Alcoholism is a chronic, progressive, and potentially fatal disease. Once it has developed, the victim loses control over his or her drinking habits, and family and social relationships are greatly disrupted. The cause of alcoholism seems to be the interaction between a possible hereditary predisposition, the effects of ethyl alcohol (the basic ingredient in alcoholic drinks), and the use of alcohol as means of coping with life. There are over 10 million Americans who suffer from alcoholism. Approximately 55 million family members and friends are directly affected by these people. Many health professionals now consider alcoholism to be the largest single medical problem in the U.S.
Question: What are some of the danger signs of alcoholism?
There may be few outward signs during the early stages of alcoholism. The victim may be able to function fairly normally. Some personality changes may be apparent, for example, increasing conflict with family members and an inability to handle stress. Another early symptom is an increase in the amount of alcohol a person needs to drink in order to get the same effect a lesser amount produced in the past. The alcoholic may also experience lapses in memory ("blackouts") and a feeling that a drinking pattern is getting out of control. In the final stages of alcoholism, the victim, while rarely deriving pleasure from alcohol, is unable to go for very long without a drink. One of the prime symptoms of alcoholism, and the symptom that makes the disease so hard to treat, is denial. The alcoholic is unlikely to admit, either to himself or herself or to others, that a problem with alcohol exists. The chronic drinker will probably attribute alcohol-related problems to some other cause. Family members and friends may also deny the problem by looking the other way when destructive behavior is exhibited. This denial can lead to a worsening, physical and mental condition.
Question: What are some of the problems associated with alcoholism?
Alcoholism is physically destructive, giving rise to many other forms of disease, for example, cancer of the liver, esophagus, colon, stomach, and breast. Chronic alcohol abuse can also lead to hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and brain damage. Pancreas and kidney disease, along with a host of other physical disorders-hepatitis, cirrhosis, esophageal bleeding, blood disorders-may also result from alcoholism.
Alcoholism can also trigger a host of personal problems. Alcoholics may become less productive at work and may eventually lose their jobs. Marriages may not endure the strain, and children may suffer emotionally and sometimes physically from a parent who is an alcoholic. An alcoholic abuser may feel a general sense of loss of control over his or her life.
Question: What about alcoholism treatment programs?
In the past, one of the barriers to successful treatment of alcoholics was the social stigma attached to the disease. People were not only reluctant to admit they had an alcohol problem, they were even less likely to risk social embarrassment by seeking help. In recent years the social stigma has greatly relaxed due in large part to the realization by many Americans that alcoholism is a disease like any other, afflicting millions of people of all ages and all walks of life.
Today, many new and innovative treatment techniques are being used to counteract alcoholism. Some alcoholics may benefit from outpatient or inpatient treatment programs. Occasionally, alcoholics may benefit from pharmacological intervention to treat depression or help maintain sobriety. Medical supervision is usually advisable to treat coincidental medical problems. Advancements in biochemistry are being applied to treat patients through nutritional therapy. This means that vitamins can be used to repair the liver and other damaged body parts. Experimental research is underway to try and diagnose early stage alcoholism, and work in being done to unlock the key to hereditary predisposition to alcoholism.
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), has been instrumental in providing the long-term, therapeutic treatment recognized as vital in rehabilitating alcoholics. A.A. is an international fellowship of alcoholics and recovered alcoholics that meets regularly to provide support to members and to share experiences with alcohol. A.A. facilities are listed in local telephone directories, as are numerous self-help support groups that have been set up to help family members of alcoholics.
Educational programs are seen by many as crucial to any satisfactory solution to the problem of alcoholism. Many schools and community organizations have set up programs to alert people (especially young people) to the dangers of alcohol. Legal remedies, like the raising of the drinking age to 21 and the increased enforcement of drunk-driving laws, have also been undertaken in an attempt to limit access to alcohol.
Hospitalization - Admission Procedures
The procedures you follow on admission to a hospital vary from one hospital to another, but basically the process is the same in most institutions in the United States.
Care of the Dying - Role of Friends
The friend can show appreciation of the work being done by the family and offer to stay with the patient if the family needs a little time away from home.
Care of the Dying - Death of an Older Child or an Adolescent
From the age of three years onward, a child begins to understand the concept of death and dying. The dying child feels protective toward his or her parents. Although the child desperately needs to talk about what is going to happen, he or she may never get close to the subject. The child may attach himself or herself to a nurse or physician while still relying on the parents. By doing this, the child is sharing the emotional responsibility. The parents may find this difficult to accept, but must realize that someone else can perhaps give more help by listening dispassionately to the child's fears and anxieties.
