Alcohol Abuse Essay

†¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Alcohol is a drink containing ethanol It is a lipid that is highly water soluble A psychoactive drug that has a depressant effect. Distribution: Ethanol is distributed equally in all body tissue according to water content. †¢ Metabolism: A healthy body can metabolize 15ml of alcohol/hour †¢ Alcohol is metabolized by the liver but 10% is excreted unchanged in the breath, sweat and the urine Metabolism of alcohol Alcohol Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Acetaldehyde (Toxic) Alcohol Dehydrogenase H2 and Acetic Acid (Nontoxic) Alcohol Abuse †¢ A psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite its negative consequences. †¢ Also termed as â€Å"Alcoholism† †¢ Pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Cause of Alcohol Abuse †¢ There is no known cause for alcohol abuse. †¢ The reason for alcohol abuse is complex. †¢ A. Psychodynamic Theory †¢ Attitudes and behaviors of the client †¢ Problems †¢ Stress, anxiety, depression †¢ Peer pressure. †¢ B. Biologic Theory †¢ G.enetic predisposition of the client MANIFESTATIONS OF alcohol abuse †¢ Continue to drink, even when health, work, or family are being harmed †¢ Are not able to control drinking — being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake †¢ Miss work or school, or have a decrease in performance because of drinking †¢ Need to use alcohol on most days to get through the day. Manifestations of alcohol abuse †¢ Do not care about or ignore how they dress or whether they are clean †¢ Try to hide alcohol use †¢ Shake in the morning or after periods when they have not a drink †¢ Poor judgment †¢ Irritable. Complications of alcohol abuse †¢ Elevated liver function test †¢ Alcoholic Hallucinosis †¢ Withdrawal symptoms such as: x Tremors x Sweating x Palpitations x Agitation †¢ Delirium tremens †¢ Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome †¢ Peripheral Neuritis †¢ Gastric ulcers Treatment for ALCOHOL ABUSE †¢ Abstinence from alcohol †¢ Medication treatment such as: †¢ Long-acting Benzodiazepams: tx of alcohol withdrawal †¢ Chlorhexidine (Librium) †¢ Diazepam (Valium) †¢ Lorazepam (Ativan) †¢ Disulfiram (Antabuse) †¢ Naltrexone (ReVia) †¢ Subject to a rehabilitation facility. Nursing Management †¢ Teach the patient the effects of chemical abuse on the body. †¢ In communicating with the patient be in a matter-of-fact and respectful manner. †¢ Maintain a positive, supportive environment. †¢ Build a therapeutic rapport with the patient by providing relief from his or her symptoms and meeting physiologic and safety needs. †¢ Present reality without challenging or escalating the patient’s anxiety and thought disturbances. †¢ Remain objective to the patient and the family. †¢ Closely monitor your patient during your shift to identify subtle changes and intervene appropriately. †¢ Assess mental status and sleep pattern, and provide emotional support to reduce anxiety.