BLOG POST 18: The ALCOHOL USE DISORDER (AUD)

ALCOHOL USE DISORDER (AUD) is a long-term state of mind in which patients cannot stop or control their alcohol drinking addiction even at the cost of their social lives, their jobs, or their health getting affected.
 

When repeated drinking results in serious consequences, the patient becomes a victim of ALCOHOL USE DISORDER. It also includes Alcohol Dependency, which causes the patient to lose control over drinking. In spite of realising that Alcohol Addiction can be the cause the problems, it becomes difficult to get rid of the problem. Even to enjoy being in the drunk state of mind or to run away from those problems, patients prefer to drink alcohol again or experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit alcohol.

 

Use of Unhealthy Alcohol includes the use of alcohol which endangers patient’s health or safety or causes other alcohol related problems. It also includes a binge drinking pattern - in which a person consumes five or more drinks within two hours or a woman drinks at least four drinks within two hours.
 
If the patient's drinking pattern makes him / her feel lighter and release their stress levels, their crisis and problems related to day-to-day of daily, then it is important to know that patient is becoming a victim of Alcohol Dependency. And this dependency can start from mild level and end up being severe. Therefore, early treatment is important.
 
Symptoms:
Depending on the symptoms experienced by the patient, the alcohol dependency disorder can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. Its category can be understood by some of the following symptoms:

• Unable to limit the amount of alcohol consumption by the patient.
• Patients try to attempt cutting down the number of drinks but cannot.
• Keep drinking for too long.
• Intense craving or urge to drink alcohol.
• Failed to fulfil key responsibilities at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use.
• While continuing to drink alcohol, the patient knows that it is the cause of physical, social or interpersonal problems.
• To reduce or give-up social and favourite activities and hobbies.
• Consumption of alcohol, in situations such as driving or swimming, where doing so can be dangerous and fatal.
• Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, and tremor are experienced when patients try to quit alcohol. Patients try or opt to drink alcohol again to avoid these symptoms. 

Diseases such as Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal Symptoms may also be associated with the ALCOHOL USE DISORDER.

ALCOHOL INTOXICATION:
As a result of alcohol intoxication, the amount of alcohol increases in the patient's blood flow. The higher the amount of alcohol in the blood, the more vulnerable the patients become. Alcohol intoxication leads to behaviour problems and mental changes. These may include inappropriate behaviour, unstable mind set, impaired judgment, abusive behaviour, impaired attention or memory, and poor coordination. The patient may have a disease called "Memory Blackouts", where they do not remember their own life related incidents & events. Increased blood alcohol levels can lead to coma or even death.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS:

The patient may experience Withdrawal Symptoms when the alcohol has been consumed heavily and for a long time, and then has been discontinued or greatly reduced. This can be from several hours to four or five days later. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, trembling hands, sleepiness, nauseatic feeling and vomiting, hallucinations, restlessness and distraction, anxiety, and occasional seizures. Symptoms can be severe enough to inhibit a patient's ability to work in a work place or social situations.
 
When does it become necessary to see a doctor:
Consulting a doctor becomes necessary, if the patient feels that they sometimes drink too much alcohol, or are having problems with their drinking, or their family is worried about their drinking. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group.
 
Because denial is common, patients may not accept that they are patients of Alcohol Use Disorder. They cannot identify how much they drink or how many problems in their life are related to alcohol use. That is why it is necessary for such patients to listen to the advice of their relatives, friends or colleagues to check or seek help. An intervention from loved ones can help the patient identify and accept the fact. One can also seek help from someone who has got rid of the habit of drinking alcohol in an effortful way before.
 
Reasons for Alcohol Use Disorder:
Genetic, Psychological, Social and Environmental things can also attribute to the effect on the body and behaviour of the patient. Over time, drinking too much alcohol can change the normal function of the patient's brain regions associated with the experience of pleasure, judgment and the ability to control the patient's behaviour. Alcohol can create confusion in the patient's mind to bring back good feelings or reduce negative thoughts and stress.
 
Some risky things related to Alcohol Use Disorder:

Social and Cultural impact: Friends or close partners who drink regularly may increase the risk of ALCOHOL USE DISORDER. Sometimes, the glamorous way in which the alcohol is projected in the media, it can impose that there is no harm in drinking. So it has been made mandatory to put a a disclaimer mentioning "Alcohol Drinking Is Injurious To Health".For young people, even the influence of parents, peers and other role models can increase the risk of Alcohol Consumption.

Starting to drink at an early age: People who start drinking - especially binge drinking at an early age - are at greater risk of having an Alcohol Use Disorder.

