Posts Tagged ‘Alcohol Abuse’

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Why Do I Abuse Alcohol?

Comments: 0September 19th, 2010 by admin



In the early days when you start your drinking career drinking in moderation, alcohol gives you that rosy glow, adds extra enjoyment to an evening or occasion, and generally makes you feel better about yourself and the world. What could be better than that?

There are a number of reasons we abuse alcohol and/or become alcoholic, usually the primary reason being to re-experience the good feeling alcohol gives you in the beginning, then as time goes on alcohol seems to help to overcome depression, makes us more sociable, and can numb any emotional pain we are experiencing.

We also drink to release our repressed emotions, to run away from feelings of emptiness (the void) or to numb our internal world of chaos. And it works – for a while.

Alcohol also relieves boredom.

And as if that wasn’t enough, alcohol also provides us with a false sense of confidence, gives us pleasure in the beginning stages, makes us feel more powerful, and provides energy, all while chasing our internal demons away.

Pretty attractive for someone who lacks confidence, may be guilt ridden, or has been wounded by life in some way that drives them to seek some form of relief, in the case of alcohol abuse, from a bottle.

The irony of seeking solace in alcohol for the person who is going to become a problem drinker, is while in some cases the initial payoff can range from temporary relief from life’s problems to actually becoming a survival technique (as the alcoholism progresses) we are actually compounding the damage by using a substance that will ultimately make us feel even more unworthy, humiliated, and depressed, as well as having the common side effect of giving us a grim outlook on life and instead of numbing our internal world of chaos, compounding it, and creating new problems in our real external life situations.

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Dealing With Alcohol Abuse

Comments: 0July 16th, 2010 by admin



Those who have been into alcohol abuse certainly need more than just scolding and humiliation. Upon learning that a family member or friend is undergoing such experience, what would you do?

Well, this has got to be resolved once and for all. To do so, you can always choose to ask for the guidance of an alcohol rehabilitation center. An alcohol rehab serves clients who have been dependents of alcohol. The health professionals here do their very best to help the clients as well as their families in restoring the well-being. How the process goes To complete the whole program of alcohol rehabilitation, there has got to be a combination of physical and mental attributions to the case. Health workers collaborate and make the most out of their capabilities to refurbish the client’s over-all functioning. But before anything else, the person himself should start the change within.

The alcohol rehab only functions to support and enhance the person’s whole driving force. Before you actually pick up the phone and inquire for an alcohol rehabilitation clinic near you, remember also that in this process, it is recommended that the client be enrolled to the in-patient program. In this way, you can be sure that the individual is monitored 24/7 and that he or she gets to mingle with a support system that understands his condition. If you are still hesitant, try to research on the previous status of the alcohol rehab. Through this, you can acquire information about the track record of the institution and also, you can learn about how your loved one will possibly be treated once inside.

Keep in mind that you are doing this for your significant other – that you are not hindering him from a normal life. Hence, you are just helping him as he tries to recover from the ill effects of over-using the harmful substance. Alcohol truly contributes to the working of the mind since once it accumulates in the bloodstream; the alcohol interferes with the normal functioning of the brain. Neurotransmitters capable of controlling the emotions and thinking are affected too.

In here, detoxification also occurs, allowing the cleansing of the body from the induced substance. This entails medical detoxification, physical detox, and emotional. Programs that can aid the dependent Using specialized therapeutic regimen, aside from the medications and detoxification, the rehab clinics promotes wellness through therapies in the form of group and individual activities that cater to the well-being of the client.

There comes the counseling, cognitive and behavioral therapies that serve to refresh the person’s mind (restoring optimum roles in the community). He or she is re-oriented with what else he can do to restore his capabilities. He is reinforced of the positive and negative outcome of his actions, just as he mingles with other dependents, interact with them to promote healing.

It is vital that the client experiences fulfillment during the setup. This needs not be painful, but through your support, you can enhance one person’s wellness – attainable too through alcohol rehab centers.

