Facts about Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol
abuse is a serious problem in the United States and in many
countries throughout the world. Those afflicted with alcoholism
suffer from a variety of problems that negatively impact upon many
aspects of their lives. It is estimated that between 9 to 13
million people suffer from alcohol abuse. The statistics are quite
frightening. Alcohol is responsible for half the annual deaths due
to automobile accidents, and for more than 70% of adolescent
suicides (Landy, 1987).
Over
time, alcohol abuse leads to a variety of serious health problems.
These can include chronic liver disease, decreased sex hormone
production, pancreatitis, kidney disease, and brain damage.
Psychiatric problems include depression, paranoia, and low
self-esteem. It is difficult for individuals with alcohol problems
to be productive and many lose jobs or cannot be successful in
their area of work.
Perhaps
the most devastating effects of chronic alcohol problems are the
social problems which manifest directly from alcoholism: domestic
violence, child abuse, marital conflict, deconstruction of the
family and of community cohesion.
Alcoholism
Defined
There
is a difference between alcoholism and problem drinking.
Alcoholics are both
physically and psychologically dependent, while problem drinkers
are psychologically dependent.
The
physiological dependency can be seen in the high tolerance that
drinkers develop - that is, the need to drink more and more to
obtain the same effects. Research has shown that over time (with
regular alcohol use) the body adjusts to having the chemical in
its system. The body then becomes “normal” only with alcohol.
The alcohol is required for basic functioning, and many alcoholics
need a drink in the morning just to get out of bed.
The
physical nature of alcoholism is also seen in compulsive behaviors
(the inability to stop drinking once started). This is what is
referred to as the “out of control” behaviors of the
alcoholic.
One
of the psychological aspects of dependency is the obsessive
thoughts about drinking. Another is the use of alcohol to relieve
tension and anxiety. Typically the heavy drinker has difficulty
coping with negative feelings and discovers that alcohol relieves
worry and distress. A pattern of drinking to ease daily tension
and life problems escalates leading ultimately to physiological
dependence. In this way, the problem drinker becomes an alcoholic.
Alcoholism
and Black Women
Those
at risk for developing alcohol addiction are individuals who
experience a lot of stress in their lives, have difficulty coping,
have easy access to alcohol, and are encouraged to drink by their
social environment. Alcoholism is especially likely when
individuals grow up with one or more alcoholic parents.
White
men have among the highest rates of alcoholism in the U.S. Black males experience less alcoholism than White males,
but still have rates high enough to be of concern (15% in 1984 and
1995 surveys). Black women have a much lower rate (5% in both
surveys) which is equal to White women (Caetano & Clark,
1998).
While
the rates of alcoholism are relatively low amongst Black women,
they do face the
challenge of coping
with the alcoholism of their male spouses. It is suggested that
they may be affected by “codependency”, the tendency of family
members to protect the alcoholic and take on alcoholic-like
characteristics, such as denial, blaming, and rationalizing
dysfunctional behaviors.
Black
women must also be aware of some of the stresses and sources of
depression unique to them which contribute to turning to alcohol
as a coping mechanism. Causal factors of stress and depression for
Black women often cited are racism, sexual exploitation,
alienation from traditional African and African American values
(such as spirituality and community), and increasingly poor
relationships between Black women and men.
Could
You Be in Danger of Alcoholism?
If
you or someone you know is questioning whether drinking habits are
a problem, then it will be worthwhile to complete the test found
below. How you answer the questions may give you the answers you
seek.
Directions:
Please take a few minutes to respond to the following questions by
answering “yes” or “no.
|
Yes |
No
|
|
| ___ |
___ |
1.
Do you occasionally drink heavily after a disappointment, a
quarrel, or when the boss gives you a hard time? |
| ___ |
___ |
2.
When you have trouble or feel under pressure, do you always
drink more heavily than usual? |
| ___ |
___ |
3.
Have you noticed that you are able to handle more liquor
than you did when you were first drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
4.
Did you ever wake up on the “morning after” and discover
that you could not remember part of the evening before, even
though your friends tell you that you did not “pass
out?” |
| ___ |
___ |
5.
When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few
extra drinks when others will not know it? |
| ___ |
___ |
6.
Are there certain occasions when you feel uncomfortable if
alcohol is not available? |
| ___ |
___ |
7.
Have you recently noticed that when you begin drinking you
are in more of a hurry to get the first drink than you used
to be? |
| ___ |
___ |
8.
Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
9.
Are you secretly irritated when your family or friends
discuss your drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
10.
Have you recently noticed an increase in the frequency of
your memory “blackouts?” |
| ___ |
___ |
11.
