Answer Addiction

Tag: alcohol abuse

  • The Child Welfare System and Addiction in Nevada

    The Child Welfare System and Addiction in Nevada

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: This article provides an overview of child welfare systems in Nevada. It explains what happens when abuse or neglect are reported in combination with substance use. Review how the process is directed by the NV State Child Welfare Agency. Plus, learn about state laws that protect children. More below.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    Why Did They Take My Child?

    If you are using drugs or drinking while your kids are in your care, the State of Nevada can find you “unfit” to properly care for your child. Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol can mean that you cannot provide proper:

    • Care
    • Control
    • Supervision

    Further, parents who are high or drunk have problems providing adequate food, education, shelter, medical care, or other care a child needs for his/her well-being. This is considered child neglect.

    Child Protective Services, or CPS, is a state run agency set up through law. The Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 432B outlines CPS duties. Mainly, the Nevada State CPS is in charge of investigating reports of suspected child abuse and neglect.

    If it’s determined that you’ve been using drugs or drinking in the presence of your children, you could lose legal custody of your kids. They might be placed in foster care or even adopted by another family. [1]

    You need to know what to expect and what steps to take if you’re are involved in a child protective service case. Using drugs or drinking doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, it just means you need professional help. Reach out and let us help you. We can discus treatment options together.  Call us today and be connected with American Addiction Centers. Or, continue reading to learn more about the procedure of the Child Welfare system in Nevada.

    Who Has Reported Me?

    Anyone in the state of Nevada can report a parent to the local child welfare agency or to the police. If you suspect that a parent neglecting is drinking or using drugs, your call can help a child. The identity of the person making the report is kept confidential. NRS 432B.260 does not allow the child welfare agency to release the name of the person who reported the abuse and neglect concerns. [3]

    1. Nevada’s CPS hotlines:

    • Clark County: 1-702- 399-0081
    • Washoe County: 1-755-784-8600
    • All other counties: 1-800-992-5757

    2. Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453

    3. Your local police department

    In the State of Nevada, there are professionals who are obligated by the State law NRS432B.220 to report their suspicions. [2] Mandated reporters are required to make a report immediately to a CPS or law enforcement agency. A report must be made within 24 hours after there is a reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected. There are penalties for mandated reporters when a report is not received within the time limit NRS 432B.240. [4] Mandatory reporters include:

    • Athletic trainer
    • Attorneys, under certain circumstances
    • Christian Science practitioner
    • Counselors, therapists, and other mental health
    • Foster care and child care employees
    • Hospital administration and personnel
    • Law enforcement officers
    • Medical examiners or coroners
    • Members of the clergy ,religious healers
    • Optometrist
    • Persons who maintain youth shelters or foster homes
    • Physicians, nurses, and other health-care workers
    • Probation officers
    • Schools employees
    • Social workers
    • Volunteer referral abuse service

    What Happens When I’m Reported?

    STEP 1. Intake. Intake is the first stage of the child protective service process and is one of the most important decision-making points in the child protection system. It is the point at which reports of suspected child abuse and neglect are received. Information gathered by caseworkers is used to make decisions regarding safety, risk, and the type of CPS response required. Referrals in Nevada are accepted from all sources, and each report is treated as a potential case of child maltreatment.

    STEP 2. Investigation. Upon receiving a referral, the intake worker attempts to gather as much information as possible about each family member, the family as a whole, and the nature, extent and severity, of the alleged child maltreatment. Once the initial intake information is collected, the caseworker conducts a check of agency records and the Central Registry to determine any past reports or contact with the family. Then, the caseworkers must collect and analyze the information and determine if it meets the criteria outlined in Statute regarding the definition of child abuse and neglect and the requirements for response.

    STEP 3. Prioritization and Response. Nevada State CPS prioritizes the investigation response time based on a number of factors including the nature of the allegations and the age of the child. The response times are either immediate, within 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, or 10 days. The average response time for CPS agencies in Nevada is at the 90th percentile level.

