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'''Alcoholism''' refers to [[addiction]] to [[Alcoholic Drinks|alcoholic beverages]]. The medical term used to refer to alcoholism is ''alcohol dependence''. A person can be diagnosed with alcohol dependence if at least three of these criteria occur during the same 12-month span: (a) tolerance (i.e., more alcohol is needed to produce the same effect); (b) alcohol withdrawal; (c) alcohol is used in larger amounts or over longer periods than intended (i.e., loss of control); (d) chronic desire or unsuccessful attempts to reduce drinking; (e) a great deal of time is spent obtaining or using alcohol; (f) other activities are reduced in order to use or recover from using alcohol; (g) drinking continues despite persistent problems that it either causes or makes worse.<ref>American Psychiatric Association (1994). ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'', Fourth Edition. APA, Washington, D.C.</ref>
{{See also|Addiction}}
[[File:1-15-26.PNG|right|300px|thumb|[[European Union]] foreign minister [[Kaja Kallas]] recommended drinking to excess as an escape from world woes.<ref>[https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-chief-diplomat-kaja-kallas-state-world-means-time-start-drinking/ EU chief diplomat Kallas: World’s woes mean it’s time to start drinking], By Max Griera, ''[[Politico]]'', January 14, 2026. www.politico.eu</ref>]]
'''Alcoholism''' -- euphemistically called "alcohol use disorder"<ref name="CNN">https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/19/health/heavy-drinkers-handle-liquor-wellness/index.html</ref> today -- refers to [[addiction]] to [[Alcoholic Drinks|alcoholic beverages]]. The medical term used to refer to alcoholism is ''alcohol dependence''. This is a deadly [[addiction]] and alcoholics cannot really "hold their liquor" as some claim.<ref name="CNN"/> '''''One study showed a shortening in lifespan of nearly 7 years for those who drank more than 1 alcoholic beverage per day'''''.<ref>https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-11427-x</ref> Alcoholism has also limited the careers of famous athletes such as [[Mickey Mantle]], who "explained how his drinking likely cut his career short and led to memory loss."<ref>https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/addiction-blog/athletes-who-drank-too-much/#Mickey-Mantle</ref> Alcoholism is also expensive: many spend thousands annually on alcoholic drinks, totaling $89.8 billion overall in the [[U.S.]] in 2023.<ref>https://www.moneydigest.com/1571020/how-much-money-american-spends-beer-alcohol/</ref> Roughly 90% of alcohol sales in [[America]] is to one-fifth of adults, while 36% of Americans abstain completely.<ref>https://news.gallup.com/poll/467507/percentage-americans-drink-alcohol.aspx</ref>
"Alcohol contributes to approximately 88,000 deaths annually in the US, making it the third leading preventable cause of death," and years are subtracted from life expectancy due to alcoholism.<ref>https://www.hvrc.com/end-stage-alcoholism-life-expectancy/</ref>
The more one is educated by [[liberal]] [[college]]s, the more [[opposition to Trump|anti-Trump]] they are and the more [[alcohol]] they drink:
{{cquote|college graduates (76%) and postgraduates (75%) [are] the most likely to report they drink. This is followed by nearly two-thirds of those with some college education (65%) and about half of those who haven’t attended college (51%).<ref>https://news.gallup.com/poll/467507/percentage-americans-drink-alcohol.aspx#:~:text=Line%20graph%20showing%20what%20alcoholic,%25%20wine%20and%2030%25%20liquor.</ref>}}
A person can be diagnosed with alcohol dependence if at least three of these criteria occur during the same 12-month span: (a) tolerance (i.e., more alcohol is needed to produce the same effect); (b) alcohol withdrawal; (c) alcohol is used in larger amounts or over longer periods than intended (i.e., loss of control); (d) chronic desire or unsuccessful attempts to reduce drinking; (e) a great deal of time is spent obtaining or using alcohol; (f) other activities are reduced in order to use or recover from using alcohol; (g) drinking continues despite persistent problems that it either causes or makes worse.<ref>American Psychiatric Association (1994). ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'', Fourth Edition. APA, Washington, D.C.</ref>
"Alcohol contributes to approximately 88,000 deaths annually in the US, making it the third leading preventable cause of death," and years are subtracted from life expectancy due to alcoholism.<ref>https://www.hvrc.com/end-stage-alcoholism-life-expectancy/</ref> '''''Alcoholism often ages the appearance of people far worse than their calendar years'''''.
