For several years alcohol addiction research has demonstrated the fact that there is strong correlation between alcohol addiction and serious health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.

For instance, in 2005, scientific exploration and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics revealed that alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the United States an estimated $220 billion per year. It can be emphasized that this massive alcohol-related cost was substantially more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is pertinent to put emphasis on these facts, it is also noteworthy to point out that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health conditions.

More explicitly, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction are also highly associated with obesity and with cancer.

Indeed, substance abuse research has shown that alcoholism can amplify the risk for various kinds of cancer, particularly cancer of the kidneys, rectum, colon, voice box (larynx), esophagus, throat, and the liver. Abusive and repetitive drinking can also result in immune system difficulties and damage to the fetus during pregnancy.

Abusive and Heavy Drinking Weakens the Problem Drinker’s Systems and Organs

Furthermore, if alcoholism continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will likely be affected in an unhealthy manner. For instance, repeated, hazardous drinking is particularly hurtful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Excessive amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and destroys the ability of liver cells to reproduce. This medical circumstance leads to a progressive inflammatory malfunction of the liver that can at the end of the day lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a critical and possibly lethal disease. Heavy, long-term drinking not only can result in dangerous liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this serious may be irreversible and may, in turn, lead to serious ill health or premature death.

The Importance of Alcohol Rehab

It is essential, consequently, to know how to recognize the different alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol dependent person can be given the opportunity to seek the professional alcohol therapy he or she requires.

Alcohol Dependency and Sophisticated Brain Exploration

Fortunately, scientific investigation is relentlessly unearthing novel and important information. Recent alcoholism research supplies a high-quality illustration. More to the point, for approximately the past ten years, technologically advanced brain-imaging scanning instruments have demonstrated that continuous and long-term excessive drinking alters the makeup of the brain to a significant extent, consequently resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or maybe as long as the person lives.

More correctly, medical exploration has shown that people who have been drinking in a hazardous manner for a substantial length of time increase their risk for developing permanent and substantial transformations in the brain.

This type of damage may be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health or directly related to the alcohol’s effects on the brain or to severe liver disease.

Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Excessive Drinking

As a final example of diverse medical conditions that are substantially correlated to alcohol dependency, take into account the fact that according to scientific research, the abusive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a health problem that diminishes the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

This kind of organ breakdown is associated with malnutrition and to a number of acute neurological and mental problems including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical condition is a long-term debilitating condition that is characterized by persistent learning and memory complications.

Abusive and Excessive Drinking Also Results in Relationship and Friendship Issues

In addition to major medical problems, hazardous and abusive drinking also results in relationship and friendship problems. For instance, people who involve themselves in excessive drinking frequently go through marital difficulties, divorce, sexuality issues, and affairs.

Summary: The Relevance of Education

It is clear that continued, excessive drinking is directly or indirectly associated with a number of severe medical conditions that can and do lead to dangerous illness and premature death. Such information needs to be underlined and presented to everyone in our society, especially to all students, so that most individuals will be able to refrain from excessive drinking while others who have a drinking problem will get the professional rehabilitation they require.

Let us look at this sensibly. Yes, alcohol treatment is significant, but alcohol treatment is something that is often done AFTER the fact. Education, then again, is something that is done BEFORE the problem becomes obvious. Stated differently, whereas alcohol rehab is “reactive,” education is “proactive.” It is stated that both approaches are needed when discussing alcohol abuse and alcoholism.