The Alcoholic

Most alcohol-related problems are due to alcohol abuse rather than alcoholism, according to a study that was published in an issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Binge drinking is especially likely to have negative consequences. The definition of binge drinking is consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women.

There are many problems that can arise from drinking alcohol excessively, such as acts of violence, accidental injuries, and numerous types of health conditions. Most people associate these problems with individuals who suffer from the disease of alcoholism. That perception is not entirely accurate. People with an addiction certainly deal with these risks in their lives. However, there are more cases of alcohol abuse in the United States than alcoholism. For this reason, most alcohol-related problems happen as a result of excessive drinking habits that aren’t severe enough to meet the guidelines for alcoholism.

The types of excessive drinking that were defined in the study include driving while under the influence of alcohol, binge drinking, alcoholism, and heavy drinking. In New Mexico, the state where the data came from, it was determined that 16.5 percent of the individuals looked at in the study drank too much, yet less than 2 percent met the criteria for having an alcohol addiction.

The important thing to take away from this research is that drinking excessively creates risks in one’s life, whether the individual actually has an addiction to alcohol or not. Alcohol abuse and binge drinking can be very detrimental to a person’s health and lifestyle. Most treatment programs seem to focus on addiction because it is the people with very severe problems who usually seek help. However, individuals who deal with alcohol abuse can benefit from different types of rehab programs, as well. Efforts should be made to prevent and treat alcohol abuse and binge drinking, along with alcoholism.

Posted in: Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction, Alcoholism, alcohol