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Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Rehab

Comments: 0March 26th, 2010 by admin



Alcoholism and Alcohol Rehab Alcoholism is a serious disease and the problem is growing. The National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence statistics reveal that approximately 18 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse. Each year more than 100,000 Americans die from alcohol related deaths and alcohol is a factor in nearly half of all traffic fatalities. Over half of the men and women in the United States report that one or more of their family members have an alcohol abuse problem.

According to the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism, alcoholism is a disease that has four main components:

. Craving – An overwhelming need to drink

. Loss of Control – An inability to put the drink down

. Physical Dependence – After a period of heavy drinking withdrawal symptoms occur
such as nausea, shaking, and anxiety

. Tolerance – Needing greater amounts of alcohol to obtain a “high” Alcohol Abuse Complications

The complications to the body from alcohol abuse may include damage to the brain and central nervous system, liver disorders, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular problems, diabetes complications, sexual and menstrual dysfunction, birth defects, neurological complications and increased risk of cancer.

There is no cure for alcoholism. Even if an alcoholic has long-term sobriety, he or she remains susceptible to relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must avoid drinking alcohol. There is treatment for the disease and a chance to build a healthier lifestyle. Addiction treatment generally depends on the severity of alcoholism and alcohol abuse. It may include the following:

. Detox and withdrawal-a process of safely removing alcohol from the body
lasting from a period of days to weeks.

. Assessment and treatment for medical problems related to physical damage from the
disease

. Drug addiction treatment-some medications are used to reduce the craving for alcohol or to
produce severe physical reactions such as nausea and vomiting if one drinks while on
the medication. Drug treatment does not cure alcoholism nor will they remove the
desire to drink.

. Individual/Group Counseling-There are effective methods of counseling that help the
alcoholic to identify feelings that trigger the urge to drink and alternatives to manage
those feelings.

Checking in to a drug rehab or alcohol rehab program is an excellent method of treatment for alcohol abuse. There are many types of addiction treatment or alcohol treatment programs.Some offer alcohol detox and inpatient addiction treatment and others offer shorter-term residencies, sober living or outpatient counseling. When researching drug rehabs, ask what addiction treatment services they offer.If you are looking for an alcohol treatment program, alcohol rehab program or drug rehab program you can call 1-800-511-9225, a national alcohol treatment program helpline.

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Alcohol Abuse and the Resulting Brain Damage

Comments: 0January 29th, 2010 by admin



Alcohol abuse over the long term has been shown in many brain imaging studies to actually, physically shrink the region of the brain that commands learning and memory. The shrinkage is more extensive in the cortex of the frontal lobe, which is known to be the center of higher intellectual functions, and of course this shrinkage will increase with continued alcohol use and age. Short-term memory loss is usually the first noticeable sign of alcohol related damage.

Progressive brain shrinkage was shown in a study that conducted periodic imaging in alcoholics over a five year period. The amount of brain shrinkage was directly related to the amount of alcohol consumed, but there was no question that the shrinkage far exceeded anything in the normal range.

Any alcoholic who drinks larges amounts of alcohol over a long period of time is a candidate for alcohol related brain damage. How extensive the damage is depends on the system of the drinker, the type and amount of alcohol consumed, and diet that accompanies the chronic drinking.

Nutritional problems caused by alcohol consumption can also contribute to brain damage. If the individual drinks enough alcohol, malnutrition can actually be a result. Vital parts of the brain suffer damage due to vitamin deficiencies, particularly thiamine deficiency. Alcohol causes toxicity in the system during and after use, which damages vital organs such as the brain, liver, kidneys and pancreas.

Alcohol also has a serious effect on the central nervous system.

Much of the damage caused by alcohol is reversible if it is caught early enough. Sometimes it will disappear completely. Complete abstinence from alcohol, along with an improved diet and taking vitamins, especially thiamine, vitamin B1, will help this reversal. There is also a little known vitamin, milk thistle, that can help repair the liver functions.

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Drug Addiction Treatment Facilities For Teenagers in Rehab

Comments: 0January 27th, 2010 by admin



Teen drug addiction treatment includes methadone maintenance, drug-free programs and psychological treatments. These drug addiction treatment facilities are offered to any kind of alcohol abuse in teens. Public and private sectors are offering various addiction treatment facilities for struggling teenagers, which is very helpful and supportive to recover from addictions.

