Alcohol Dependency

Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is a disease that includes four symptoms:

-Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.

-Loss of control: The inability to limit one's drinking on any given occasion.

-Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.

-Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to "get high.

People who are not alcoholic sometimes do not understand why an alcoholic can't just "use a little willpower" to stop drinking. However, alcoholism has little to do with willpower. Alcoholics are in the grip of a powerful "craving," or uncontrollable need, for alcohol that overrides their ability to stop drinking. This need can be as strong as the need for food or water.

Although some people are able to recover from alcoholism without help, the majority of alcoholics need assistance. With treatment and support, many individuals are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives.

Many people wonder why some individuals can use alcohol without problems but others cannot. One important reason has to do with genetics. Scientists have found that having an alcoholic family member makes it more likely that if you choose to drink you too may develop alcoholism. Genes, however, are not the whole story. In fact, scientists now believe that certain factors in a person's environment influence whether a person with a genetic risk for alcoholism ever develops the disease. A person's risk for developing alcoholism can increase based on the person's environment, including where and how he or she lives; family, friends, and culture; peer pressure; and even how easy it is to get alcohol.

These feelings doesn't go away, even when using causes negative consequences. Alcohol dependency is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors that influence its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and often fatal.

Alcohol and drug dependency are progressive diseases. In most people, addictions begin slowly and grow until the victim's life becomes progressively unmanageable. As repeated efforts to gain control over the addiction fail, life for the chemically dependent person begins to fall apart.

Facts: Alcoholism and Alcohol-Related Problems

If it wasn't clear enough to seek alcohol dependency rehab, take a look at these staggering facts surrounding alcohol and drug dependency.

. Alcohol contributes to 100,000 deaths annually
. Among 9,484 deaths attributed to non-medical use of other drugs in 1996, 37% also involved alcohol
. More than seven percent of the population ages 18 years and older--nearly 13.8 million Americans--have problems with drinking, including 8.1 million people who are alcoholic. Almost three times as many men (9.8 million) as women (3.9 million) are problem drinkers, and prevalence is highest for both sexes in the 18-to-29-years-old age group
. About 43% of US adults--76 million people--have been exposed to alcoholism in the family: they grew up with or married an alcoholic or a problem drinker or had a blood relative who was ever an alcoholic or problem drinker
. People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin at age 21
. Nearly one-fourth of all persons admitted to general hospitals have alcohol problems or are undiagnosed alcoholics being treated for the consequences of their drinking
. On average, untreated alcoholics incur general health care costs at least 100% higher than those of non-alcoholics, and this disparity may exist as long as 10 years before entry into treatment
. Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which can occur when women drink during pregnancy, is the leading known environmental cause of mental retardation in the Western World

To avoid the negative consequences associated with alcohol dependency, treatment is extremely vital. If you are interested in assisting someone you know get back on the "road to recovery", RENAISSANCE MALIBU wants to help.

Why you need Alcohol Dependency Treatment

The effects alcohol and drug dependency can have on health and family can be severe. Even worse, unintentional and undesirable outcomes of usage can also be very significant. A quick glance at the facts should be reason alone to seek out a qualified alcohol dependency treatment center

Effects on Health

. The regular consumption of large amounts of alcohol (defined as more than three drinks per day) is undesirable from the standpoint of health for almost all people and drinking low-to-moderate amounts can be desirable or undesirable, depending on individual characteristics
. Alcoholism is associated with cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathy, hypertension, arrhythmia, and stroke
. Although there are fewer deaths from alcohol-related causes than from cancer or heart disease, alcohol-related deaths tend to occur at much younger ages
. Studies of suicide victims in the general population show that about 20% of such suicide victims are alcoholic
. Heavy and chronic drinking can harm virtually every organ and system in the body
. Alcohol dependency is the single most important cause of illness and death from liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis).
. Alcohol contributes to approximately 65% of all cases of pancreatitis

Effects on the Family:

. Separated and divorced men and women were three times as likely as married men and women to say they had been married to an alcoholic or problem drinker.
. An estimated 6.6 million children under the age of 18 years live in households with at least one alcoholic parent.

Unintentional/Undesirable Outcomes:

. 38% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related
. Alcoholics are nearly five times more likely than others to die in motor vehicle crashes
. Alcoholics are 16 times more likely than others to die in falls, and 10 times more likely to become fire or burn victims
. Estimates suggest that alcohol is associated with between 47% and 65% of adult drowning incidents.
. Up to 40% of industrial fatalities and 47% of industrial injuries can be linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism

The RENAISSANCE MALIBU Chemical Dependency Treatment Center

RENAISSANCE MALIBU has established itself as the premier residential alcohol dependency rehab center in the US, some say the world. Our main facility is a 20,000 square foot home with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, set in the Malibu Hills. This grand estate, provides a healing, restful setting for alcohol dependency treatment and is magnificently landscaped with trees and vegetation from all over the world. Our 30-yard lap pool, outdoor Jacuzzi and tennis court allow stunning views of the breathtaking Pacific sunset, allowing a great setting for reflection and meditation that are a part of the alcohol dependency rehab program. Community rooms include the library, clad in oak, a gourmet kitchen, and a gymnasium. Completing the amenities of the "most exclusive drug and alcohol rehab center in the world," most of our bedrooms have ocean views with beveled glass French doors, opening onto marble balconies. With such amenities, it's no wonder we've been dubbed the "most exclusive treatment center in the world."

To find out more about our alcohol addiction programs and a lifetime of recovery, counselors are available by phone 24-hours a day at: 888-619-8500 or click here.