The overconsumption of alcohol causes a range of problems, especially when this is connected to over-dependency. Alcohol use disorder is a serious problem in society; it is characterized by uncontrolled and compulsive drinking, and it encompasses a range of conditions including alcohol abuse, dependence and binge drinking. The root causes are considered to be a combination of the psychological and the biochemical.
This form of abuse may coincide with other forms of drug addiction, such as the consumption of cannabis related products. This can lead to serious health risks such as heart disease and high alcohol intake is also known to increase stroke risk.
Alcohol dependency can lead to a break-up of family life and managing addiction treatment and the dependency that individuals develop is important, according to a research brief from Diamond Recovery. One area of research has examined alcohol consumption with expectant mothers (especially the complexities leading to foetal brain development) and poor health outcomes at birth, in particular alterations in the shape of children’s faces and the amount of alcohol their mothers drank.
About 29.5 million people in the U.S. meet the criteria for alcohol abuse disorder. This encompasses the conditions known as alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction.
It is of societal concern that fewer than 10 percent of people with the psychological disorder seek any treatment. Moreover, an even smaller number are prescribed medication to treat alcohol use disorder.
For example, one research stream found that the amount of alcohol people drank impacted the total number of consequences they experienced. As drinking increased, so do the consequences. These include: blacking out, being hung over, or missing work or school.
Psychological treatments include:
- Discussing the possible serious consequences of drinking.
- Showing care and support to addicts.
- Discussing approaches to decision-making when confronted with possible drinking scenarios.
- Brainstorming strategies for not drinking to the point where addicts are putting themselves at greater risk.
- Maintaining an open dialogue about drinking with those in therapy.
In addition, there may be a biochemical basis. Researchers have also identified that the immune system may play a role with alcohol use disorder, centred around the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. In a different area of inquiry, researchers discovered that FKBP5, a protein found in the brain, plays a role in both disorders. The FKBP5 gene is responsible for lifting the brakes on the brain’s stress response pathways. In addition, research has found that its genetic variants are associated with increased risk of the condition alcohol use dependency.
Another form of treatment may manifest in the form of a ‘hormone shot’. Here a study has shown that a hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) protects mice against ethanol-induced loss of balance and righting reflex. While promising, further research is required.
