Korean society is tolerant of alcohol. When you become an adult, drinking is often an integral part of your social life. Drinking is obviously unhealthy. Alcohol is a class 1 carcinogen. Acetaldehyde, which is produced when alcohol is absorbed by the body, also interferes with or directly destroys DNA replication. In this process, some of the mutant cells do not die, but constantly divide and turn into cancer cells.
There are still many people who drink without warning. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to ‘abuse’. Abuse of alcohol can lead to addiction or dependence. Recently, the behavior of not controlling alcohol consumption is also called ‘alcohol use disorder’.
What are some ‘warning signs’ that you may have an alcohol use disorder? American health media ‘WebMD’ introduced the signs of alcohol use disorder.
- Drinking more than planned or for longer
- One or more unsuccessful attempts to cut down on or stop drinking
- Spending a lot of time feeling sick or having a hangover following drinking
- The desire to drink is so strong that you can’t think of anything else
- Problems at work, school, or home because of drinking habits (or getting sick following drinking)
- Inability to continue sobriety even though drinking has caused problems in oneself or in relationships
- Quitting or reducing significant other activities to drink alcohol
- Have been in situations where you are more likely to get hurt while drinking or following drinking
- Continuing to drink even though drinking has caused depression or anxiety, poor health, or memory loss
- You need to drink more than you used to to get the desired effect
- Have experienced withdrawal symptoms, such as sleep problems, hand tremors, restlessness, nausea, sweating, heartbeat, seizures, or seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not there
If you have experienced 2 or 3 of these symptoms in the past year, you have a mild alcohol use disorder. If you have experienced 4 to 5 times, it is a moderate disability, and if you have experienced 6 or more, it is severe.
Alcohol use disorder isn’t just regarding how much alcohol you drink, it’s how often you drink and how alcohol affects your body. If you feel you are having problems trying to cut back on your drinking, be cautious.
If you’re concerned regarding alcohol use disorder, not only is it not easy to try to stop drinking on your own, but you can also suffer from dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Consulting with a professional institution or doctor is the best way.