    STEP 4. Case Determination. Upon completion of the investigation of a report of abuse or neglect, a determination of the case findings are made based on whether there is reasonable cause to believe that a child is abused or neglected or threatened with abuse or neglect. The case manager will assess whether the child is safe or unsafe, and if the child or family is in need of services. S/he will review what changes need to happen for the child to be safe at home. If the case manager determines that abuse or neglect did not occur, the report is “unsubstantiated.” If the case manager determines that abuse or neglect has occurred, the report is “substantiated.” You have the right to appeal a substantiation. [5]

    What Happens Next?

    Within 45 days of beginning the assessment, the case manager must decide if abuse or neglect has occurred. If the case manager finds that your child is unsafe, the case manager will work with you to establish a safety plan and services will be provided to assist in reducing any safety threats that exist. If a safety plan cannot be made, the case manager will talk with your family to:

    • Find a temporary safe place for your child to stay with relatives.
    • Place your child in foster care.
    • Arrange for you to see your child.
    • Arrange services for your child and family.

    In certain situations, your child may be placed outside of your care without your permission. A protective custody court hearing must be held within 72 hours excluding weekends and holidays from the time the decision was made to remove your child. You will be notified of the date, time, and location of the hearing. You must attend the hearing. At the hearing, the court decides whether your child can safely be returned to your care until the next court hearing. You will be informed of your rights at this hearing. [6]

    Child Welfare Laws

    There are federal requirements for each state to have laws about reporting and investigating child abuse and neglect, as mandated by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. The laws in Nevada that protect children and incorporate the federal mandates can be found under Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 432B. Here’s a basic review of main federal and state laws regarding child protection.

    1. Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act,CAPTA. This is the key federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect. [7]

    2. Protection of Children From Abuse and Neglect – CHAPTER 432B. This Law defines child abuse and neglect for NV State. The law authorizes child protection and law enforcement agencies to investigate reports of alleged child abuse and neglect. Parental substance abuse is considered neglect. The statute also outlines who is obligated to report child abuse and neglect. [8]

    3. NRS 128.106 (d) Specific considerations in determining neglect by or unfitness of parent. This law states that in determining neglect by or unfitness of a parent, the court shall consider, without limitation, the following conditions which may diminish suitability as a parent: Excessive use of intoxicating liquors, controlled substances or dangerous drugs which renders the parent consistently unable to care for the child. [9]

    The Courts that are In Charge?

    Family matters in Nevada are resolved under the jurisdiction of the District Courts. Only Clark County has a specific Family Court Division. The Family Court helps people with divorce, annulment, child custody, visitation rights, child support, spousal support, community property division, name changes, adoption, and abuse and neglect. [10]

    The Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and its primary responsibility is to review and rule on appeals from District Court cases. The court does not conduct fact-finding trials, but it rather determines if legal or procedural errors were committed during the case. The Supreme Court assigns one-third of all submitted cases to the Nevada Court of Appeals. [11]

    What Happens to Parents?

    If CPS’s case worker decides that a child has been neglected because of parental substance abuse, s/he will work with the parent to establish a safety plan. Services like rehab and counseling will be probably provided in order to reduce the harm caused to the child. If the parent doesn’t want services, but the child is unsafe, the case worker may ask the court to order that the parent takes part in a treatment program. It is very important for the parent to be involved in the discussion with the case worker.

    What Happens to Children?

    Depending on the severity of the case, children may remain at home or be removed into foster care.

    In low-risk cases, children may remain in their own homes with their families. In these cases, families may receive in-home services and supports. This usually includes a combination of parent education, safety planning, counseling, and more. Families may also be connected with community services such as therapy, parent training, and support groups.

    Most children in foster care are placed with relatives or foster families, but some may be placed in a group or residential setting. While a child is in foster care, he or she attends school and should receive medical care and other services as needed. Visits between parents and their children and between siblings are encouraged and supported, following a set plan. [12]

    What Happens if I Drink or Use?

