Chemical dependency is....

chronic: A chronic disease progresses slowly, is constant and lasts for a long period of time. Other chronic diseases include diabetes, heart disease, emphysema and arthritis. Because of the disease's slow and subtle nature, the dependent and people close to him/her may not be aware of the disease.

progressive: the disease of chemical dependency is relentless and persistent. Gone unchecked, the chemically dependent person moves from an early stage where the substance appears helpful and seductive to an uncontrollable craving. In the late stages of the disease, the dependent's body starts to give up. Many physical problems arise. the dependent's mental, emotional, and spiritual strength is zapped. Because the disease is progressive, the dependent's condition becomes increasingly more severe over time.eventually fatal: If the chemically dependent person continues to abuse his or her substance, the addiction will eventually lead to death.

*Death due to liver, heart, kidney, pancreas, and lung failure.

*Death due to overdose.

*Death due to suicide.

*Death due to auto, water, or fire accidents.

Alcohol...a drug I have abused

How it works

When you consume alcohol, 20 percent of it immediately passes through your stomach walls into the bloodstream. The remaining 80 percent goes to the small intestine where it slowly finds its way into your blood.

The body is designed to eliminate approximately one-half ounce of alcohol per hour (equivalent to one mixed drink, one beer, or one glass of wine).

If the average person drinks more rapidly, the alcohol content in the blood increases and the intoxicating effects of the drug are experienced.

Invasion of the body

Once alcohol enters the bloodstream, it enters all of your body's organs within minutes. This is due to the small and simple molecular structure of alcohol, which allows it to pass easily through cell membranes.

Parts it affects...

Brain

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Based on how much you drink and how often, alcohol causes both temporary and permanent brain injury. Areas affected include memory, problem solving, judgment, behavior, insight, understanding of pain and pleasure, coordination, and regulation of all body systems.

Liver

Alcohol causes three types of liver injury when used over time. Fatty liver disease is 100 percent reversible when abstinence from alcohol and with appropriate diet and vitamins. Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious form of alcoholic liver disease in which part of the liver dies and is replaced with scar tissue. When alcoholic hepatitis goes on over a period of time, increasing death of liver tissue takes place. Cirrhosis occurs when liver tissue dies and is replaced with scar tissue. Progression of cirrhosis over time results in death from liver failure.