If you’re worried that you or someone close to you is an alcoholic, the fact this is on your mind indicates that it is something worth looking into. There are signs you can look out for that you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol.
Once someone accepts that they have an alcohol problem, they are one step closer to dealing with it. Remember that just one of the following behaviours or symptoms or a one-off event does not necessarily indicate that someone is an alcoholic, but could indicate that there is a problem.
One of the major symptoms of alcoholism is drinking alone and lying about it or covering your tracks so that nobody else finds out. Hiding alcohol is also a classic symptom – if you or someone you know is hiding alcohol at home or at work, it is very possible that alcohol abuse could be happening. (more…)
There is a big difference between getting and staying sober. And while many people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction think that all they need to do is stop drinking or using and they will be OK, this idea couldn’t be further from the truth. Statistics show that more than 90% of all people who stop drinking or using drugs relapse quickly when they do not create and follow an aftercare recover plan.
Think of it like this; if you broke your leg and there were serious complications that kept you from walking for a very long time, your doctor would prescribe a therapy program to help you regain strength in your leg and help you walk again, and you would defiantly undertake and follow this therapy program, but for the chronic alcoholic and drug addict, one of the ugly effects of this deadly disease makes the alcoholic think he is OK, and doesn’t need help, and even after quitting drinking without aftercare this hideous disease will soon take over and he or she will again drink. (more…)
A drug addiction is a compulsive disorder. Addiction can be of varied kinds, namely drugs, alcohol, gambling, spending, smoking, sex, eating or any other behavior. A person hit by this is often unsatisfied and restless. Drug addiction in layman’s terms would be dependence on chemicals or on unwanted plants for the sake of getting high. This disorder requires very high consumption of drugs in order to fulfill drug seeking behavior, and is very vulnerable to relapse.
The following are some of the most common drugs that are physically and mentally addictive.
1) Marijuana
Marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs. The drug is excessively popular amongst teenagers. Commonly known as pot, weed, grass, herb, Maryjane, and the devil’s cabbage. The effects can last for around 1-3 hours. It can cause a lot of harm to the lungs and a person loses his or her concentration power. It causes severe smoking habits that are difficult to quit, and prolonged consumption can also lead to cancer. There are few addiction treatments available for marijuana abusers, because it is not considered physically addictive. (more…)
People have been enjoying alcohol for thousands of years. In fact, some archaeological evidence has pointed to the existence of purposely fermented beverages in the Neolithic period at about 10,000 B.C. While alcohol now serves mainly as a social lubricant, it once provided people with the only source of clean, sterilized drinking because water was usually tainted with sewage or other wastes, carrying a number of diseases. Over the thousands of years of drinking, we are learning more and more about the factors that affect our alcohol tolerance.
First, it is important to realize the genetic implications of alcohol tolerance. Some studies have shown that the ability to tolerate alcohol can be passed down genetically. Researchers believe this because descendants from ethnic groups who have long participated in alcohol consumption, such as Europeans, have higher tolerance than groups who have not had alcohol present in their culture for very long, such as Native Americans. (more…)
With other symptoms like impaired judgment, comprehension, memory, speech, problem-solving ability, reaction time, and driving skills, marijuana addiction can be compared to alcoholism. Smoking the substance can damage your lungs and increase your risk of lung cancer.
You are in luck if you want to break this horrifying habit because marijuana is not physically addicting. For all the above-mentioned effects of the drug, it apparently has no known physical withdrawal symptoms. As a result, discontinuing the use of the substance is very possible and relatively easier than when you are hooked on nicotine. Although psychological dependence develops in a lot of long-term regular users of marijuana, they can be helped by simple therapy and perhaps some hospitalization.
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Medical studies in the area of alcoholism have found alcoholism among the elderly to be a bigger problem than you might think. What’s really surprising about this trend is that in retrospect, medical investigation suggests that this phenomenon is nothing new. In fact, alcoholism among maturing baby boomers has been a silent threat to the health of these individuals for quite some time now.
