Alcohol is made up of a chemical called ethanol which my come from grains or fruits, such as grapes. It is found in beer, wine and hard liquor. What is alcohol abuse? It is defined as drinking too much alcohol regularly, or during single occasions, better known as binge drinking. Problems occur as you repeatedly drink too much alcohol too often. With alcohol abuse the body goes thru changes that cause you to not think, act or talk properly. These changes may also make it hard to function in your day to day activities at work, home and school. Alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol dependence, which means becoming an alcoholic.
What causes alcohol abuse? The exact cause of alcohol abuse is not known, but it may start as a teenager and continue into adulthood. It can start after physical or emotional stress, such as the loss of a loved one. It is also used to try and relieve anxiety, depression, tension or loneliness. There are better tools than alcohol that people can use to deal with life's problems and stresses. Sometimes it takes going to treatment for an alcoholic to learn these tools to deal with life.