    The goal of the NV State Child Welfare System is to reunite child with parents. But if you drink or use drugs, you need to go through  rehabilitation to make it possible. You must follow the Nevada court’s orders. This means that you’ll need to actively participate in counseling. Plus, you’ll need to make other lifestyle changes so that your child can live with you safely.

    If the judge sees that you have continued to drink or use drugs and made no real effort toward reunification with your child and s/he might order that your parental rights be terminated. When this happens, the child is placed for adoption or with a legal guardian, possibly a family member.

    While foster care is defined as temporary placement of the children until you get better, the termination of parental rights in permanent.

    So why risk it?

    Your children need you. And you deserve a better life. You can live a life without drugs or alcohol. A good treatment program can change your life forever. Are you ready to do what’s best for your family? Call us to learn more about your rehab options in the Silver State. Our admissions navigators are available day and night to talk with you. We can walk you through the process of change. You can do it!

    Can I Get My Child Back?

    Yes. About 3 in 5 children in foster care return home to their parents or other family members. However, before your children come home, the Nevada child welfare agency and court must be certain that:

    • You can keep your children safe.
    • You can meet your children’s needs.
    • You are prepared to be a parent.

    Being involved with the child welfare system can give your family support and a chance to be stronger than before. By fully participating in your case plan and the services it includes, you can strengthen your skills to become the best parent that you can be for your children. [13]

    Your Questions

    Got any questions?

    If you still have question and concerns about the child welfare system in Nevada, please post your comments in the section below. You can also find more information about the child welfare system in Nevada here.

    Reference Source: [1] Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 432B- PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT
    [2] Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 432B- PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT
    [3] Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 432B- PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT
    [4] Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 432B- PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT
    [5] Nevada Department of Health & Human Services: Division of Child & Family Services
    [6] Nevada Department of Health & Human Services: DCFS: Parents Guide to CPS
    [7] Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
    [8] Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 432B- PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT
    [9] Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 128 – TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS: Specific considerations in determining neglect by or unfitness of parent.
    [10] Eight Judicial District Court, Clark County Nevada: Family Courts
    [11] Nevada Judiciary: About the Nevada Judiciary
    [12] Child Welfare Information Gateway: How the Child Welfare System Works
    [13] Child Welfare: Reunification
    Nevada Department of Health & Human Services: DCFS: Nevada Child Abuse and Neglect Allegation Definitions

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Golfer Chris Kirk Announces Leave Due To Depression, Alcohol Abuse

    Golfer Chris Kirk Announces Leave Due To Depression, Alcohol Abuse

    The celebrated golfer took to Twitter to share the news with his fans. 

    Golfer Chris Kirk announced that he is on indefinite leave from the PGA Tour so that he may address depression and alcohol abuse issues.

    Like many celebrities, Kirk used social media to share the news personally with his followers. On his Twitter account, Kirk shared a brightly colored announcement with the preface, “I have already begun a new and better chapter in my life. Thank you to my friends and family for being there for me.”

    The announcement itself said, “I have dealt with alcohol abuse and depression for some time now. I thought I could control it, but after multiple relapses, I have come to realize that I can’t fix this on my own. I will be taking an indefinite leave from the PGA Tour to deal with these issues. I don’t know when I will be back, but for now I need my full focus on being the man my family deserves. Thank you for your support.”

    Kirk debuted in the PGA Tour in 2011, after playing golf at the University of Georgia.

    His career has been full of success, including four PGA Tour wins, with the most recent in May 2015 at Colonial. He won twice on the Nationwide Tour.

    After Kirk’s straightforward Twitter announcement, he was flooded with well wishes from fans and fellow golfers. Kirk’s own father replied, “Son, of all the things that you have done and achieved that made me proud of you, the courage that it took for you to take this battle public is on a different scale of proud for me. I love you, your family loves you, and we will support you forever. You got this!”

    Fellow PGA Tour golfer Brendon Todd tweeted in reply, “The hard times make the good times great. The next 34 will be better than the last 34. I’m here for you. You got this!”

