General Practitioner Dr. Dan Rutherford says alcoholic drinks have been prepared and drunk for thousands of years, and the problems that can accompany excess alcohol intake have undoubtedly been around just as long.

High levels of alcohol consumption can lead to physical illness and psychological and social distress, Dr. Rutherford says.

He says alcohol has therefore always had an ambivalent position in society.

In moderation, he says it can be the oil that makes a social occasion go with a bit more flow or helps a shy person overcome their inhibitions.

Small, regular amounts of alcohol also seem to have a positive effect on the heart and circulation. But too much alcohol is often a recipe for disaster.

The increasing use of alcohol, along with other drugs of abuse, is a serious public health problem across all age ranges, but especially so in the young.

Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence is a medical term with a deliberately more precise meaning than the problems that can occur, sometimes as one-offs, through an uncharacteristic binge.

Often alcohol dependence remains undetected for years. Both the availability of alcohol and the way it is used (the social patterns) appear to be factors in influencing the likelihood of a person becoming alcohol dependent.

Dr. Rutherford says there may also be a genetic component, because alcohol dependence clusters in some families. However, it’s hard to be sure that this is not because of learned behavior.

Excess alcohol can lead to health problems including depression, liver cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, heart failure, and damage to the brain and nervous system.

Along the way there is often damage to relationships, finances and jobs and problems with the law, he says. Mental health problems are common with alcoholism. Each can lead to or reinforce the other.

Depression is a common cause of alcoholism as the depressed person seeks a way out of their problems or a relief from insomnia. Unfortunately, alcohol is itself a depressant, so the problem is only compounded. Anxiety can be temporarily relieved by alcohol, but this may lead to repeated intake and dependence.

Rutherford says without the adequate attention to the mental health needs of a person with alcohol dependence, little progress will be made. Often alcoholism remains unsuspected even by the doctor, and it may come to light only when medical tests are done for other reasons.

It may be difficult for a person to reduce their alcohol consumption without outside assistance. There are several places where it is possible to get help and counseling.

Get help now from your general practitioner or any trusted friend who know about how to effectively reduce your alcohol consumption. Take care and God bless you.

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Healthwatching: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)