AA SUPPORT GROUP

Alcoholism is considered a major public health concern and a prevalent mental disorder found in the United States. It is estimated that around 70 percent of adults drink alcohol and of these 10 percent are heavy drinkers and problem drinkers include 5 to 10 percent of this group. Around 3 million people over 65 years use alcohol and only 15 percent are treated. It is estimated that one-third of the hospital admissions are related to alcohol (motor vehicle accidents, falls, injuries, pancreatitis) (Krach, 1998; Stewart & Richards, 2000).

Disorders that are related to substances include two groups, substance-use and substance-induced disorders. Substance-use disorders include dependence and abuse. The use of substance is socially acceptable and these include a variety of legal and illegal substances. Alcohol use is acceptably used as a mood-altering drug by many Americans. Substance abuse is conceptually defined as the use of any substance that results in a significant hazard to health. Substance dependence is defined as a disorder characterized by symptoms (cognitive, behavioral, and physiological) that in

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s system (CNS). The rest of the dose (80 percent) is processed slower, going from the upper intestinal tract to the blood stream. This rapid absorption can be slowed down with sipping, full stomach, or drinking wine or beer as opposed to distilled alcohol. Effects of alcohol include relaxation and loss of inhibitions, drowsiness, slurred speech, decreased concentration, and sleep ("Nursing care of clients,"). Long term alcohol abuse results in physiological impairments of the entire system. Alcohol consumption results in decreased appetite and resulting decreased intake of vitamins and nutrients that are essential. Resulting complications can include neurologic injuries, Wernicke's encephalopathy, Korsakoff's psychosis (confusion, loss of recent memory, and confabulation), GI disturbances, hypoglycemia, higher rates of tuberculosis, pneumonia, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (Stewart & Richards, 2000). Cirrhosis is a complication associated with alcoholism. In this case the normal liver tissue is replaced with diffuse fibrosis which disrupts the liver's structure and functioning. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to alcoholic cirrhosis where the scar tissue surrounds the portal areas; this is the most
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Approximate Word count = 2309
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)