Also, prolonged excessive drinking may cause cirrhosis , a disease that damages the liver and eventually causes death . Women who drink heavily during pregnancy may give birth to babies who suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome . Such babies are abnormally small at birth and may have malformed organs or be mentally retarted. Treatment for the Alcoholic Treatment for alcoholics include care for their physical and emotional needs. The patient first goes through a condition called withdrawal during which all alcoholic beverages are withheld.
Many alcoholics suffer convulsions and hallucinations during withdrawal.
Withdrawal symtoms may last several days or more. Rehabilitation procedures include group or family therapy. Treatment centers for alcoholics have been set up by corporations, medical centers, and federal and state agencies. Future treatment may include the use of chemicals to raise endorphin levels in the body. Prevention of alcoholism in children of alcoholics may eventually be possible through the use of psychological testing and examination of body fluid chemistry and brain wave pattern testing.