Facts About Alcohol & Drug Addiction
Thursday, November 6th, 2008Pregnancy is one of the times in your life where alcohol can have a devastating effect. Most doctors will advise you to seek immediate treatment if you are pregnant and can’t stop drinking, simply because the effects of alcohol on your developing fetus can be fatal.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can also affect your developing fetus for the life of the child. Your child can be born with deformities, learning disabilities and even be mentally challenged.
Effects of Alcohol Addiction on Personal Relationships
If you have friends and family who have suggested that you seek treatment for your addiction, then you probably have good reason to listen to their advice. Often, becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol takes place gradually, so that you may not even realize that you have a problem. Your friends and family know you better than anyone else, and are your first clue that you need help.
Often, not taking their advice and seeking help leads to strained relationships. After dealing with addiction for an extended time, you may wake up one morning to find that you have no friends and family who are willing to spend time with you, until you receive treatment for your addiction.
Health Effects of Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction can have serious, even fatal, consequences. Drinking alcohol on a regular basis often leads to poor nutrition, and also reduces the body’s ability to properly absorb and regulate digestion.
After a while, you will experience severe shortages of vital minerals and vitamins in your body due to alcohol addiction. These shortages can lead to brain damage, which is typically the result of a thiamine deficiency. A thiamine deficiency can also cause encephalopathy, which can be fatal.