How does alcoholism kill people

[Big_Bend]

A drunk, irresponsible 21 year old ran a red light, and killed my dear friend and musical partner of 30+ years, Bill C, just over 7 years ago.
I got banged up, too.
He gets out in about 3 years.
I wonder if he will smarten up?

Bill I'm so sorry to hear this! We've both been members of this forum longer than the crash. I bet you miss Bill C every time you've performed since. That must have all been incredibly horrible to deal with.. again I'm so sorry!!

 

[Big_Bend]

In case anyone hasnt specifically stated it, alcoholism itself doesn't kill people. Its the effects of alcoholism that kills people. Liver shutting down. DT's aka tremors. Possibility of stroke increases substantially. Allllllll sorts of problems. A few minutes on your favorite search engine will give you all the info you ever need on alcoholism and how it kills people.

Alcohol's Effects on the Body | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health. Here’s how alcohol can affect your body:

www.niaaa.nih.gov

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Thank you for this!!

That is what I've learned the most from this thread... that there are dozens of ways that alcohol can help kill someone.. its not just liver failure and car crashes.

And like @Jasonpatrick said, no matter which way alcohol is involved, the death is going to be slow and painful.

Just brutal.

Again, major congrats to all those who stay sober one day at a time.. and heart felt condolences to everyone that has lost loved ones because of alcohol.

I guess I can be considered fortunate so far that my ex friend Phil is the first time I've had to deal with this... that alcoholism doesn't run in my family.

Take care ya'll...

 

[brookdalebill]

Bill I'm so sorry to hear this! We've both been members of this forum longer than the crash. I bet you miss Bill C every time you've performed since. That must have all been incredibly horrible to deal with.. again I'm so sorry!!

Thanks Alan.
I do think of Bill often.
He left a wife of 35 years, two great kids, and two grandsons at the time.
He has since had a granddaughter, but never knew it.
Bill was a true family man, great bass player and song writer.
He was kind, generous, sober and a man of faith.
He’s utterly irreplacable.

 

[Peegoo]

That was a long time ago and obviously I failed. I've been sober now for over 12 years

I know it's not easy. Ya done good for yourself, your family, and your friends.

 

[buster poser]

Yes, our disease wants us to remember the good times and try to convince us that we can drink responsibly.

Surely the case. My friend had been clean for 20+ years and at 47 years old, thought he was smart/mature enough to manage it. "I'm not a dumb kid anymore, I have responsibilities and wouldn't ever let it take back over."

Don't have to tell y'all with experience that was just the booze talking, nor how it turned out for him. Between 2016-2018 he progressed beyond all measure and didn't stop at alcohol; abandoned his family, run-ins with the law, definitional madness. Last time I spoke with him I told him I hope he would get the professional help he needed, but his whole game at that stage was conning everyone that he was fine, and I wasn't gonna be party to that.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

I almost never drink anything alcoholic, maybe a beer every other month or two, but I don't really know why. It's not like I have any particularly conscious aversion to it, but it just doesn't appeal to me very much.

My younger brother Jim, however, died at the age of 49 in 2003, and his drinking was what killed him.

I don't know why he took that path, or why I didn't.

Looking around, I don't see alcoholism in my family. I like a glass of wine with my evening meal, and I'll probably do that three times a week. I don't often have a drink on its own. Maybe that's my secret, but I don't seem to have an addictive personality.

 

[hopdybob]

Korsakov brain damage
and freezing to death because alcohol can give you the wrong feeling of being to warm

 

[Fiesta Red]

I had a spectacular drinking career from the age of 14 to 28, with one small gap.

I quit drinking for 11 months in a period overlapping 1988 and 1989, after which I felt vindicated that I didn’t have a drinking problem…after all, I easily quit, for no apparent rhyme or reason, and didn’t seem to be worse for wear during that period of sobriety.

I really don’t know why I quit at that time—I did it on a whim shortly before I graduated high school, and started drinking again on another whim on a hot summer afternoon, fueled by thirst as much as the desire for alcohol.

I never really stopped after that, outside of a rare week due to sickness or a rare evening due to sensitivity towards a person who had a drinking problem. I learned how to hide my drinking (initially, I was still underage) from my parents, Johnny Law and other people in my social circle who might not approve.

The story about how and why it spiraled out of control could be a short book, in and of itself, but I turned to booze when I was stressed…or wanted to avoid my feelings…or when I was happy or when I was mad…or when I was bored or…

Ultimately, truth be told, I liked drinking. That was the main reason…I liked it. I liked the taste and I liked the way it made me feel. I wasn’t an angry, mouthy, sad, fight-y, or aggressive drunk. I just got relaxed and confident. When I drank too much, I got nauseous, stupid and lazy.

