Alcoholism, the Line in the Sand

For the normal, healthy adult, moderate alcohol intake isn’t that harmful. Technically though, alcohol is poison to the body, it’s just that our liver can handle it most of the time. With those two facts, can we really say that drinking alcohol is bad? If it doesn’t have a relatively bad effect on the body, when will it? What separates a nightly drink of whiskey to the downward spiral of alcoholism?

It’s not a clear line, nor is it a thick one. There are some cases when it’s just too much like binge drinking. Binge drinking is where people have three to six (or more) drinks in less than two hours. The point of this is to get drunk, impacting your body in many bad ways. Other people can’t sleep without alcohol in their system, while others can’t focus without a nice glass of wine.

Which is it then? Where can we draw the line? Let’s look at the sides.

The Good

Alcohol is not an evil substance. Like fire, it can both destroy and warm people. In freezingly cold countries, vodka is often used to warm you up. The alcohol promotes the distribution of blood to your skin, making you feel warm. A nice glass of red wine complements a finely roast steak and aids in digestion.

Studies show that moderate alcohol consumption lessens the chance of heart disease. Certain wines also lessen the chances of heart disease. Some studies also argue that moderate consumption can boost sexual function and libido! Some will also argue that you don’t need a study to prove that.

Everything is good in moderation. Alcohol can virtually help you live a healthier life. It can also help you in the social and mental sense. All in all, Alcohol can be good for you.

To know more about alcoholism, it’s best to visit the nearest addiction treatment center in your area.

The Bad

Getting drunk is the most common short-term effect. You’ll feel drowsy, dizzy and you’re likely to vomit if you had too much. Apart from the physical effects, you’ll also lose some of your inhibitions. Loss of inhibition makes for bad judgment, endangering you in many ways. Drink more and you’ll likely lose consciousness.

After a few hours, you’ll get a hangover. A nasty headache usually followed by an upset stomach and overall irritability.

These are just the direct effects. With an impaired mind and body, it could cause unintentional damages like property damage, or issues with the law.

The Ugly

Alcohol also has nasty long term effects like liver and heart disease, among many others.

The problems start when you become dependent on alcohol. Much like drug dependency, you’ll crave for it. Drink too much and you’ll be tolerant, thus needing more. The more alcohol in your system, the worse it will be for you. The worst part? You can’t stop. If you do stop, you’ll go into withdrawal, which is arguably a worse experience.

It is essentially how you drink rather than what you drink. A person who binge-drinks every Friday cannot be completely called an alcoholic. On the other side, a person who will not stop at anything to get his Saturday binge could be a sign of alcoholism. 

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Dr. Vikram Tarugu MD

Dr. Vikram Tarugu, M.D, is the CEO of Detox of South Florida, Inc and medical professional focused on addiction. A veteran in the medical field with over 25 years of professional experience. He is a consultant for many South Florida Rehab centers. Patients travel from allover the US to seek his help with addiction and Hepatitis C treatment.