craigdailypress.com

As summer becomes fall and weather becomes drearier and activities dwindle, local health care officials expect to see a rise in cases of alcoholism, which is linked to the problem of depression.

"Alcoholism and depression are often seen together," said Dave Spencer of Yampa Valley Psychotherapists. "It (alcohol) is an easy thing to get your hands on in Craig."

Both alcoholism and depression are distinct problems and can exist separately.

Alcoholism is defined by an extremely strong craving or compulsion for alcohol, loss of control over drinking, a physical craving that can be as strong as the craving for food and drink, and the need to ingest more and more alcohol to "get high."

"We have a culture that pretty actively supports drinking," Spencer said. "It is pretty easy to get into heavy drinking here."

Alcohol and alcohol-related problems cost the American economy at least $100 million in health care and loss of productivity every year, according to Narconon, a drug rehabilitation clinic in Southern California.

Currently, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 14 million -- 1 in 13 -- adults abuse alcohol or are alcoholics in the Unites States.

"I'd say it (alcoholism) it's a problem in Moffat County and the world," said Marie Peer of Moffat County Social Services. "I think it has a lot to do with our case load."

However, Social Services does not record how many problems that the department handles have alcohol as a contributing factor.

Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers, especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat and larynx. It also can cause cirrhosis of the liver, immune system problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy.

A major way to prevent alcoholism, said Kent Nielson, senior director for Grand Futures Prevention Coalition, is responsibility.

"A lot of people don't understand the risk of alcohol poisoning," Nielson said. "Alcohol is poison to your body."

According to the NIAAA, alcohol abuse, which is different from alcoholism, is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:

• failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities
• drinking in situations that are typically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery
• having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk
• continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking

Alcohol abuse is different from alcoholism, however many of the results are experienced by both.

Nielson has personal experience with problems related to alcohol consumption.

"My sister was a paraplegic for 17 years because of a DUI," Nielson said, "She was on alcohol and some kind of drugs when the accident occurred."

His sister is recently deceased.

"I am speaking from experience," Nielson said of both he and his sister's experiences with drugs and alcohol. "I would never have started (doing drugs and drinking) if I knew the harmful effects they had on my body. It harms not only the person doing it but also the other people around them."

Pregnant women should especially refrain from drinking while pregnant because the liver of a fetus can only burn alcohol at half the rate of its mother so alcohol stays in the baby's system twice as long.

"People don't think that it (anything bad) will happen to them when they are doing drugs or consuming too much alcohol," Nielson said. "But it is just a matter of time."

Statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that 17,488 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents last year. This report represents nearly 800 more people who were killed than the previous year.

"We as adults have the right to use alcohol, we just need to do it responsibly," Nielson said.

Liz King is an intern with the Craig Daily Press. She can be reached at 824-7031 or eking@craigdailypress.com.