It had spiraled to the point that I was drinking every day—even at work sometimes—and it was no longer predictable what would happen. Some days I could drink a 12-pack and there’d be no discernible difference in my behavior. Other days, I could drink one glass of wine or beer and be blitzed. (I found out later that this is a common thing with people who drink too much; from what I understand—in layman’s terms—their body quits processing the alcohol properly and the amount of alcohol doesn’t always correlate to the level of intoxication).

When I quit, I quit cold-turkey. We had a band practice at my house on a Saturday afternoon and night, where I drank to beyond blasted…this was one of the times where I drank a lot…and it showed. I puked my guts out (fortunately in my bathroom, not in front of the band and guests), greatly embarrassing my wife and myself.

I woke up the next (Sunday) morning with a hangover (the unrivaled truth of Mr, Kristofferson’s opus, “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down” was a soundtrack of my life that day), and said to my wife, “I think I might have a problem.”

“You THINK? You THINK you might have a problem? That’s the understatement of the century! Do you realize that you…” her tirade was thorough, concise and completely deserved. When she paused thirty minutes later, I asked her where I should start.

She suggested talking to her uncle, who had been a horrible and troubled alcoholic but eventually got sober in his 40’s. He was extremely sensitive about alcohol being around him—he even had a problem going into certain restaurants where alcohol was served. I surreptitiously drank around him—even to the point of intoxication—but he never knew or (I found out later) even suspected.

When I finally decided to quit (after being married to his niece/honorary daughter for five years), I asked him what he did to get sober…he asked me why and I related how things were getting out of hand. He was shocked—he said, “I’ve never seen you drink! I thought you were a teetotaler! When were you drinking?”

I told him of several specific incidences—a Super Bowl party, an anniversary celebration, one of my gigs he attended, even the family dinner the week before. He was stupefied—he had no idea I drank at all, much less got drunk, especially in his presence. He complimented me on my ability to fake it.

I just decided to stop. No dramatic announcement, just the realization I was embarrassing my wife and killing myself. My wife thought I was just quitting “for a while” and didn’t really believe I’d be able—or willing—to stop completely. She apologized to me a year and a half later, saying, “I didn’t believe in you. I was wrong. Thank you for saving your life and our marriage.”

I thanked her for sticking with me during the bad times.

I read the Big Blue Book.
That helped me.

I went to a few AA meetings.
That didn’t help me.

Sitting around talking about drinking and listening to other people talking about drinking made me want to drink. So I struck out on my own, relying on the Higher Power I’d always believed in and the support of my long-suffering wife.

I had to re-learn how to do some things I’d never done before in a sober state…I was panicked the first time I played in front of an audience sober, but I noticed I played better and got better response.

Going to a dinner party was very difficult…I began to realize I had social anxiety, which I still struggle with all these years later. I still struggle when playing billiards sober…when I drank, I was pretty good. I am getting better, 24 years later, but I’m still not back to the level I was before.

Fortunately, that’s been the only long-term negative impact of sobriety. I lost a few “friends” who didn’t like me sober (obviously they weren’t real friends). My daughter and many of my closest friends have never seen me drink. I am (overall) healthy and feel good. I occasionally have the fleeting desire to sit down and drink a beer or a glass of wine or a margarita, but I know that would be stupid on my part so I don’t…I just “change the channel” in my brain when those thoughts/urges pop up, and get busy doing something else.

Life is better sober.

 

[Fiesta Red]

A secondary point:

About a year after I quit drinking, it was noted that I had high liver enzymes (during a physical examination related to getting a new job). I was eventually diagnosed with a fatty liver.

It’s been over 24 years, and every time I get blood work done, the doctors note the high liver enzymes and question the reason.

I’m honest and straightforward.

They usually doubt that 14 years of alcohol abuse (alone) would cause the problem. They think there may be a genetic issue as well. They may be right, but I think they underestimate the amount of alcohol I imbibed, especially during the last few years of my drinking career.

My older brother, who started drinking about the same age as I did (six years earlier) but never stopped drinking is exhibiting signs of alcoholic dementia and liver problems. He has always been unreasonable and unbalanced, but it’s spun out of control like a kid going 40mph downhill on one roller skate.

 

[Spox]

I remember reading an interview with a minor TV celebrity, now deceased, in which he spoke about his alcoholism. At one point he said that he had quit and taken up cycling and his family were fully supportive. What he was actually doing was buying booze, driving out into the countryside and hiding caches of it then cycling there at a later date to sit in a field and get drunk then cycle home.

 

[Mjark]

There's an excellent book titled Under the Influence which you'll find informative which may have been mentioned already. I should be long dead from alcoholism but I finally surrendered to my addiction and started going to AA meetings. I put all my ideas about what it was aside and found people just like me. So far so good, that was more than 35 years ago. Finding sobriety is the very best thing I've ever done for myself.

I've had the pleasure of knowing so many fine men and women over the years who've enriched my life in innumerable ways all because we shared one thing in common. There's really nothing else like it.

