Alcoholism does not discriminate against people. It affects people of all ages and social status. Not every alcoholic drinks in the same pattern. Some people drink a little bit through the day "just to get through" but never get completely drunk. They are still just as dependent on alcohol as the binge drinker who passes out from intoxication. Detoxification and admission to an alcohol treatment clinic may be required to help the drinker find recovery from alcoholism.

In fact families, friends, and even health care professionals often overlook drinking by older people. Problems that arise as a result of excessive alcohol consumption could be confused with conditions that arise naturally with age. But elderly people need to pay attention to how much they drink: As the body grows older it's ability to handle alcohol diminishes. So even if the quantity somebody is drinking may not have changed they may find that his/her drinking has become a problem that requires alcohol abuse treatment.

But alcohol abuse deserves special attention. Because the aging process affects how the body handles alcohol, the same amount of alcohol can have a greater effect as a person grows older. Over time, someone whose drinking habits haven't changed may find she or he has a problem.

Effects of Alcohol

Even a small amount of alcohol can cause symptoms such as impaired judgment, slowed reaction time, and incoordination. It increases the risk of accidents such as car accidents or falling.

Chronic drinking places the drinker at risk of developing certain cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, immune system disorders, and even damage to the brain and nervous system.

Alcohol complicates medical diagnosis because it causes physiological changes in the heart and blood vessels. These changes can interfere with the warning signs of a heart attack.

Alcohol causes problems in relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.

Who has a drinking problem?

Most people who drink regularly are not alcoholic. Likewise not all problem drinkers need to have a drink every day. There are a lot of lists of symptoms, but here is a short list that might alert you that you need to look further into your drinking and might need alcohol rehab:

Do you:

• Have medical, social, or financial worries caused by drinking.
• Lie about or try to hide drinking habits.
• Gulp down drinks.
• Drink to calm your nerves, forget your worries, or reduce depression.
• Frequently have more than one drink a day.
• Hurt yourself, or someone else, while drinking.
• Need more alcohol to get high.
• Feel irritable, resentful, or unreasonable when not drinking.

Getting Help

There are many competing alcohol treatment programs and detox clinics. We Do Recover can help you make an informed decision about where to look for treatment.

• Alcohol and the Human Body -Describes the multitude of effects of alcohol on the human body
• Alcohol Research and Health - Studies on alcoholism.
• Alcohol and Medicines - Reviews harmful interactions alcohol can have with certain medications published by the NIAAA.
• Alcoholism: About.com Extensive links related to alcoholism and related medical and psychosocial problems; offers daily newsletter with timely alcohol-related stories
• Alcoholism Treatment Assessment InstrumentsStudy of major alcohol assessment instruments, developed by CASAA.
• Alcohol Studies Database This web page enables you to search over 50,000 citations to alcohol studies sources; developed by the Center for Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University
• Blood Alcohol EducatorInteractive tool that allows users to enter type of drink, speed of drinking, and amount of consumption to determine their potential blood alcohol level.
• Bowles Center for Alcohol StudiesResearch center at the University of North Carolina, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Children of Alcoholics Foundation Advocacy organization, an affiliate of Phoenix House
• Deaths Due to Alcohol Scientific American article with U.S. geographical patterns
• ETOH Searchable database from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• Millennium Hangover:Keeping Score on Alcohol 1999 Drug Strategies report on alcohol treatment, prevention, and policies
• Moderate Alcohol Consumptionand HealthReview of the effects of moderate drinking on health published by the American Council on Science and Health
• Naltrexone News Latest research and information on Naltrexone, based at the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems
• Screening for Problem DrinkingGuide to Clinical Preventive Services recommendations about screening for alcohol problems in medical settings
• State Alcohol Laws Database that offers a state-by-state breakdown of laws and regulations related to the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages