Social Drinking May Lead to Abuse
Most adults can drink moderate amounts of alcohol up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women
However, certain individuals should not drink at all. They include:
- Recovering alcoholics.
- Anyone suffering with a psychological condition, just a few examples of which are extreme distress, depression, anxiety disorders or personality disorders.
- People who plan to drive or engage in other activities requiring alertness and skill.
- People taking certain medications, including some over-the-counter medications.
- People with medical conditions that can be worsened by drinking.
- Any woman who is pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.
- Older people, for a variety of health reasons
Alcohol use and abuse is associated with serious medical illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular problems, liver cirrhosis, stroke, hypertension, and brain damage. There is also extensive evidence indicating that alcohol dependence elevates the risk for depression as well as all types of anxiety and personality disorders.
Studies show that nearly all alcoholics who try to merely cut down on drinking are unable to do so indefinitely. Instead, receiving the necessary professional support for cutting out alcohol (that is, abstaining) is nearly always necessary for successful recovery. And anyone--moderate drinkers included--who finds it difficult to stay within their drinking limit should consider seeking professional care before what seems like a small problem becomes a serious one.
Alcoholism is a treatable disease through treatment plans of therapy, medication, or a combination of both, but a cure has not yet been found. This means that if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time and has regained health, he or she may relapse and so must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages and ensure professional mental health care help is always readily available to provide any necessary professional support.
Treatment outcomes for alcoholism compare favorably with outcomes for many other chronic medical conditions. The longer an individual abstains from alcohol, the more likely they are to remain sober. Ongoing support from mental health professionals, family members and others are extremely significant to recovery. It is important to remember that many people relapse once or even several times before achieving long-term sobriety. Relapses are common and do not mean that a person has failed or cannot eventually recover from alcoholism. If a relapse occurs, it is crucial to once again stop drinking and to get whatever professional help is needed to continue abstaining from alcohol.
To find out more about how you can get alcohol treatment, please call: 866-323-5605.
Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