 

[Masmus]

A secondary point:

About a year after I quit drinking, it was noted that I had high liver enzymes (during a physical examination related to getting a new job). I was eventually diagnosed with a fatty liver.

It’s been over 24 years, and every time I get blood work done, the doctors note the high liver enzymes and question the reason.

I’m honest and straightforward.

They usually doubt that 14 years of alcohol abuse (alone) would cause the problem. They think there may be a genetic issue as well. They may be right, but I think they underestimate the amount of alcohol I imbibed, especially during the last few years of my drinking career.

My brother is exhibiting signs of alcoholic dementia and liver problems. He has always been unreasonable and unbalanced, but it’s spun out of control like a kid going 40mph downhill on one roller skate.

Someone I loved very much drank heavily when she was young. DUI's until her licence was revoked, causing problems when we went out, all the usual stuff. She never worried about her health and always thought there would be enough time later to fix things. She finally started to show some health problems and it was already too late. All her organs started to shut down and she was dead in a few months at 33. I also had a friend that knew someone that was kicked by a horse and destroyed her liver. She died in two weeks, too short of time to get her a liver donor. Of all the organs the liver is very resilient you don't need that much of it to survive but once the function drops below your minimum level death comes pretty quick. I really hope anyone that is reading all these stories and drinks at least go to your doctor and be honest and get tests done. You may feel fine and not have any idea how much damage is already done.

 

[Robert Booker]

I know it's not easy. Ya done good for yourself, your family, and your friends.

Thank you. It my family who saved me and I'm very thankful for it.

 

[Fireball519]

Well just like any drug you can overdose on it. And besides all the other reasons mentioned it can(or lack of it can)induce delirium tremens(DTs.) When the body goes into DT mode you van have seizures and die just from the withdrawal symptoms themselves. How do I know? Sadly and shamefully I've had it

 

[Toto'sDad]

A secondary point:

About a year after I quit drinking, it was noted that I had high liver enzymes (during a physical examination related to getting a new job). I was eventually diagnosed with a fatty liver.

It’s been over 24 years, and every time I get blood work done, the doctors note the high liver enzymes and question the reason.

I’m honest and straightforward.

They usually doubt that 14 years of alcohol abuse (alone) would cause the problem. They think there may be a genetic issue as well. They may be right, but I think they underestimate the amount of alcohol I imbibed, especially during the last few years of my drinking career.

My brother is exhibiting signs of alcoholic dementia and liver problems. He has always been unreasonable and unbalanced, but it’s spun out of control like a kid going 40mph downhill on one roller skate.

It is amazing how much you can drink and still function if you have that capability. When I drank, all my house drinking was done out of those bottles with a handhold on the side of them. I don't know what they were something like two litters. Whatever they were, they lasted maybe two days of house drinking, that didn't count my out of house drinking. I did this for a number of years, then one day just quit cold turkey, almost twenty-five years ago. I'm still going pretty well and have gotten my three score and ten, and pretty soon ten more!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Liver. But often a car wreck before that!
It is amazing though how many old alcoholics there are out there living under a bridge and somehow surviving.

They're not as old as they look.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Another way it can kill you: withdrawal convulsions. Of all addictive drug withdrawals, alcolhol's is the only one that can kill an otherwise healthy person.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

great question.

thank you for sharing your experience and I wish you and your family and friends good health.

I am on the spectrum.

I drink alcohol every day.



how much is too much?
there are people who drink huge amounts.


moderation is key.


my friend days a standard physical will check your liver. They can see the problem.


there are guidances.


I don’t drink before four o’clock. Unless there is an important football game.

I only drink beer.

i limit my intake to six beerz a day.

I have not missed a day of work in 18 years.


I May not last a real long time but as Neil put it Rust Never Sleeps.

42 beers a week ? I can’t imagine.

Not judging but it’s better than my brother who my sister in law calls “a three beer a day alcoholic”.

That I do not see the point of .

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

It is amazing how much you can drink and still function if you have that capability. . . .

I used to envy friends lucky enough to be able to hold their liquor. Just a few too many makes me puke and poop my brains out. Half my brains go north and the other half goes south. Then come hours of dry heaves and sledgehammer headaches and feeling sorry for myself.

Now my hard-drinking friends are dying off, and I feel pretty lucky.

 

[Toto'sDad]

42 beers a week ? I can’t imagine.

Not judging but it’s better than my brother who my sister in law calls “a three beer a day alcoholic”.

That I do not see the point of .

Seriously Mike, 42 beers a week, especially with the oil field crews here in B-Town, would not be considered excessive. Over in the late afternoon, when it's time for the Gardners to knock off, you can see guys carrying a case under their arms out of the convenience stores all over town. On our walk, my wife usually picks up one of those big Coors cans, we know how long it takes to slug down the next one, because about three hundred yards up the road, we pick up its brother.