The Encyclopedia of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse
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THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ALCOHOLISM AND ALCOHOL ABUSE THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ALCOHOLISM AND ALCOHOL ABUSE Mark S. Gold, M.D. and Christine Adamec The Encyclopedia of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse Copyright © 2010 by Christine Adamec All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Facts On File An imprint of Infobase Publishing, Inc. 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gold, Mark S. The encyclopedia of alcoholism and alcohol abuse / by Mark S. Gold and Christine Adamec. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8160-7709-0 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8160-7709-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-1-4381-3173-3 (e-book) 1. Alcoholism—Encyclopedias. I. Adamec, Christine A., 1949– II. Title. [DNLM: 1. Alcoholism—Encyclopedias—English. WM 13 G6176e 2010] HV5017.G65 2010 362.29203—dc22 2009037200 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text design by Annie O’Donnell Composition by Hermitage Publishing Services Cover printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich. Book printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich. Date printed: July 2010 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. CONTENTS Foreword vii Acknowledgments xi Introduction xiii Entries A–Z 1 Appendixes Appendix I: Important National Organizations 272 Appendix II: U.S. State and Territorial Organizations on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse 281 Appendix III: State Mental Health Agencies 288 Appendix IV: State Child Protective Services Agencies 293 Appendix V: State Child Abuse Reporting Numbers 299 Appendix VI: Past Year and Month Alcohol Abuse and Dependence among Underage Users, 2002–2006 302 Appendix VII: Alcohol Use in the United States, Lifetime, Past Year, and Past Month among Persons Ages 12 to 20, by Gender, 2002–2007 304 Appendix VIII: Alcohol Use, Binge Alcohol Use, and Heavy Alcohol Use in the Past Month in the United States among Persons Ages 12 to 20, by Demographic Characteristics, Percentages, 2006 and 2007 305 Appendix IX: Federal Citations on the National Minimum Drinking Age 307 Bibliography 309 Index 328 FOREWORD lcohol is the most popular psychoactive sub- opmentally, the teenage brain is not ready for Astance in the world, and this has been true for alcohol, and binge-drinking episodes appear to millennia. It is also one of the most damaging and sow the seeds for later alcohol abuse and early dangerous substances known to humans, second alcoholism. Teen and college drinking is a major only to the harmful effects inflicted on the human problem. Young adults who drink risk accidents, body by tobacco smoking. At the same time, the injury, and death and also many dire conse- judicious and moderate use of alcohol has been quences, including contracting sexually transmit- widely reported as clearly effective at preventing or ted diseases, initiating unplanned pregnancies, delaying aging, heart disease, and stroke and other and suffering from violence engendered by inhi- cardiovascular manifestations of disease. Drink- bitions that are markedly decreased by alcohol. In ing red wine has been correlated with all sorts of the worst case, young people who binge drink die health benefits, such that the likely “French-effect” of alcohol poisoning or they drive drunk and kill chemicals, resveratrol and resveratrol-related phar- or harm others. maceuticals, are likely to be evaluated in clinical There are some who support the lowering trials soon. It is now clear that in males, alcohol of the drinking age to 18 years, arguing that an has significant positive effects, and in women 18-year-old can vote and go to war, and, thus, the beneficial effects of alcohol are tempered by it is only fair that an 18-year-old should be able the increased risk for breast cancer. Alcohol also to consume alcohol too. However, the minimum reduces social inhibitions and anxiety and produces drinking age restriction has saved thousands of an overall feeling of well-being. It is an important lives since its inception, and rescinding it would element in social, political, and religious rituals, at not be consistent with Hippocrates’ admonition to which, without it, most participants would find the “First, do no harm.” ceremony essentially meaningless. For example, Of course, the limitation of 21 years does not what is a Catholic mass without wine? Yet the use prevent all young people from drinking, but deaths of alcohol is proscribed by many prominent faiths, due to drinking and driving have decreased so most notably Islam, arguably the fastest-growing much over the past decade that in many states, religion in the world. drugged driving exceeds or contributes to the Alcohol is a legal substance, and one that is majority of arrests for driving under the influence. easily obtained, often even by those who are law- The law helps by serving as a mental barrier for fully forbidden from its use, such as individuals many people, just as many (but not all) adults in the United States who are younger than the refrained from drinking during Prohibition in the age of 21. It is this group, the underage popula- 1920s because alcohol was illegal. This reduced tion, which concerns many experts, particularly drinking from the very high level that preceded high school or college students who drink. Devel- that period. vii viii The Encyclopedia of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse A major problem with alcohol arises when ics are often individuals with untreated depression people become addicted to (or “dependent on”) or anxiety who turn to alcohol for some emotional this substance; at that point, the problem of relief and escape, however transient. Others drink alcoholism is extremely difficult to treat. Prior one or two drinks on occasion and have no particu- to the onset of alcoholism, however, when the lar affinity toward alcohol; clearly there is no family individual has begun abusing alcohol but has not history of alcoholism in this group. yet become addicted, an early drinking problem is In this book, my coauthor and I cover the key often treatable with what is referred to as a brief issues of alcoholism and alcohol abuse today, intervention with a trusted physician. Many stud- including the latest research on who are the major ies have confirmed this fact, yet some physicians users and abusers (in terms of gender, age, and are uncomfortable talking freely about alcohol other factors), what are the effects of their use and drugs with their patients. In general, physi- on themselves and others, and how alcoholism is cians are used to the doctor-patient relationship treated. Medications are available for treatment, being very truthful. So it is not a surprise that they but the most effective means to resolve alcoholism are uncomfortable asking questions that provoke is with the assistance of Alcoholics Anonymous. defensive responses and to which many patients We also describe in detail the common psychi- routinely lie or deny or minimize. Yet, asking their atric “comorbidities” (disorders that occur con- patients about their use of alcohol, providing an currently) that occur with alcohol dependence. office-based brief intervention, or even challeng- For example, anxiety disorders and depression ing unhealthy use when it is identified can help frequently occur with alcoholism, and it is often patients reduce their abuse or dependence. difficult to tease out which disorder came first, the Many people have confused and contradictory alcoholism or the comorbid psychiatric disorder. attitudes toward alcohol. On the one hand, among Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disor- many families and friends, alcohol is a substance der (ADHD) and antisocial personality disorder that is often approved for celebrations, such as grad- (ASPD) have an increased risk for an alcohol use uations, birthdays, and holidays. On the other hand, disorder. In addition, often there are multiple the extreme use of alcohol and the concomitant psychiatric comorbidities, making diagnosis and embarrassing drunken behaviors of family members, treatment challenging for the physician. coworkers, and others are subject to gossip and criti- We also cover the physical effects of alcohol cism, and the alcoholic person is often “convicted” abuse and alcoholism on the body, including an by a jury of his or her peers as guilty when unable increased risk for cancer and many other diseases. to refrain from drinking to excess. Most experts The alcoholic is unlikely to take needed medica- know that alcohol dependence is a disease. Some tion and is at risk for harm from existing untreated laypeople regard alcoholism as a disease, while oth- diseases, including such common and chronic dis- ers view it as a moral failing or a weakness. eases as diabetes and hypertension. An estimated Females who drink are often particularly stig- 80 percent of all alcoholics also smoke, further matized, and this has been true for centuries. The escalating the risk for disability and death. Alcohol alcoholic man who stops drinking is lionized as a dependence is also harmful to the brain and can hero; in contrast, the societal attitude toward the lead to an alcoholic dementia. female alcoholic in remission is that she should The actions of the person who abuses alcohol have known better than ever to drink to excess in are not performed in a vacuum and affect many the first place.