Do you often find that you wish to continue drinking after
your friends say that they have had enough? |
| ___ |
___ |
12.
Do you have a reason for the occasions when you drink heavy? |
| ___ |
___ |
13.
When you are sober, do you often regret things that you have
done or said while drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
14.
Have you tried switching brands or* following different
plans for controlling your drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
15.
Have you often failed to keep the promises that you have
made to yourself about controlling or cutting down your
drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
16.
Have you ever tried to control your drinking by making a
change in jobs, or moving to a new location? |
| ___ |
___ |
17.
Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are
drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
18.
Are you having an increasing number of financial and work
problems? |
| ___ |
___ |
19.
Do more people seem to be treating you unfairly without good
reason? |
| ___ |
___ |
20.
Do you eat very little or irregularly when you are drinking? |
| ___ |
___ |
21.
Do you sometimes have the “shakes” in the morning and
find that it helps to have a little drink? |
| ___ |
___ |
22.
Have you recently noticed that you cannot drink as much as
you once did? |
| ___ |
___ |
23.
Do you sometimes stay drunk for several days at a time? |
| ___ |
___ |
24.
Do you sometimes feel very depressed and wonder whether life
is worth living? |
| ___ |
___ |
25.
Sometimes after periods of drinking, do you see or hear
things that are not there? |
| ___ |
___ |
26.
Do you get terribly frightened after you have been drinking
heavily? |
Scoring:
Those who answer yes to any of these questions may have some
symptoms of alcoholism and should seek help. Yes answers to
several of the questions indicate these stages of alcoholism:
Questions
1-8:
early stage
Questions
9-21:
middle stage
Questions
22-26: beginning
of the final stage.
_________________
Source:
From the brochure, What are
the Signs of Alcoholism?
Published by the National Council of Alcoholism.
Seeking
Help
Treating
the alcoholic woman requires an understanding of the complex
nature of her problem. For one thing, alcoholics are in need
psychological healing. This includes developing a better
self-understanding, increased “emotion regulation” skills, and
improved impulse control. Given the obstacles every African
American woman must face, adequate coping skills are critical for
prevention of alcohol problems. Positive social supports are
needed as well.
Because
the alcoholic often compromises her principles and morals due to
her compulsive behavior, she can feel spiritually empty. The
alcoholic drinker experiences feelings of guilt and shame due to
her inability to keep promises to herself (and others) not to
drink. In addition,
because she has used alcohol to escape negative emotions, she may
have failed to learn how to be responsible and may be emotionally
immature. Most alcoholics tend to be in denial of their problem
and blame and manipulate others to maintain their lifestyle and
avoid consequences of their drinking.
Treatment
Treatment
must be complex to met the challenges of healing the alcoholic,
including breaking through denial and building a vision of a
healthier lifestyle. There are many professional treatments for
alcoholism. Individual therapy or inpatient treatment are the
typical methods of healing. These make a logical first step
because of the benefit of being in a controlled environment safe
from temptations to drink. Treatment programs that focus on the
unique needs of African Americans do exist (though rare).
Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), a twelve-step support group, is not
professional-based, but has a very good success rate for healing
the alcoholic who is motivated to change. One caveat for African
American women who participate in A.A. is that its emphasis on
“accepting powerlessness” may lack the empowering effect it
has for others. For Black women who typically do not feel powerful
in U.S. society “Surrendering” to the idea of being an
alcoholic may be a more appropriate attitude.
Healing
begins with admitting that drinking is out of control and
recognizing the destructive consequences of drinking on the self
and on others. The next step is to contact A.A. or a substance
abuse treatment facility in your community. The road to recovery
for African American women often leads not only to the ability to
abstain from drinking, but to a new found sense of spirituality
and increased self-awareness and self-esteem.
References
-
Caetano
R. & Clark L. (1998). Trends in alcohol-related problems
among whites, blacks, and Hispanics: 1984-1995. Alcoholism:
Clinical and Experimental Research 22(2): 534-538.
-
Landy,
F.J. (1987). Psychology: The science of people (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall
Additional
Resources:
-
Alcoholics
Anonymous: www.aa.org
-
National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence: www.ncadd.org
-
24
hour referral line:
1-800-NCA-CALL
George
Leary, M.S.
Utah Alcoholism Foundation
Salt Lake City, Utah
George Leary has a masters degree in clinical child psychology and is a graduate student in community psychology at University of Maryland in Baltimore County. His special interest is preventing negative mental health outcomes for African American children and developing their optimal mental well being. George is a member of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) and recently received the Student Scholarship award from that organization.
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