Abstinence and the Drinking Problem

Abstinence and the Drinking Problem

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I would advocate for a client with a drinking problem to abstain to resolve the drinking problem. I would tell the client to quit drinking to eradicate the health and social risks of excessive alcohol. Prolonged use of alcohol leads to the development of chronic illnesses and other serious problems such as stroke, heart disease, digestive problems, and high blood pressure. Moreover excessive alcohol intake has been associated with cancer of the breast, throat, mouth, voice box, esophagus, colon, liver, and rectum. Abstinence is the best route to deal with an alcohol problem because while controlled drinking is viable, it is even harder to implement. As long as one is in an environment where one can access alcohol, controlling ones drinking is difficult. Some of the advantages of alcohol abstinence that have been backed by research include less worry, better sleep, budget savings, and better relationships and sex. Abstaining from sex also results in increased energy and calorie savings. The only disadvantage of abstaining from alcohol has to do with withdrawal symptoms. Individuals addicted to alcohol face dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including delirium tremens when they quit alcohol suddenly. There are extreme cases where alcohol withdrawal causes death to the users. There exists a relationship between faith and alcohol abuse. A 2019 study on the impact that faith has on substance abuse revealed that faith reduces the risk of abuse, use, or dependence. In rare cases, does faith contribute to the abuse and dependence on alcohol.

References

Pandey, S. C., Kyzar, E. J., & Zhang, H. (2017). Epigenetic basis of the dark side of alcohol addiction. Neuropharmacology, 122, 74-84.