All the treatments are professionally designed with years of experience in treating drug addicted teens. Specialists design a treatment approach for each individual based on the initial analysis of teen addiction. Majority of drug rehab centers provide various result oriented facilities such as boarding programs, day programs, individual support, good playgrounds, clinical facilities which bring a new change in teenagers.

The boarding facilities of these rehab centers are very attractive and helpful. Most of these boarding rehab centers offer twenty four hour helpline services to drug addicted teens. Drug addiction treatments offered by Christian rehab centers are flexible for any kind of alcohol abusers. These Christian rehabs offer price less services to affordable cost. Most of the alcohol rehabs are state funded and offer various flexible financial options to drug addicted teens. They provide some special facilities for families with low income and experiencing various types of addiction problems.

The counseling services offered by the alcohol rehabs help teen addicts and families to understand the importance of alcohol addiction treatments in a specialized drug rehabs. Most of the addiction treatment centers offer same kind of facilities for boys and girls experiencing addictions. There are some single gender addiction treatment centers are also available for the disordered teenagers.

These single gender centers are very helpful for girls. They provide all necessary and modern addiction treatment facilities to teens with the help of drug addiction treatment specialists. The staff members of these centers are very caring, helpful and experienced in changing most of the addicted teens to responsible individuals.

Most of the drug treatment schools are very old and have good experience in helping addicted teens. Number of addiction treatment centers is increasing day by day as the addicts are increasing rapidly. At this crucial time choosing a recognized and experienced drug rehab is essential to come out of these drug addictions in a professional approach.

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Drug and Alcohol Addiction and Rehabilitation

Comments: 0January 19th, 2010 by admin



Just what is addiction, you asked? Addiction is a physiological dependence on something, and is both physical and psychological in nature. When a person is addicted they literally need to feed that addiction constantly. Addiction is a traitor it sneaks up on you. People who are addicted often do not recognize that they have a problem, they think that the problem is with everyone. Addiction is different from abuse, a person can abuse drugs and not be addicted. The two most vital factors in determining addiction are tolerance and physical dependency. Addiction is very destructive, and most of the time people who are suffering from it end up hurting themselves and their love ones. It is hard to overcome but once the person began to see addiction as a problem in their life they can immediately seek alcoholism treatment or addiction treatment.

Teens partying late at night and imbibing drugs and alcohol for added fun, often dominated the silver screen. Quite a pretty picture isn’t it? Oftentimes teens see it as an epitome. Although Hollywood does its part to show a different side of alcohol and drug addiction with movies like “Trainspotting” and “Girl Interrupted”, the character still ended up being glamorous and ideal in nature and often overshadows the dark side of addiction. It is important to look at this depiction with a cynic eye. Movies are after all for entertainment purposes only, and there is nothing remotely entertaining about the reality of alcohol abuse and drug addiction. Addiction can be hell on earth and life in an Alcohol rehab and Drug Rehab can be a nightmare.

Illegal drugs and alcohol are addicting. Records show that the younger you are when you experiment with illegal drugs or alcohol you are more prone to become an addict in the future. Addiction often runs in families; you do not choose addiction, addiction chooses you. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol is a gamble, and the stake is your life, your personality, and your future.

Individuals often hide their drinking or deny that the fact that they have a problem. Signs of a possible alcoholism include having friends or relatives express concern, being irritated when people comment on their drinking, feeling guilty about their excessive alcohol consumption and thinking that they should moderate it but finds themselves unable to do so, or needs a morning drink to steady their nerves or relieve a hangover.

On the other hand, drug dependence often begins with the misuse of legal drugs like prescription drugs and inhalants. Inhalants are legal substances that becomes illegal when use in a manner that causes a person to get high. These also include aerosol cleaners, gasoline, cleaning fluids, butane, and acetone. These things are legal to sell or buy however, they are not controlled substances and they are relatively cheap when compared with drugs.

