What Is Alcoholism

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05bfd523.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cape Fear Regional Bureau For Community Action, Inc.</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cape Fear Regional Bureau For Community "><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U><B><IMG SRC="04e0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>    </B><A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Are STD (Sexually Transmitted Disea"><U><B><IMG SRC="04d0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Is HIV/AIDS Case Management"><U><B><IMG SRC="04f0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcommunityactioninc.org/mf.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcomm"><U><B>Click Here For Site Map</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="23fd2993.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="0c4b67a0.jpg" border=0 width="182" height="122" ALT="Liver" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>LIVER</B></div> <div> <B>(The liver is the most common infected organ caused by alcoholism.)</B></div> <div> <B>A.  Left Lobe of Liver</B></div> <div> <B>B.  Right Lobe of            Liver</B></div> <div> <B>C.  Ligamentum      Teres</B></div> <div> <B>D.  Gallbladder</B></div> <div> <B>E.  Diaphragm</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>What Is Alcoholism</B></I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <A NAME="alcoholism"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B> <img src="HTMLobj-319/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="107" height="90">  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Alcoholism is a disease which manifests itself as the uncontrollable overuse of beverages containing alcohol. Hereditary factors have been implicated in this common disease, but no certain cause has yet been identified. Patients may have a pattern of heavy "binge drinking" or regular excessive consumption of beer, wine, or liquor on a daily basis. Alcoholism affects all ages, sexes, races, and professions.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In most cases, the alcoholic does not realize that he or she has a problem with alcohol. Family, friends, and coworkers will likely be aware of the problem first. The effects of alcohol on the body are multiple: Hepatitis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, heart disease, dementia, increased incidence of trauma, cardiomyopathy, and vitamin deficiencies (beriberi, pernicious anemia). See the DISEASE FILE for information on the above.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Most patients with alcoholism will require the support of family, friends, counselors, and possibly a physician to encourage them to stop alcohol use entirely. The patient must FIRST acknowledge the existence of the problem (many times the hardest part) and express a desire for help before intervention can begin. There is no cure for alcoholism, only ongoing treatment and the strict avoidance of all alcohol.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Some physicians, with patient consent, have used a medication called disulfiram to discourage patients from alcohol consumption. Disulfiram, when combined with alcohol, results in nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, and headache.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The abrupt cessation of alcohol consumption can precipitate alcohol withdrawal symptoms and seizures.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For Additional Information:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Alcoholics Anonymous World Services PO Box 459</B></div> <div> <B>Grand Central Station</B></div> <div> <B>New York, NY 10163 (202) 686-1100</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Adult Children of Alcoholics PO Box 3216</B></div> <div> <B>Torrance, CA 90510 (213) 534-1815</B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>