As with any [[addiction]], both affirmative and defensive approaches can be helpful to overcome it. Developing healthy hobbies, particularly ones that actively use the mind such as writing, [[chess]]-playing, [[Bible]]-reading, and debate, can drive out the unhealthy habit of drinking alcohol.
As with any [[addiction]], both affirmative and defensive approaches can be helpful to overcome it. Developing healthy hobbies, particularly ones that actively use the mind such as writing, [[chess]]-playing, [[Bible]]-reading, and debate, can drive out the unhealthy habit of drinking alcohol.
{{cquote|Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. - I Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)}}
{{cquote|Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. - I Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)}}
The Bible teaches that excess alcohol use is a [[sin]].<ref>[http://m.blogs.christianpost.com/biblical-spirituality/is-alcohol-a-sin-or-a-disease-11125/ Is alcohol abuse a sin or a disease?]</ref> Bible believing Christians commonly assert that the root cause of alcoholism is often spiritual/character issues and through the power of God these can be addressed.<ref>[http://m.blogs.christianpost.com/biblical-spirituality/is-alcohol-a-sin-or-a-disease-11125/ Is alcohol abuse a sin or a disease?]</ref>
The Bible teaches that excess alcohol use is a [[sin]].<ref name="m.blogs.christianpost.com">[http://m.blogs.christianpost.com/biblical-spirituality/is-alcohol-a-sin-or-a-disease-11125/ Is alcohol abuse a sin or a disease?]</ref> Bible believing Christians commonly assert that the root cause of alcoholism is often spiritual/character issues and through the power of God these can be addressed.<ref name="m.blogs.christianpost.com"/>
Many troubled people turn to alcohol as a means to escape their personal problems rather than rely on the power of God.
Many troubled people turn to alcohol as a means to escape their personal problems rather than rely on the power of God.
'''Medications''' are often used to discourage alcohol use. ''Antabuse'' (disulfiram) interrupts the metabolization of alcohol, increasing the amount of [[acetaldehyde]] in the body and leading to substantial hangover symptoms shortly after drinking and discouraging those who have taken the medication from drinking. ''Naltrexone'' is a medication that binds to opioid receptors in the brain, decreasing alcohol cravings and promoting abstinence.
'''Medications''' are often used to discourage alcohol use. ''Antabuse'' (disulfiram) interrupts the metabolization of alcohol, increasing the amount of [[acetaldehyde]] in the body and leading to substantial hangover symptoms shortly after drinking and discouraging those who have taken the medication from drinking. ''Naltrexone'' is a medication that binds to opioid receptors in the brain, decreasing alcohol cravings and promoting abstinence.
== The negative effects of excess alcohol use on an individual’s personality ==
[[File:Alcohol abuse.jpg|right|251px|thumbnail||Alterations in four of the “Big Five” personality traits are linked to problematic alcohol use.<ref name="jwatch.org">[https://www.jwatch.org/na46402/2018/04/02/alcohol-use-adults-may-lead-detrimental-personality ''Alcohol Use in Adults May Lead to Detrimental Personality Changes''] by Claire Wilcox, MD</ref>]]
The article ''Alcohol Use in Adults May Lead to Detrimental Personality Changes'' by Claire Wilcox, MD states:
{{Cquote|Alterations in four of the “Big Five” personality traits are linked to problematic alcohol use.
Personality traits have been shown to contribute to problematic drinking; in some studies, higher extraversion, lower conscientiousness, lower agreeableness, and lower openness have predicted later greater alcohol use. However, the opposite is possible, as higher alcohol consumption in adolescents and young adults has been shown to predict higher neuroticism and lower conscientiousness. To learn whether alcohol use in adults predicts later changes in personality traits, researchers pooled data on 39,722 respondents from six longitudinal surveys conducted in Germany, Australia, and the U.S. (mean age, 52; 54% women).
Analyses adjusted for baseline personality trait score, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and the length of follow-up time. The four self-reported alcohol use variables at baseline (high average alcohol consumption, binge drinking, alcohol-related problems, and risky alcohol use [i.e., any of the other three variables]) predicted lower agreeableness and conscientiousness at follow-up (mean, 5.6 years). In addition, all baseline variables except alcohol consumption predicted lower emotional stability. Baseline risky drinking and high consumption predicted higher extraversion.
