Posts Tagged ‘Drinking Alcohol’

The War on College Alcohol Abuse

Comments: 0February 5th, 2011 by admin



What causes college students to abuse alcohol? The answers are probably many, but the simplest answer is this: Because they can.

Abusing Alcohol is Easy

When there are so few immediate consequences for excessive drinking, when repeat offenders are not disciplined, when parents are not notified about their children’s drinking activities, when students get mixed messages from the college administration about alcohol, when students have seen their parents drinking alcohol in an irresponsible manner, when students are not informed about the long-tern negative consequences of alcohol abuse, when there are few alcohol-free social and recreational activities that are attractive to students, when minors or intoxicated students are served alcoholic beverages by the local drinking establishments, and when the drinking activities in the sororities and fraternities are not monitored—drinking and excessive drinking become so very easy.

What Draws Students to Abuse Alcohol?

When peer pressure or influence is added to the equation, when it is disregarded that drinking alcohol temporarily removes a person from his or her problems, when ignoring the belief or perception that drinking alcohol makes it easier to socialize with potential dating or sexual partners, when it is so acceptable to engage in activities that emphasize the drinking of alcohol, when the “good feelings” or the “fun” of getting an alcohol high or buzz are not considered, and when the party atmosphere at college is expected by students–it becomes more clear regarding what causes college students to abuse alcohol.

More Than Education is Needed

While I am 100% pro-education, especially when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse prevention, I do not think that education is the only solution or the only weapon that can be successfully used in the battle against college drug and alcohol abuse. Let me explain.

Proactive and Reactive Measures

With respect to alcohol abuse in higher education, many reactive AND proactive measures have been initiated at some colleges and universities that have reduced the availability, acceptability, and irresponsibility of alcohol use on and off campus. The result: a noticeable, if not a significant reduction in alcohol-related problems manifested by students.

What are some of these measures? Establishing immediate consequences for excessive drinking, disciplining repeat alcohol abuse offenders, notifying parents about their children’s drinking activities, eliminating mixed messages by college administrators about alcohol (for instance, removing alcohol advertisements from stadiums and from sports brochures), informing students about the long-tern negative consequences of alcohol abuse, increasing alcohol-free social and recreational activities that are attractive to students, having college administrators talk to the owners of local drinking establishments so that minors and/or intoxicated students are not served alcohol, and monitoring the drinking activities in the sororities and fraternities.

Medical Research and Treatment Are Not Enough

I assert, however, that the above proactive and reactive measures, most of which are NOT education-based, are needed to compliment educational approaches. Why? I am enough of a realist to believe that even if medical research eventually discovers viable ways to escape addition and if the medical community is able to offer effective treatment to all who need it, there will always be those who, for whatever reason, will choose to disregard medical warnings, ignore their health, and who will discount common sense as they involve themselves in alcohol and/or drug abuse.

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Alcohol Abuse in Teens – Dealing With Teenage Drinking Exposed!

Comments: 0October 23rd, 2010 by admin



Alcohol abuse in teens seems to be a persistent social problem in just every corner of the globe. We see it on movies and on the streets. But beyond the big screen and the tough exterior of carefree confidence, have we really thought about what causes these teenagers to drink alcohol and what we should do about it?

Reasons for Drinking?


Psychological and environmental factors are great contributors to teenage drinking. Problems at home and in school matched by the heavy weight of peer pressure usually results to alcohol abuse in teens. They try to escape from the emotional pain with the numbing, euphoric effect of alcohol. Even your kid doesn’t have emotional problems hanging over him it is difficult to stay away from alcohol when a friend hands out a beer. No teenager would want to be left out by his friends, so he gulps down every bottle offered.

So What if My Teenager Drinks a Little?


If your kid is 18 years old and drinks just three bottles of beer in a year, which is most unlikely, then you won’t have to worry about the numerous illnesses and unpleasant dispositions caused by alcohol abuse in teens. The younger a teenager starts drinking and the higher his alcohol consumption, the bigger the risk of him turning into an alcoholic in later years. He also is most likely to develop behavioral problems and mental inadequacies that will affect not just his family and education but his whole future.

