Alcohol Addiction, Alcoholism Rehab & Alcoholism Treatment
Alcohol is available in many different forms, including beer, wine and liquor. It is a depressant, which slows your body down making it difficult to think clearly. Ethanol alcohol, also referred to as ETOH for its chemical composition, is the form that is ingested orally by humans. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, interfering with communication between brain cells.
Effects of Alcohol and Why Treatment for Alcoholism is Important
Alcohol affects every organ in the body. It is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream and is metabolized in the liver by enzymes. The liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed. Users can suffer from alcohol poisoning, which is a direct result of binge drinking and can lead to a coma and even death.
Lasting/Long-Term Effects
Long-term alcohol abuse allows the liver to become more efficient at removing alcohol from the bloodstream, causing the addict to consume larger quantities in order to reach the same effects. Excessive drinking, both in the form of long-term heavy drinking and in the form of binge drinking, is associated with numerous health problems, which include the following: Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells) and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) are common, as well as various cancers including liver, mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus. High blood pressure is also an effect of prolonged drinking, as are psychological disorders. Alcohol can also lead to unintentional injuries, such as car accidents, falls, drowning, firearms injuries and more. It can also contribute to violent behavior, homicide and suicide. Habitual alcohol consumption can lead to alcohol dependence and addiction.