    CBS golf analyst Peter Kostis tweeted his support, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle about which you know absolutely nothing…. so be kind. Best of luck and get yourself well…. you’re a good person.”

    Chris Kirk tweeted the next day in response to the positive words, “The outpouring of love and support I have received today has been more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you to everyone for taking the time out of your day to share your personal stories and words of encouragement.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How Does Alcohol Work?

    How Does Alcohol Work?

    Alcohol alters your brain and has many effects on your body. But how exactly does alcohol affect the body and brain? Does alcohol have the same effects for everyone, especially as relates to how alcohol makes you drunk? And who gets addicted to alcohol? We’ll explore these questions and more in this article. And we invite your questions about how alcohol works at the end.

    How does alcohol affect the brain and nervous system?

    Alcohol works as a depressant on the brain. Alcohol can also affect the inhibition of neurotransmitters, thus making you sluggish and slow to respond when drinking. Alcohol also directly interacts with the serotonin and dopamine receptors in the brain. This is what accounts for the feel good sensations in the body and good moods you feel when you’re drunk. When you drink too much, serotonin and dopamine carried by alcohol flood the brain and create this reaction. Over time, if you drink too much you can slowly kill brain cells which control memory and cognition.

    How does alcohol work in the body?

    Alcohol affects everyone differently based on your weight, age, and gender. But alcohol is process the same for everyone. Once you drink alcohol, it slowly moves through the body and absorbs into the blood stream. Most of the alcohol gets absorbed through the stomach and small intestine. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the brain. The liver then breaks down the alcohol and metabolizes, or processes, alcohol to pass through the system. Alcohol in system for how long? Alcohol can linger in the body some two odd hours after drinking.

    When alcohol starts to affect the body, your limbs feel a little numb and you lose control of motor functions. Your body responses are slower and your sense of touch decreases. If you drink too much all of the time, you begin to affect your liver and heart. Over time, alcohol weakens the liver’s ability to process alcohol and can actually cause disease in the liver. When you are drunk, accident likelihood increases and the potential for body harm can occur.

    How fast or quickly does alcohol work?

    How fast alcohol works involves a great many factors. Factors that contribute to the speed of intoxication include:

    1. Food in the stomach
    2. Gender
    3. Genetic factors of dependence
    4. Height
    5. Other substances and drugs in the system
    6. Tolerance
    7. Weight

    How long does alcohol work?

    Alcohol generally stays in the body for about 2 hours. You may feel the various effects of alcohol within about this time frame. In general, you can feel the effects of alcohol about 30 minutes after it enters the system. The effects might last for awhile afterward, depending on how much you continue to drink. Still, keep in mind that how long alcohol works varies by type of alcohol and type of physical body as well as the environmental and genetic factors which predispose drinking. People with a higher tolerance for alcohol may be intoxicated for shorter periods while those with low tolerance may be drunk for longer amounts of time.

    Alcohol work better

    Alcohol has a stronger effect on people with lower tolerance. The concept of the “light weight” actually means that alcohol works better on people with a lower tolerance for alcohol. Additionally, different strengths of alcohol content will work better on some people. Drinking on an empty stomach will get you drunker faster than if you had food in the body.

    Also, some people take many different types of drugs both illegal and prescribed while they drink. Other times people purposefully use drugs and drink. Don’t do this! If you are on medications and drink, pharmaceutical drugs can interact with alcohol in negative ways. In these cases, drugs increase the absorption rate of the alcohol into the system. The end result might be faster intoxication, but you can also overdose or experience alcohol poisoning. Likewise, alcohol increases the effects of drugs in the system making the high stronger, as well as increasing the danger of all the substances in the body. Consult your labels.

    Does alcohol work for everyone?

    Yes. Alcohol works on almost everyone. Because there are so many different forms of alcohol, it really is a matter of finding what works for you. Some people do have a very high tolerance to alcohol and it may take many drinks or high alcohol content start to feel the effect of alcohol and to alter mood and perceptions in the way the body and mind reacts to everything.

