Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news
Alcoholism - Alcohol Dependence
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the condition?
Teaching people, particularly those who are at risk for the disease, about alcoholism is important. This education needs to be started at a young age.
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
The long-term effects of alcohol dependency include:
Children and teenagers who abuse alcohol are at increased risk for further drinking problems, depression, other substance abuse, and personality disorders as they get older. Adolescents who drink alcohol heavily can develop significant impairments in their ability to remember new information, and their schoolwork may suffer.
People who are heavy drinkers also tend to smoke and eat an unhealthy diet. This combination puts the person at higher risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
What are the risks to others?
If a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, her fetus is at great risk for developing fetal alcohol syndrome. or FAS. Drinking reduces judgment, impulse control, and motor control. A person with alcohol dependency places himself or herself and others at risk for accident or emotional injury.