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 useu and discontinued use precipitates a severe withdrawal syndrome
 similar to that of barbiturate withdrawal and marked by hallucinations
 and delirium tremors which can lead to death° /__, at 292. What is
 commonly called "aicoho!ism '_ is actually physical addiction to the drug
 alcohol. Steven B. Duke and Albert C° Gross write in their recent book
 __eriGa_Lg_D___Wa_:
 The adverse health consequences of chronic heavy
 drinking are staggering° When taken in large
 quantities- perhaps three or four ounces per day-
 alcohol is a poison that rivals nicotine in its
 pernicious effects on the human body. As stated in
 _l__QhQ/_an__Health_ the Seve_i_h__De_ia__B_rt_t
 _Q/LqKgss_ 1990_ "Alcohol affects almost every organ
 system in the body directly or indirectly° It
 causes three types of liver damage: fatty
 deposits, hepatitis, and cirrhosis, the ninth
 leading cause of death in 19S6° Regular alcohol
 use can precipitate esophagitis_ exacerbate peptic
 ulcers and increase the risk of gastroinitestinal
 cancer and pancreatitis. Chronic alcohol abuse
 contributes to cardiac dysfunction and other
 cardiovascular disorders, incuiding hypertension°
 Alcohol also adversely affects immune, endocrine
 and reproductive functions°
 Heavy_ prolonged alcohol consumption also takes a
 terrible toll on the human brains causing dementia, blackouts_
 seizures_ hallucinations and peripheral neuropahty. Alcohol-related
 dementia accounts for nearly 20 percent of all admissions to state
 mental hospitals. Brain cells are destroyed and atrophy is produced,
 with loss of memory and impaired learning capacities.
 There are more than 1 million short-term _ hospit
 alizat
 ions
 every
 year
 that
 involv
 e
 alcho
 _v_/_-_ _ _/
 / relate
 !_" 



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