    How alcohol works questions

    There are so many different types of alcohol. Wine, beer, and hard liquor, to name a few. But drinking alcohol is not always bad for you if you drink responsibly. Do you still have questions about how alcohol works? Please leave your questions here. We will try our best to answer you personally and promptly. And if we don’t know the answer to your questions, we’ll refer you to someone who does.

    Reference Sources: NIH: Alcohol effects the body
    NIAAA: Alcohol and the brain
    NIAAA: Exploring Alcohol’s Effects on Liver Function
    State of California: Stop Teen DUI campaign – The short and long term effects of alcohol

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • How long does a hangover last?

    How long does a hangover last?

    It’s the morning after. You feel horrible. When will your hangover end?

    Hangover causes

    Hangovers are simply caused by drinking too much alcohol. It might make you feel better to know that some people report hangovers after drinking one to three drinks. But on the other hand, there are heavy drinkers out there that don’t get hung over at all. Although experts still don’t know officially what causes alcohol hangovers exactly, ten possible explanations for why you feel the hair of the dog include:

    1. acetaldehyde
    2. alcohol withdrawal
    3. dehydration and imbalance of electrolytes
    4. drug use
    5. gastrointestinal problems
    6. genetics
    7. low blood sugar
    8. methanol
    9. psychological traits
    10. sleep disturbance

    When will this hangover end?

    OK. Now a little wake up call. Hangovers exist for a reason: the hangover experience may deter us from future episodes of heavy drinking or intoxication. They are our body’s way of asking that we avoid binge drinking and a call for homeostasis, or balance. But when will they end?

    Typically, a hangover will end within 24 hours.  Hangovers begin within several hours after you stop drinking, when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) falls. Symptoms of a hangover usually peak about the time BAC is zero and may continue for up to 24 hours thereafter. Most cases of hangover end several hours after 0 level BAC, though. This is for somewhat “normal” cases of over drinking, and a typical average. But hangovers can continue for a couple of days in more severe cases or in times when alcohol withdrawal occurs.

    More severe cases of hangovers

    Generally, the greater the quantity and length of time drinking, the more prevalent is the hangover. Some hangovers go on and on and can last for 72 hours, especially if you are mixing drinks, drinking low quality and less refined alcohol or drinking certain types of alcohol (brandy, red wine or whiskey all contain methanol).

    How bad is your hangover?

    Hangovers suck. But time will ease the symptoms of illness and discomfort. There are also a few hangover remedies that you might want to try to help reduce the severity of symptoms or shorten its duration. But keep in mind that most folk remedies for hangovers have not undergone clinical tests, and experts believe that conservative management of symptoms combined with time are your best bet for feeling better.

    Hangover questions

    Please leave your hangover story below, or questions about hangovers. We are happy to answer and respond to all of your comments personally.

    Reference source: Mechanisms and Mediators of Alcohol Hangover

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • 6 Ways of Helping Your Alcoholic Child

    6 Ways of Helping Your Alcoholic Child

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Finding out that your child has become addicted to alcohol is a challenging situation for any parent to face.  But where do you start to look for help? What treatment approach is the best? We answer these questions here and invite your questions at the end of the page.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    Warning signs of alcohol addiction

    It is natural for parents to think that alcoholism only occurs in other households; however, addiction does not discriminate. Alcohol abuse can affect people at almost any age, from the teenage years to adulthood. It can also become a problem for any individual, regardless of income level, race, region or gender.

    Even straight-A students can fall prey to the dangers of alcohol abuse. The important thing is to watch for signs of abuse in order to know when it’s time to help an addicted child quickly and effectively.

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    Common signs among teenagers include:

    • A decreased interest in physical appearance.
    • Asking for money without a good explanation or stealing items.
    • Increased obsession with privacy, such as locking the bedroom door at all times.
    • Sudden lack of interest in schoolwork and other responsibilities or activities.

