Alcohol negative consequences

Although the evidence base for this relatively rare disorder is not well developed, patients who are dependent on GHB appear to benefit from cognitive and motivational psychosocial therapies and from support of recovery in a manner similar to alcohol-dependent patients. However, because of the high likelihood of amnesia and cognitive dysfunction during the acute and subacute phases of GHB withdrawal, psychosocial interventions should, when possible, include significant others who can review and reinforce with the patient the negative consequences of GHB dependence. 

Psychological dependence on alcohol is characterized by a compulsive desire to experience the rewarding effects of alcohol and, for current drinkers, a desire to avoid the negative consequences of withdrawal. People who have recovered from alcoholism and become abstinent still experience periods of intense craving for alcohol that can be set off by environmental cues associated in the past with drinking, such as familiar places, groups of people, or events. 

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addictive Medicine defines alcoholism as a chronic disease influenced by genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. Alcoholism is described as a loss of control over drinking—a preoccupation with drinking despite negative consequences to one s physical, mental, and emotional makeup as well as one s work and family life. 

The personal consequences of alcoholism reach far beyond the alcoholic. An alcoholic s drinking affects many people, especially the members of his or her family. Alcoholism is a family disease, and the members of an alcoholic family system develop roles that are unconsciously played out to draw attention away from the alcoholic. The spouse or partner of the alcoholic is called the enabler. The enabler s role is to protect the alcoholic from the negative consequences of drinking. The enabler works hard to control life in an alcoholic family. 

Doctors warn that people who take herbals may also be more likely to continue unhealthy behavior, such as smoking or drinking large amounts of alcohol, with the mistaken belief that their herbal remedies will protect them from the negative consequences. 

The personal consequences of nicotine dependence are clearly the potentially life threatening illnesses that tobacco causes. Additional negative consequences become evident as tobacco use becomes less socially acceptable. Unlike the use of other recreational drugs or alcohol, tobacco use does not alter consciousness or cause escape from social responsibility. Therefore, until recently, smoking was regarded as a matter of personal choice. The links between second-hand smoke and disease in nonsmokers altered that view. Smokers often must face isolation and the outdoor elements to avoid exposing family, friends, and coworkers to second-hand smoke. Even then, they may face negative feedback from those around them. 

Use of verbal psychotherapy, including feedback about the connection between alcohol use and negative consequences, to encourage the individual to "move forward" in the stages of changing his or her alcohol use patterns. 

The second proposition of the distribution of consumption model is that heavj alcohol consumption increases the probability of negative alcohol-related consequences, such as mental/emotional, physical, and social problems. If the population s mean consumption increases, and thus raises the number of heav) drinkers, a corresponding increase in these negative consequences is anticipated. 

The intermediate products, which are represented within brackets, are exceptionally labile since they contain OH and the negative acetoxyl group attached to the same carbon atom (cf. p. 103) they therefore decompose into two molecules of acid or, in the case of ammonia, into acetic acid and acetamide. The reaction with alcohols is to be formulated in the same way. It will be observed that, when an acyl group is introduced (into an alcohol, amine, etc.) by means of an anhydride, one of the two acid radicles in the molecule is always converted into the acid and is consequently not used in the acylation. The great reactivity of the acid chlorides has the same cause as that discussed in connexion with the anhydrides. 

---