Since awareness of this problem was first announced, action to solve the problem has been slow moving. It is estimated that today almost half the elderly individuals suffering from alcoholism remain undetected. When these individuals use their health insurance for check ups and treatment, health care professionals sometimes misdiagnose these patients by focusing on secondary ailments such as dementia, depression, insomnia or gastrointestinal problems. What these physicians fail to realize is that some of these ailments might be attributed to alcoholism.
The type of alcoholism that assails the elderly is called “late onset alcoholism”. This is a distinction from early onset alcoholism that usually begins earlier in life for most individuals. Late onset alcoholism, on the other hand, is developed by the elderly usually in response to situations unique to this age bracket.
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I Thought I would share my thinking on how alcoholism gets started.
Some of us are born with a genetic make up that predisposes us to it. Anyone can have it. Some groups that are more susceptible than others are Scandanavians and American Indians. My kids are both. Just because the genes are there does not mean you will be an alcoholic, other things go into it.
Home Life is a big one. The attitudes, behaviors, perceptions, value systems at home while growing up can lead to need for escapism.
How we choose to escape makes a difference. Escaping in non-harmful ways is best especially if we later turn back to whatever the problem was we were getting relief from and figure out how we are going to healthfully and effectively deal with it. We will feel rewarded and self confident in ourselves . Unhealthy escapism will always include escaping but not coping later on. Not developing strategies to deal with any given situation or thing, this leads up back to escapism in a vicious cycle never growing from the experience.
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A drug and alcohol intervention is a process of overcoming the barriers, getting across to the addicts and making them realize where they stand and what can be done to come out of the spell of substance addiction.
Intervention for drug abuse is a wake up call for someone who is going off the deep end. It is an attempt to put a safety net under the person whose life is spiraling downwards out of control. Successful interventions are behavioral interrupters. They address the problem, set boundaries, and offer solutions. They penetrate the addict’s denial system and are a turning point their life and ideally result in the individual going into a drug and alcohol rehab program.
A drug and alcohol intervention is an honest, heartfelt, communication. Intervention is an opportunity for family, friends and co-workers to say, “Hey, we’re watching you die, Man. It’s tearing our hearts out. What you do effects us too! We want you to get some help!” An intervention of truth, piercing the protective armor of denial, is an incredible gift of love. It is opportunity of hope for a new life, for both the addict and his family.
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Alcoholism is a common malady of our times. Many precious lives are wasted because of this. It all starts for fun and in no time the person becomes an addict. But there is no need to lose hope. Alcohol rehabilitation centres are around in the form of saviours.
Alcohol rehabilitation centres are doing a great service to mankind by bringing down the number of alcoholics around us. These centres work like health resorts providing a serene environment for the victims of alcohol. Calming down the nerves of an addict is not that easy. But the support and co operation provided by the expert staff of the rehabilitation centre can definitely bring back the addict to normalcy. Here the presence of the family as a pillar of strength for the addict cannot be forgotten.
The treatment process is no longer painful for the addict. Group interactions, leisure activities etc make it enjoyable. Initially problems can be there due to withdrawal symptoms. The body and mind of the addict may react adversely when the daily dose is cut off. But the experienced staff of the centres can handle this matter with out much difficulty.
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Have you ever known anyone that you felt drank just a little too much and a little too often? Maybe that person is a good friend of yours, maybe it’s your father or maybe it’s you. Whatever the case, alcoholism doesn’t just affect the person doing the drinking, it affects all involved.
Alcoholism is a silent killer; it’s not well known like many other diseases and it’s often left untreated until its victim dies from cirrhosis of the liver. There are millions of people across the world that suffer from alcohol abuse but feel helpless to fix the problem or aren’t able to even realize it has gotten out of control.
Willpower alone is not enough to beat alcoholism. Someone might have the desire to quit, but with withdrawal symptoms that include shaking, sweating and nausea, it can often be quite compelling just to have a drink instead.
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