Alcohol Addiction

The NHS has found that around one in every thirteen adult Britons is addicted to a substance that is perfectly legal and a taken-for-granted part of everyday life for many people. This substance is alcohol and it is extremely addictive. The vast majority of people in the UK will never have a problem with alcohol beyond the odd hangover. By most people it is enjoyed on special occasions or with friends in moderation.

But alcoholism has the potential to affect anyone and the effects are often devastating. More than twenty thousand people in Britain are thought to die a premature death every year because of their addiction to alcohol.

Alcohol comes in many forms, as a visit to your local pub or supermarket will demonstrate. From beer, cider and alcopops which have a lower percentage of alcohol for their volume, through wines and fortified wines to spirits, the differences between these drinks can be a source of confusion. How much is too much beer compared with too much wine?

Try to think in terms of the units of alcohol that are contained within one measure of each type of drink. Medical experts have found that men ought not to be drinking more than twenty one units a week and women should not exceed fourteen. On a day to day basis, men shouldn't consume more than three or four units and women two or three units. Of course everybody is different and alcohol affects us all in different ways but it is worth bearing in mind that a pint of premium lager contains about three units, as does a glass of wine. One measure of a spirit, such as gin or vodka, equates to one unit.

Exceeding these limits puts you at great risk from suffering from the ill effects of drinking and becoming addicted. You ought to be aware of the signs of alcohol addiction so that you can nip it in the bud if it is happening to you:

• Feeling that you need a drink and making excuses for having a drink at an inappropriate time of the day, eg. 'had a tough day at work'.
• Having a drink first thing in the morning might be a sign that you are becoming addicted.
• Finding that you need to drink more and more just to get the same effect as you are used to means that your tolerance is building up and you might be becoming reliant on it.
• Alcohol is a depressant, so over consumption might lead to general feelings of depression which can start to affect your life as a whole and lead to detrimental experiences at work and at home.
• If you find that you are lying to your peers about the amount that you drink even though they are concerned about you, it might be time to take a look at your drinking patterns and seek advice.

Alcohol addiction can be especially hard to beat because of its prevalence in everyday life; alcoholics often speak of the torment they face at the endless temptation. But if you have a problem it is worth dealing with it because of the negative effects that an over use of alcohol can have on your health. It is a leading cause of heart disease and several different types of cancer and leads to many people passing away before their time. Those who are heavily addicted to alcohol face an added problem when trying to beat their addiction: seizures that can occur because the body is so reliant on alcohol. Treatment is often required to ensure that alcoholics who stop drinking are able to do so without putting their bodies at further risk and Librium – a benzodiazepine and a type of tranquiliser – can be prescribed.

If you think you have a problem with alcohol because you are becoming dependent on it, seek help immediately. Your GP will be able to give you excellent advice about what to do and Alcoholics Anonymous is a respected and established body with tried and tested practices to help those addicted to alcohol beat the habit.