Family History: For those who have parents or other close relatives who have alcohol drinking problems, the risk of ALCOHOL USE DISORDERis higher. It can be influenced by genetic factors.

Problems associated with Depression and other mental disorders: It is common for people with a mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder to have problems with alcohol or other substances.

History of major trauma in life: People with a history of emotional or other trauma have an increased risk of alcohol use disorder.

Drinking over time: Drinking too much or binge drinking for an extended period of time can cause alcohol-related problems or ALCOHOL USE DISORDER.

Effects on personal safety due to Alcohol Use Disorder:

• Domestic Violence.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can affect a patient's decision skills, work capacity, thought process, leading to wrong choices or behaviours related to life.
• Motor vehicle accidents and other types of accidental injuries, such as drowning in water.
• Relationship problems.
• Poor performance in office or workplace.
• The likelihood of committing a violent crime or being a victim of a crime increases.
• Legal problems associated with employment, economic status.
• Risky, unprotected sex, or experiencing sexual abuse or date rape.
• Attempted suicide or increased risk of succeeding.

Health consequences due to Alcohol Use Disorder:
Drinking too much alcohol continuously  or over time can cause health problems, including:
 

Liver Cirrhosis: Heavy drinking can lead to inflammation or swelling of the liver and, over time, may lead to irreversible destruction and impacts of liver cirrhosis.

Digestion complaint: Heavy drinking can cause inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), as well as stomach and oesophagus ulcers. It can also interfere with the decline of B vitamins and other nutrients. Drinking a large amount of alcohol can cause damage to the patient's Pancreas due to inflammation.

Heart problems: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure and may lead to an increased risk of heart failure or stroke

.
Complications of Diabetes: Alcohol interferes with the release of glucose from the patient's liver and may increase the risk of low blood sugar (Hypoglycaemia). This is dangerous if the patient has diabetes and patients are already taking insulin to lower the blood sugar level.

Sex related issues in men and menstrual cycle issues in women: Excessive drinking can cause sexual dysfunction in men and can disrupt the menstrual cycle of women.

Eye problems: Over time, heavy drinking may damage eye movements as well as weakening of the patient's eye muscles due to vitamin B-1 deficiency. Vitamin B-1 deficiency can also cause paralysis

Birth defects: Alcohol use during pregnancy may cause miscarriage. It may also be the cause of the ALCOHOL SYNDROME in the unborn child, which can result in physical and developmental problems in children throughout their lifespan after birth.

Bone Damage: Alcohol can interfere with the production of new bone. This may lead calcium deficiency in the bones, which is known as Osteoporosis or due to the weakness in the bones, there may be an increased risk of early fracture. Alcohol can also damage bone marrow, which creates blood cells. This can cause a low platelet count, resulting in wounds and bleeding.

Neurological Complications: Excessive drinking can affect a patient's nervous system, causing numbness and pain in their hands and feet, irrational thinking, dementia, and short -term memory loss.

Weak Immune System:Excessive alcohol use can make it harder for the patient's body to resist the disease, increasing the risk of various diseases, especially Neumonia.

Risk of Cancer:Long-term, excessive alcohol use has been associated with a higher risk of several types of cancer, including mouth, throat, liver, and breast cancer. Even moderate drinking may increase the risk of breast cancer.
 

 

Treatment:

Treatment for Alcohol Use Disordermay vary depending on the intensity. Like any other treatment the foremost thing of accepting the ailment is applicable in case of this disorder too. First of all, the patient himself needs to acceptthat he is a victim of  Alcohol Use Disorder. For this it is necessary to accept the ailment and give birth to the ambition to get rid of it. Then family, loved ones, friends, affectionate all these people need to come forward to help the patient. The battle to get rid of Alcohol Use Disorderis as much of the family as that of the patient . Apart from this, patients suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder, can attempt for Individual or Group Counselling, Out Patient Program or get admitted to any Rehabilitation Centre for recovery. To improve the quality of life, working to prevent alcohol use is the most important treatment goal.
 
For blog related suggestions and comments, please select one of the three options:
 
01) Email at koonalblogs@gmail.com
 
02) In the comment box located on the blog, comment as option, just enter your name in the Name / URL.
 
03) In the comment box on the blog, comment as option, select the Anonymous option.
 
Keep reading and sharing the forthcoming blogs to gain information and awareness about different mental ailments. Till then stay safe and healthy, MENTALLY & PHYSICALLY.😊

- (KD Blogs)

✍© Kunal Deshpande.