How Do I Tell If My Teenager Drinks?


There are a lot of warning signs that will tell you if your teen is indeed hooked on alcohol. Sudden change in behavior (becoming withdrawn and uncommunicative), violent mood swings, decline in grades and lying are just a few hints of alcohol abuse in teens.

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The Use of Muscle Relaxants for Lower Back Pain

Comments: 0August 23rd, 2010 by admin



The muscle relaxing properties of “muscle relaxants” arise not from direct activity at the muscular or neuromuscular junction level but rather from an inhibition of more central polysynaptic neuronal (nerve cells that end in synapses) events. These agents have also been shown in some studies to demonstrate superior analgesia to either acetaminophen or aspirin.
Muscle relaxants are often prescribed in the treatment of acute low back pain in an attempt to improve the initial limitations in range of motion from muscle spasm and to interrupt the pain-spasm-pain cycle. Limiting the muscle spasm and improving the range of motion will prepare the patient for a therapeutic exercise.

Soma is a muscle relaxant used to relieve the pain and stiffness of muscle spasms and discomfort due to strain and sprain. It blocks signals between nerves in the brain and the spinal cord. However, its action is not completely understood— Soma does not directly relax tense skeletal muscles and its action may be related to its sedative properties instead. So for many patients, the reduction of muscle spasm associated with lower back pain brings considerable relief. The outcome is favorable such as pain is being reduced, the body relaxes and their ability function normally is enhanced.

Soma comes in a 350 mg round white tablet. Its onset of action is rapid, and its effects last for 4-6 hours. The usual dose for one 350 mg tablet is 3 times a day. It is also important to be aware of the side effects of Soma; moreover, this is to ensure about safety and to avoid any adverse reactions.

Soma is a sedative and it can cause: drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo, agitation, irritability, headache and insomnia. Occasional allergic reactions are known to occur, including a skin rash and itching. Like all medications, there can be rare idiosyncratic reactions as well. A word of precaution—avoid taking Soma when drinking alcohol for it will increase the sedative effect of the medication, when driving or operating machinery.

Lower back pain tends to resolve on its own. Most patients feel significantly better one week after the first onset of pain. About 4-6 weeks, the pain will be completely resolved. As this drug is proven to be beneficial, many patients now prefer to order this medication from the online pharmacies.

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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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What Are Short Term and Long Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse

Comments: 0October 2nd, 2009 by admin



Are you an alcoholic? When do you know you have become addicted?

Drinking alcohol excessively for a long period of time has a lot of risks to your health. The amount of alcohol you drink at a sitting and the extent of overall times you do this will determine the amount of damage done to your body.

If you are not a heavy drinker and only drink 1-2 drinks a sitting a couple of times a week, you would not be considered an alcoholic If your drinking becomes more and more each time and more often, and you continue this habit over a long period of time, you will eventually become addicted to alcohol. You increase your body tolerance each time you have a drink.

1. Your family life begins to crumble.
2. You become depressed.
3. Your anxiety will increasingly become worse.
4. You will be unable to sleep as well as you did before.
5. You start to lose your self esteem.
6. Your friends avoid you.
7. You have problems at work.

That’s just the beginning. You start to shut out the family and your friends. You shut out everything except the alcohol. The long term effects of alcohol become more serious as time goes by.

You could lose your job. You could lose your family. You have already lost your self respect and your self esteem.  

More serious than anything else though, is your health status. Alcohol addiction causes many health problems. The most extreme and most serious problem is Cirrhosis of the liver. When this problem occurs, it is incurable.

Other organs affected include the pancreas, stomach, throat, esophagus, and the brain. Excessive alcohol intake has been linked to cancers of these organs. Women who consume alcohol excessively are at a higher risk of breast cancer. If these are not enough reasons for anyone to think twice about continuing to drink excessively, then you are probably too far gone. You should immediately contact a health official and get into a program as quickly as you can. At this point, you cannot do it on your own.

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Posted in Alcohol