These results highlight the possibility of a vicious cycle, in which alcohol contributes to harmful personality change, which then contributes to greater drinking.<ref name="jwatch.org">[https://www.jwatch.org/na46402/2018/04/02/alcohol-use-adults-may-lead-detrimental-personality ''Alcohol Use in Adults May Lead to Detrimental Personality Changes''] by Claire Wilcox, MD</ref>}}
Northbound Treatment, which offers alcohol and drug treatment, has multiple locations throughout California. Northbound Treatment has an article entitled [https://www.northboundtreatment.com/blog/common-alcoholic-personality-traits-changes/ Common Alcoholic Personality Traits & Changes] which discusses the short and long terms effects of excessive drinking effects on an individuals personality.
Psych Central features an article [https://psychcentral.com/addictions/what-happens-to-your-specific-personality-when-drinking#impact-on-personality Does Drinking Alcohol Change Your Personality?] which offers information on how alcohol affects brain function.
The journal article ''Are Changes in Personality Traits and Alcohol Use Associated? A Cohort Study Among Young Swiss Men'' published in the journal ''Frontiers in Psychiatry'' noted:
{{Cquote|Results: Aggression–hostility, sensation seeking, and sociability were significantly and positively cross-sectionally associated with both alcohol use variables. Drinking volume and these three personality traits bidirectionally predicted each other. Binge drinking was bidirectionally associated with sensation-seeking only, whereas aggression–hostility and sociability only predicted binge drinking, but not vice versa. Changes in alcohol use were significantly positively associated with changes in aggression–hostility, sensation seeking, and sociability. Associations reached small Cohen's effect sizes for sociability and sensation seeking, but not for aggression–hostility. Associations with neuroticism–anxiety were mostly not significant.
Conclusion: The direction of effects confirmed findings from other studies, and the association between changes in personality and alcohol use support the idea that prevention programs should simultaneously target both.<ref>[https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591003/full ''Are Changes in Personality Traits and Alcohol Use Associated? A Cohort Study Among Young Swiss Men''] by Gerhard Gmel1, Simon Marmet1, Joseph Studer and Matthias Wicki, ''Frontiers in Psychiatry'', 23 December 2020, Sec. Addictive Disorders, Volume 11 - 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591003</ref>}}
According to the journal article ''Alcohol use and personality change in middle and older adulthood'' published in the journal the ''Journal of Personalized Medicine'': "Findings from the Health and Retirement Study Latent difference score models indicated decreases in extraversion to be attenuated for individuals categorized as light-to-moderate drinkers at baseline, while decreases in conscientiousness were accentuated by having experienced alcohol dependence symptoms. Moreover, personality difference scores correlated with changes in the amount of alcohol consumed at follow-up."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6054906/ ''Alcohol use and personality change in middle and older adulthood''], ''Journal of Personalized Medicine'', 2018 Dec; 86(6): 1003–1016. Published online 2018 Feb 14. doi: 10.1111/jopy.12371</ref>
== Atheism and alcoholism ==
== Atheism and alcoholism ==
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe - Alcohol usage of Europe]</ref>]]
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name="euro.who.int">[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe - Alcohol usage of Europe]</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and alcoholism]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and alcoholism]]
'''Secular Europe:'''
'''Secular Europe:'''
According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe - Alcohol usage of Europe]</ref>
According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name="euro.who.int"/>
*[[Secular Europe and alcoholism]]
*[[Secular Europe and alcoholism]]
[[File:04656 market in Sanok.JPG|thumbnail|250px|right|Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref>[http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract Alcoholism in the Soviet Union]</ref>]]
[[File:04656 market in Sanok.JPG|thumbnail|250px|right|Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref name="Alcoholism in the Soviet Union">[http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract Alcoholism in the Soviet Union]</ref>]]
'''Asian countries:'''
'''Asian countries:'''
'''History of communism:'''
'''History of communism:'''
Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18245818</ref> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref>[http://isw.sagepub.com/content/35/4/441.extract Alcoholism in the Soviet Union]</ref>
Alcoholism was a serious social problem in the former atheistic [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="ncbi.nlm.nih.gov"/> Between 1940 and 1980, this [[atheist state]] had the largest increase of the amount of alcohol usage in the developed world.<ref name="Alcoholism in the Soviet Union"/>
*[[Soviet Union and alcoholism]]
*[[Soviet Union and alcoholism]]
==See also==
==See also==
*Genesis 9:21: "Noah became a farmer and planted a vineyard. When he drank wine made from his grapes, he became drunk and lay naked in his tent."
*[[Alcohol abuse]]
*[[Alcohol abuse]]
*[[American Medical Association]]
*[[American Medical Association]]