    Some common signs of addiction in all ages include the following:

    • Confusion
    • Decreased appetite and unexplained weight loss
    • Drowsiness
    • Memory problems
    • Sudden change in personality or behaviors, such as increased irritability

    Part of knowing how to help an addicted child is becoming aware of these signs and knowing when to intervene.

    How can you help?

    1. Research addiction and understand what it is.

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    If you want to truly help a child struggling with alcoholism, it is important not to avoid the problem. Some parents ignore the issue due to embarrassment or denial. Rather than blaming themselves or hoping the substance abuse will go away on its own, parents need to understand that their child’s alcoholism does not reflect on them; addiction is a disease.

    That’s right, a disease.

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    In fact, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines problem drinking as more than one drink per day for women or more than 2 drinks per day for men. [1] Additionally, the organization goes on to describe alcoholism as severe problem drinking that requires diagnosis and intervention. [2] Browse this website to learn more about alcohol addiction, the most common and pervasive addiction on the planet. Or, ask us a question in the comments section below.

    2. Wait for a moment of sobriety.

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    It is important to talk to your child about the alcohol use. Approach your child when he or she is not currently using alcohol. An important part of knowing how to help an addicted child involves trusting your own instincts as a parent. Wait for a time when you are both calm and at ease, rather than letting emotions to spiral out of control. Instead of expressing accusation, talk calmly, yet seriously, about your concerns.

    3. Stop enabling behaviors.

    It is natural for parents to want to help their children, but alcoholic children need to learn to deal with the negative consequences of their behavior. Do not lie to teachers, bosses or other family members about your child’s alcohol abuse. Discuss the repercussions if your child does not stop abusing alcohol. For a teenager, this might mean having a car taken away. For a grown child, this could mean that you will no longer lend money or bail your child out of tricky situations. Knowing how to help an addicted child includes using your own knowledge of your family and the specific situation.

    4. Stage an intervention.

    Call us on the phone number listed here to learn more about this process. Usually, you meet with an addiction counselor or therapist before the intervention, but without your child. Together, you discuss how you’ll approach the child and what each of you will say. You can also discuss about possible reactions with the therapist.

    You may want to write down what kind of behaviors will not be tolerated and what will be the consequences if they appear, as well as writing down all the things that were lost after your child’s behavior has changed.

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    Keep in mind that an intervention is successful even if your child refuses to go to rehab, because at least the family has united to set a boundary. This means life will not be the same for your child, and a process has started that will one day result in him or her getting treatment.

    5. Seek treatment.

    If your child is unable to stop abusing alcohol on his/her own, it may be time to seek professional treatment.  Many rehab centers offer options for teenagers and younger patients. Inpatient treatment can help by removing your child from a harmful peer group and providing professional guidance and supervision during detoxification.

    6. Family therapy and support groups.

    In addition to learning how to help an addicted child, parents should also focus on the whole family. Dealing with an alcoholic child can be draining for any family, so it is also important to learn healthy coping mechanisms, avoid extra stress and seek support. Parents can benefit from support groups that specifically address the challenges faced by parents of alcohol abusers.

    What if your child doesn’t accept rehab?

    Offering help and providing your child with rehabilitation options may be all you can do. In most cases, people with drinking problems overcome addiction when they are too tired to fight anymore, when they are faced with too much pain, or when they realize that alcohol isn’t the answer. What do they all have in common?

    People who enter addiction recovery have made a decision to try something different. This decision is their own…you cannot force it.

    You should not put too much pressure on yourself if your child does not want to quit. If your treatment offers are contantly refused, you can work on doing research together to show him/her why they should get better. And, you can focus on yourself.

    Often, drinking problems exist as a red flag to dysfunction in a family or social system. Are there other things going on in the household that require your attention? What about your own mental health? Turn the magnifying glass inward, to yourself or to your family system. Start asking questions.

