's problems not thesolution. 22). The definition of alcoholism states that the alcoholic has"impaired control" over alcohol. The disease is often progressive and fatal. 4) there is a persistent desire to control the use of alcohol. Oneperson might say twice in 12 months is recurrent and another it would takemany repeated occurrences of the same situation before alcohol use would beconsidered the problem. C.: American Psychiatric Association. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. This person has a much easiertime breaking the cycle of dependency on alcohol. & Murphy, C. Uric acid, which maynot be excreted from the body of an alcoholic, can crystalize in variousbody tissues and joints. Catecholamine maybuild up in the body causing excessive perspiration, tremors, fast pulseand continuing bouts of anxiety (Blum & Payne, 1994, p. The ability of thealcoholic to control their disease is influenced by the genetic factor orits absence. 22). 2 ). Morse, R. How often is recurrent? There are two general types of alcoholics. Korsakoff's psychosis may occur leaving thealcoholic with severe memory defects and disoriented (Blum & Payne, 1994,p. San Diego:Greenhaven Press, 18-24. 182). M. Leone, et al (eds.) Alcoholism. The family isalso harmed psychologically and often physically. Workers need to be taught to interview parentsto elicit information regarding alcohol and other drug abuse. Early evidence of this is anincrease in liver fat, a condition known as hepatitis. The disease ismade up of a set of symptoms which are not present in the non-alcoholic.This does not excuse the alcoholic from the consequences of his or heractions, both legal and social. Alcoholism often causes nutritional deficiencies as it progresses.Nutritional deficiencies can be the cause of the alcoholic's loss ofsensation in his or her legs, ankles, feet and sometimes arms and hands.Wernicke's syndrome may develop and bring additional problems with vision,and mental confusion. There is evidence that their brain wavespatterns and chemistry is not consistent with the norm. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.