Edited by Dr. Sarah Beggiato
Treatment
Treatment for alcohol use disorders has long relied on the almost exclusive support of support groups, such as the one born in 1935 by alcoholics anonymous. Today, alcoholism can be treated using a variety of drugs, alone or in combination with behavioral therapies.
Technology, such as email and the internet, has provided new strategies for diagnosing and treating individuals suffering from alcohol-related disorders. Furthermore, science continues to develop new types of therapy that can help anyone who wants to change their drinking habits.
For further information: Drugs for the Treatment of "Alcoholism"
Special populations and concomitant disorders
The so-called "special" populations include individuals sharing characteristics - such as age or sex - that expose them to additional risks, compared to the average, if they drink alcohol. Special populations include:
- young minors
- young people attending university
- Senior citizens
- women
- racial and ethnic minorities
Concomitant disorders refer to particular problems that often plague people who also have problems with alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse. These disorders can include psychiatric problems, such as anxiety and depression, drug abuse, or other illnesses such as HIV / AIDS.
Drinking below the legal minimum age
Unfortunately, drinking alcohol attracts many young people in adolescence or a little older. When children first experience alcohol, they are often unaware of the harmful effects alcohol can have. In addition to being illegal, drinking among minors is a widespread public health problem, which carries many risks, both for the individual and for the community.
Alcohol among minors is on the rise, the average age at which it is usually consumed ranges from 12 to 20 years. Often these children drink a lot, albeit to a lesser extent than adults; however, when they drink, they carry out the so-called bingedrinking, that is, drinking an average of five drinks.
The risks of drinking alcohol below the legal minimum age include: death due to accidents, homicides, suicides, alcohol poisoning and other harm that young minors may face. Obviously, the altered judgment that occurs must also be taken into account. following the effect of alcohol, which must be considered in an individual who is not yet an adult. Finally, the harmful effects on the brain must also be evaluated.
Is it possible to recognize some signs in a minor who drinks?
Anyone interacting with young teens should pay close attention to warning signs that may indicate that the child is using alcohol. Some of these signs include:
- school and / or behavioral problems
- change in the group of friends he attends
- little interest in activities and appearance
- smell of alcohol in their breath
- speech difficulties
- coordination problems
- memory and / or concentration problems
Alcohol among women
The pattern of alcohol consumption among women differs from that of men, especially when it comes to how and how often they drink. Women's bodies react differently to alcohol than men's bodies. This means that women are at particular health risk when they abuse alcohol. It was noted that:
- alcohol-related problems in women start earlier than in men. The reasons lie in the fact that women generally weigh less than men and have less water in their body (alcohol dissolves in body water);
- female drinkers are more likely to develop liver inflammation and heart disease;
- female drinkers have a high risk of developing breast cancer;
- finally, in women there are risks related to alcohol abuse during pregnancy.
Alcohol in the elderly
A 2008 study showed that 40% of people over 65 drink alcohol. Seniors who drink can face a variety of problems, especially if they use medicines, have health problems and drink heavily.
Several parameters need to be considered when evaluating the problem of drinking among older people. One of these is the "increased sensitivity to" alcohol. Age can in fact lower the tolerance that our body has developed towards alcohol; this means that during old age it is easier to experience the effects of alcohol than when you are younger. This, however, puts your health at risk by making falls, car accidents and unintentional damage due to drinking alcohol.
Furthermore, in the elderly individual, there are often health problems concomitant with the use of alcohol, which can worsen precisely because of too heavy drinking. Among the pathologies that can aggravate in the "elderly drinker we remember:
- diabetes
- hypertension
- congestive heart failure
- liver problems
- osteoporosis
- memory problems
- mood disorders
In addition to this, it must be taken into account that alcohol can interact negatively with the drugs taken by the elderly. For example, many prescription drugs, but also over-the-counter drugs or herbal remedies can be dangerous or even fatal when mixed with alcohol. Preparations that can negatively interact with alcohol include:
- aspirin
- paracetamol
- cough syrup
- sleeping pills
- pain medications
- treatments for anxiety or depression
- allergy treatments
Adults over 65 who are healthy and do not use medicines should NOT drink more than:
- 3 drinks in one day
- 7 drinks in one week
Exceeding these quantities, suggested as the maximum limit by numerous guidelines, puts the individual at risk of serious problems related to alcohol consumption.
If you have health problems or are using certain medications, you should drink even less or not drink at all.
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