Alcoholism

Definition: Habitual intoxication; prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks leading to a breakdown in health and an addiction to alcohol such that abrupt deprivation leads to severe withdrawal symptoms.

“For art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic activity or perception to exist, a certain physiological precondition is indispensable: intoxication.”
- Friedrich Nietzsche, Father of Existentialism.

“A man who exposes himself when he is intoxicated, has not the art of getting drunk.”
- Samuel Johnson, British author.

The big difference between alcoholism and getting constructively drunk is perhaps explained by the above two quotes; however, massively loathed by the majority of the population, alcoholism is generally looked upon as a compulsive urge for the consumption of alcohol. Though terms are galore, such as misuse, heavy use, addiction, abuse and dependence, but all of them convey a different meaning which, at times, are non-standard as well.

According to William James (1842-1910), the American philosopher and psychologist, “The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts and dry criticisms of the sober hour. Sobriety diminishes, discriminates, and says no; drunkenness expands, unites, and says yes”; but lighter part aside, alcoholism, in today’s world, is a growing problem that often leads to serious and heinous crime. And though people often quote Sir Winston Churchill by saying - “I have been brought up and trained to have the utmost contempt for people who get drunk”, very few could express themselves the other way round – “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.” This, perhaps, explains why and what alcoholism is.

According to some, alcoholism is a biological disease; though the etiology and nature of alcoholism are currently the subjects of many a heated argument within the medical and scientific circles, people generally agree upon one point - the topic is a controversial one and has quite a few sides to the story, where psychological, physiological and neuro-chemical dependencies stand out as the opening chapters.

Psychological dependence arises from certain misconceptions; a person usually starts believing that there are certain benefits to enjoy from the use of the substance. This is inclusive of feeling more adept (socially) or gaining that magical power for handling stress more efficiently while under the influence of alcohol. Physical dependence, on the other hand, re-moulds the biological systems; unless there is a continued presence of alcohol, the system retaliates. This is dangerous, since the human body is adept in fighting external factors up to quite an extent, it gradually demands higher doses to maintain an equivalent effect; else it initiates reverse imbalances. The most dangerous being the neuro-chemical addiction, it involves the existing learning mechanisms to malfunction; for convincing the system about the absolute necessity of an addictive, it starts denying all the deadly evidences. Endorphin being the triggering factor, alcohol influences its generation in the body to give rise to a pseudo-euphoric effect. And being euphoric is the birth right of any organism. Alcoholism is thus both progressive and fatal. Diagnosis of alcoholism, though, is not a very difficult part, since the compulsive urge for the consumption of any sort of alcoholic beverage can be noted easily; distorted thought patterns and preoccupation with alcohol, either continuous or periodic, is also a clear indication of alcoholism.

Alcoholism, both in the form of abuse and dependence, is a major issue worldwide. Apart from speeding premature death rates (since internal organs like the liver, pancreas and kidneys are often subjected to damage), alcoholism is also a major factor to initiate internal hemorrhages, brain deterioration, alcohol poisoning and suicide. Alcoholism in women often leads to foetal alcohol syndrome, while in youngsters; it is the primary cause for head injuries, motor vehicle accidents, violence and assaults, neurological and other medical problems.

One of the reasons that forces the young adults to get into alcoholism are the false ideas portrayed by films; though characters like the town drunks are often good sources for laughter, but certain films like Days of Wine and Roses, My Name is Bill W, Leaving Las Vegas or Barfly often creates misconceptions through the ‘genial’ imagery they portray on the young minds.

A few of the side effects of alcoholism are:

• Death
• Pancreatitis
• Cardiac diseases
• Polyneuropathy
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Depression, insomnia, anxiety and suicide
• Carcinoma
• Nutritional deficiency and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
• Personality disorders
• Significant damage to occupational, social and interpersonal areas
• Sexual dysfunction
• Gait Ataxia or Brain damage.

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