Category Archives: Alcohol Addiction

Addiction and Our Young People

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Throughout most of my life I have been surrounded by some type of addiction. It always takes on the same form with each and every person no matter what the object of addiction is. I know that each person who has had any contact with addiction most likely has tried to figure out where it comes from and why it happens. I am aware that it is considered a disease and that it may be hereditary. Although what I am not sure of is whether or not it is completely a physical disease. I believe at least half or more of the problem is with the heart.

If you are an addict or have ever been around one you know that they are generally very selfish people. Their number one concern is themselves. The world seems to revolve around them and their needs. The majority of addicts I have been around say the same thing over and over. “I am not hurting anyone but myself.” This is a fabrication of their selfish nature.

Unless they live on an island all alone they are always hurting someone else with their addiction. Many times they hurt people financially, they have families that do without because of their addictions. Many times the hurt is emotional, parents, spouses, children, siblings, or friends that hurt because they care or because of constant disruptions in the family. It always ends up that the responsible people; the selfless people (Read More....)

The Enabler Among Us

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Having an addiction, whether it be to drugs, alcohol, gambling, or other harmful behaviors, is rarely the fault of one person. Often times the addict will not be able to support themselves due to their destructive behavior, and will instead rely on an enabler.

An enabler is a person who allows the addict to continue leading their harmful lifestyle which only prolongs the problem. There are many types of enablers, but the two most common are those who are too scared to seek help and those who are simply trying to help or protect the addict.

Enablers Who Fear Consequences

Often times when a person drinks, does drugs, or partakes in any other harmful activities, their entire personality changes. Drinking in particular is known for turning a once kind individual into an extremely violent person at the drop of a hat. When violence is added to the equation, many enablers may be too scared to seek help. For example, a loving man and woman may get married and live a happy life for many years. Suddenly times get hard and the man turns to drinking to help ease his (Read More....)

Know Your Limits: Certain People May Be Predisposed to Alcohol-Induced Blackouts

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Blackouts are among the most potentially harmful outcomes of consuming alcohol, in part because of their impact on the brain, and also in part because of their tendency to dramatically increase the vulnerability of drinkers. If you asked a random assortment of college students about their feelings toward blackouts, you would receive a set of responses which points to a universal impression of fear and loathing. Recent studies have provided substantial support for the theory that certain people may be predisposed to experience alcohol-induced blackouts; it is very important, therefore, that college students be aware not only of the conditions associated with blackouts but also of their own level of susceptibility.

What are Blackouts?

Blackouts are mental states characterized by severe memory impairment (in many cases amnesia), reduced motor coordination, impaired vision, and other effects. Blackouts represent an extreme version of alcohol-induced intoxication: drinkers who experience blackouts are peculiarly vulnerable to danger and abuse because blackouts often induce (Read More....)

Alcohol Related Crimes & the Relation to Liquor Stores

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Think about all of the crimes you have seen or heard on the news that are alcohol induced. Excessive drinking is often a cause of reckless behavior. Crimes that occur as a result of offenders abusing alcohol can be reduced with the proper focus and attention placed on this situation.

Consider some of the statistics released by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD)

· There are over 5 million adults today who remain under correctional supervision as a result of an offense they committed while under the influence of alcohol.

· Alcohol plays a part in 40% of violent crimes.

· 40% of convicted murderers currently incarcerated were under the influence of alcohol when they committed their crimes.

The reduction of alcohol does not guarantee a reduction in crime, but when the statistics show an overwhelming percentage of offenders who are under the influence, something should be done.

When crime and drugs were extremely bad in many metropolitan (Read More....)

Are You an Enabler?

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An enabler is someone whose behaviors inadvertently facilitate or encourage the behaviors of an addict. Typically, an enabler does these things out of feelings of love and support for the addict. The actions of the enabler often help to keep the addict from suffering the full consequences of his or her behavior. The addict can then continue to function in his or her addiction and avoid or delay the consequences that often lead to the addict seeking or being forced into help for the addiction. Often an enabler does not realize that his or her behaviors are contributing to the ongoing problem. Some of the common characteristics of enablers are discussed below.

1. Denial One of the most common characteristics of an enabler is denial. He or she will often refuse to admit that the addict has a problem at all. Another type of denial is minimizing behavior. One may concede that the addict does exhibit some addictive behaviors, but stop short of admitting that there is a problem that needs intervention.
2. Making Excuses Enablers often find themselves making excuses for the (Read More....)

Dental Problems That Occur From Drug Addiction

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Many dentists' office include posters as a part of their dental office design to educate patients on the potential dangers of certain habits. Drug and alcohol addiction, for instance, can cause a variety of dental issues, but many patients do not make the mental link between addiction and dental health issues.

Gum disease is unquestionably the most common dental problem associated with drug use. Addicts often simply forget to brush and floss, and many avoid dentists' office because they assume that dentists will judge them or call the police to report the signs of illegal drug use. Dentists will never report drug or alcohol use, but most addicts don't realize this and many would never consider spending drug money on a dental visit. As a result, addicts' gums start to bleed from light pressure and may recede, exposing the teeth to even more serious conditions. Many addicts have sensitive teeth and gums after neglecting oral health.

Alcohol and many other drugs cause a condition called dry mouth, in which the mouth is unable to salivate. While this doesn't sound (Read More....)

Are You Tired of Dealing With Alcohol Side Effects?

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The alcohol side effects come into a person’s life shortly after they consume alcohol for the first time and they can become a problem for as long as the rest of their life if alcohol consumption is continued.  These alcohol side effects vary from person to person, but if a person fails to recognize the warning signs of an addiction to alcohol they could possibly face problems in their future that can include death.  The first of the alcohol side effects that people usually do not think of as a problem are what are known as the short-term alcohol side effects.

The short-term alcohol side effects occur within several minutes of the individual’s first drink and they increase drastically with every alcoholic beverage consumed.  The scientific way to determine the extent of short-term alcohol side effects is that for every one drink you have to wait one hour before the effects have completely left your system, therefore if you have had five drinks, it will take you five hours to no longer show signs of short-term alcohol side effects.  Also, the short-term (Read More....)

Ways Teens Can Say No To Alcohol

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Many people do not realize the large amount of young adults who are using and abusing alcohol. This abuse has become so significant, that before the age of 18, over 70 percent of teens have had at least one drink. NIDA, The National Institute for Drugs and Alcohol, has also discovered that people are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol when they start to drink before the legal age limit. Educating our youth on drug and alcohol abuse is very important and helping them to say no is a big part of that.

For some teens, starting high school can involve peer pressure bullying and stressing. This is very hard to deal with emotionally and sometimes physically. This abuse could be the reason that a teen will start to drink alcohol. Many addicts that have abused alcohol for years use alcohol to numb things that could have started in high school or maybe even before. For parents who do not want this to be their child ten years down the road, help them to deal with their problems and let them know that drinking is not going to fix the problem.

Helping Your Teen

Talking to your children and informing them about (Read More....)