People with addiction work hard to resolve them, and with the support of family members and friends they are able to recover on their own. However in most cases, people they usually cannot stop drinking or using drugs by willpower alone. A lot of them require outside help, mostly from Alcohol Rehab or Drug Rehab. Alcoholism treatment and addiction treatment may need medically supervised detoxification to avoid possible life-threatening withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and convulsion. Once they are stabilized, they need help resolving psychological issues associated with their problem drinking.

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Alcohol Abuse and First Trimester of Pregnancy

Comments: 0November 21st, 2009 by admin



What should a responsible parent do to ensure her baby’s good development while pregnant?

Alcohol can interfere with the development of the baby as early as pre-conception and conception and especially in the first three months of pregnancy where the chances of miscarriage are most high. Alcohol can also affect the growing baby’s development throughout the duration of the pregnancy so it is important that the mother is informed about these effects.

When alcohol is consumed while pregnant, it goes into the bloodstream, passes through the placenta that nurtures the baby and impedes the supply of oxygen into the brain and to other organs which is important for his or her development in this vital first trimester period.

Each trimester of the pregnancy marks a stage of fetal development. In the embryonic stage, the third post conception week of human pregnancy is considered the critical period for alcohol to have the most damaging effect including increasing risk of FAS or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Also, during this first trimester period, the nervous system develops (in the first eight weeks) making the most damaging results in this period if the mother is drinking alcohol. Although damage to the brain may occur in the last trimester as well, vulnerability to the brain is highest at 15 – 25 days. There are also two periods of rapid brain growth in the 3rd month and from the 6th month to birth which can have huge impact on the growing fetus if a mother is drinking.

It is best for both mother and child to avoid alcohol especially in the first trimester and throughout the duration of the pregnancy to have the healthiest baby possible. If the mother is finding it hard to stop drinking while pregnant, then it is important for her to reach out for help and for those around her to encourage this also.

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Alcohol Abuse in Soldiers

Comments: 0November 16th, 2009 by admin



A lot of soldiers returning home from wars have become alcoholics. It is true that the loneliness as well as the pressure while out in the battle field makes soldiers resort to drinking sprees, alcohol dependency and sometimes drug dependency.

Soldiers should remember though that the abuse of alcohol as well as the misuse of medications or drugs can result to harmful and risky behaviors that include but are not limited to pub fights, spousal abuse, even unexpected deaths so it is a must to engage in responsible drinking. Below are some tips that would help one drink responsibly:

Before drinking and in the course of drinking, make sure that your stomach has food because eating food with starch and high protein will slow down the rate of the effects of alcohol hitting you.

Drink slowly but surely as fast drinking will make the drinker more intoxicated. Drinking no more than one drink every hour will result to the drinker not being drunk fast

Try drinking non alcoholic drinks in between your intake of alcoholic drinks as this will result to alcoholic drinks not having a greater effect on you.

Remember this HALT! This is easy to remember and stands for “Never Drink if you have the following feelings: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.”

And of course, let us not forget (though it may be a cliche, it can save lives). Do not drink and drive. Always make sure that the person who will be driving the vehicle is sober, otherwise, just take a cab or any other public transportation.

Following these tips will help you (soldiers) avoid alcohol abuse as well as symptoms or ailments partnered with alcoholism such as: PTSD. PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when coupled with alcoholism will automatically cause a lot of trouble. It is a type of anxiety disorder that usually results from trauma that comes from physical injury, a serious threat of death or the death of someone close. As early as the 6th century BC, PTSD has been observed in war veterans.

It has been observed that people with PTSD have a greater risk of developing alcoholism and most alcoholics are even diagnosed with the said disease. Around eighty percent of war veterans undergoing treatment for PTSD have been detected with alcohol abuse disorders. These people have a tendency to commit suicide once they become depressed especially if they are over the age of 65. Binge drinking is also a frequent activity in soldiers/veterans as it is used as a tool to forget traumatic memories for a short period of time.

Alcoholism also disrupts your relationship with your partner and may lead to violence as it is evident in spousal abuse committed by intoxicated soldiers. Aside from conflicts, problems in intimacy have also been observed. PTSD symptoms are stimulated more with alcoholism. The effects of PTSD treatments are also lessened by alcohol abuse. Soldiers amongst all professionals have the great responsibility of avoiding alcoholism. It is a must to follow tips in avoiding too much drinking not only for your safety but also for the safety of your loved ones and the people who look up to you.

