Looking into the future and at the long-term effects of continued alcohol usage, abuse and the dependence that ensues has been shown to have disastrous consequences. Chronic alcohol use has been linked to obesity, personality changes, vitamin deficiency, digestive problems, brain shrinkage and tumor growth. Alcohol becomes a crutch to people who abuse it. Currently, there are many options to those who are slaves to alcohol. The traditional 12-step programs are useful for learning how to deal with feelings, trauma and leisure time.
Detoxification is another route, along with counseling.
These medications essentially eliminate the rewarding effects of alcohol and lessen cravings. There are those, however, who can inherit a predisposition for alcoholism through genes. A family history of alcoholism can open the door for physical and psychological dependence. Still, genetics cannot take all the blame. The environments and situations in which people are raised or exposed to have an immense impact on their drinking habits.