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Drug Rehabilitation – A Path to Recovery

Comments: 0October 28th, 2009 by admin



If you or someone you love is suffering from a drug addiction, know that there are solutions. Checking into a drug rehab center for a drug or alcohol abuse problem is the best way to overcome a drug addiction problem for good. Professionals who work in a drug treatment center help with the recovery process by digging deeper to find out why patients turn to drugs in the first place.

A drug rehabilitation center tackles more than just the medical side of things. Drug treatment is quite complicated, and requires that all sides of the addiction are dealt with. Certain behaviors, family history, health and other issues may all add to a patient’s addictive behavior. A proper drug treatment plan tackles the addiction from all avenues.

Drug rehab is not easy, especially when the addicts admitted to the program display difficult behavior. Relapse is always a concern at a drug treatment center because it’s a very real possibility, especially when dealing with people with addictive tendencies. Deceitful or stubborn addicts, for example, make the possibility of drug rehabilitation more difficult to achieve. This is why everyone at rehab centers receives a different drug treatment.

Most addicts suffer from their afflictions because of underlying causes – this is what a drug rehab center tries to uncover during drug treatment. A drug treatment center will try to get to the real cause of the addiction in order to help the patient get rid of it permanently. Of course, this can take a very long time, as drug rehabilitation can’t change ingrained behaviors and habits overnight.

For ultimate success, the addict must take responsibility, accept what the drug rehab center offers, and be willing to work hard for change. A drug treatment center will offer as much help as possible, but the results vary depending on the individual’s willingness to progress.

Specifically, a drug rehabilitation center works on drawing out the insecurities that may be fueling the addict’s behavior. A drug treatment works best when the root cause of the problem is addressed. In fact, most drug abuse problems occur because of the vulnerabilities in the addict’s life. A good drug rehab program will face these issues head on for the prospect of recovery.

If addicts at the drug treatment center socialize with a group of people who encourage drug addiction or drug abuse, this will also be addressed.

Drug rehabilitation can be a lengthy and painful process that brings up difficult issues from the past. For instance, a good drug treatment plan doesn’t ignore the possibility that family problems and the need to escape from reality are often a large contributing factor. A drug detox center will try to help the addict deal with problems in other, more productive, ways.

Rehab centers offer substance abuse treatment that caters to the individual’s unique life circumstances and problems. This is the most effective way to work through a complete drug detox and help the patient rid such a painful addiction permanently. A proper substance abuse treatment plan may also include improving the health and diet of the addict in order to cleanse the system of toxins.

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African-American Alcohol Abuse

Comments: 0October 20th, 2009 by admin



Cases of alcohol abuse, are no doubt, increasing by leaps and bounds every year. This is particularly true for the African-American community, which constitutes around 12% of the total population in America. It is estimated that almost 27% of those who make use of publicly funded substance abuse treatment facilities, are members of this community.

Unfortunately, even today, many whites treat African-Americans as a racial group, rather than a cultural one. They are constantly made to feel like outsiders, having a value system different from the accepted American one. Although, over the years this kind of racial discrimination has reduced substantially, it is still there, enough to be visible.

Problems like poverty, illiteracy and declining living standards are particularly pronounced in this community. Psychological and material factors, combined with the high and easy availability of alcohol only deepen the crisis.

It would be wrong to assume that only African Americans living in pathetic economic conditions are the ones who are suffering from alcohol abuse. Even African Americans who live in cities, form a considerable portion of the abusive drinking population. They experience the same stress and pressures of an urban lifestyle as their white counterparts and use alcohol as a means to escape from the tensions of life. The amazing speed at which liqor stores are sprouting all over the country, also facilitate the heavy use of alcohol.

Another dilemma facing those who suffer from abusive drinking problems within this community, are insufficient health insurance schemes and restricted social welfare policies. This makes it very difficult for most of the African-American abusive drinkers to make use of the various treatment programs available. As a result, there is a growing demand for programs which specifically cater to the needs of cultural and economic minority groups and which are economically feasible for the low income groups.

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