    Finally, even though your son or daughter might refuse treatment, you should continue visiting family support meetings and find help for yourself on how to deal with your inner struggles on this issue. The only other thing you can do is keep encouraging your child to go to treatment. But you also need to have a strong base of self-awareness and love. No one else can do this for you.

    Your questions

    Are you still afraid of addressing your child’s addiction?

    You are not alone.

    Please leave us your questions or comments in the section below. We’ll try to respond to you personally and promptly, or refer you to help.

    Reference Sources:[1] NIAAA: Drinking Definitions
    [2] NIAAA: Alcohol Use Disorder
    Ohio – Department of Youth Services: Project Know – Understanding your addiction: How to Help an Addict or Alcoholic Child
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    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Can Hypnosis Help Me Stop Drinking? How Does it Work?

    Can Hypnosis Help Me Stop Drinking? How Does it Work?

    By Georgia Foster

    ARTICLE SUMMARY: The goal of hypnosis is to break the unhealthy emotional conditioning to alcohol and to replace it with more logical and helpful responses. Is it for you? This article takes a look at the practice of hypnosis and how it can help people who are drinking too much.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: 6 minutes

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Do I Need To Drink Less Alcohol?

    Many drinkers secretly worry that they drink too much. They think they may need to quit drinking altogether because they’ve never been able to drink in moderation.

    Although quitting alcohol altogether can be the way forward for a lot of people, it is not the only way.

    There is a very large group of people who, even though they worry about their consumption levels, can keep alcohol in their life by drinking less.

    The truth is that a lot of people choose not to discuss their concerns with their doctor or even their family because they know that their response will be, “Just cut back a little.” I know many clients have to said to me, “If it was that easy, I would have done it by now!”

    Professional guidance can be helpful to some, but the problem lies in the fact that many drinkers feel isolated, alone, and shamed by the medical response which doesn’t give them any tools to help them drink less. They often walk away from a meeting asking themselves if they have a “real” drinking problem, or not.

    I firmly believe that most over-drinkers can reduce their drinking dramatically with the right resource. The good news is: no willpower required!

    Hypnosis has been used for decades to help people stop smoking, lose weight, overcome phobias as well as reduce alcohol consumption. Let’s take a look at how hypnosis can help people who may not be diagnosed as “alcoholic”…but who can benefit from cutting back on drinking.

    What is Hypnosis?

    Everybody is able to be hypnotized. It is a natural state that we all enter when we go to sleep at night and before we wake in the morning. The hypnotic space is when we are half asleep and half awake. How and why does it work?

    The unconscious mind is the part of the mind that stores all memories and emotional habits. The unconscious mind also manages all of the bodily functions. When the conscious mind decides that a person needs to reduce their drinking, unless the unconscious mind understands this request and can confirm it is an appropriate behaviour, it will reject all requests to change.

    In other words, if the unconscious mind believes that alcohol helps calm you down or helps you to sleep, this part of the mind will continue to habitually demand alcohol when you are feeling anxious or restless.

    Hypnosis is really good at communicating directly with the unconscious mind. During hypnosis, new messages accepted by the unconscious mind can help guide emotional responses so that you begin to function without alcohol in the bloodstream. The more someone is exposed to repeated suggestions of positive actions and responses, the more the mind accepts them.

    During hypnosis, we are open to emotional suggestions and change in behaviours more than when we are in the conscious state. During hypnosis, a heightened state of learning can take place without judgement. The unconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality, hence hypnosis is a powerful space to introduce new habits.

    A Case Study

    Here is Jack’s story.

    At the age of 18, he discovered his girlfriend was cheating on him. He was inconsolable. After a few weeks, his friend suggested they get drunk and party so he can get some closure on the situation. Jack tried vodka for the first time and within 10 minutes, he felt relaxed and more at ease. Suddenly, he didn’t care so much about his ex-girlfriend.

    Many years later, Jack was still reliant on that vodka whenever he felt like life was getting a little out of hand emotionally. He wasn’t a regular drinker but when he hit the bottle he would hit it hard and this worried his wife a lot. Jack was secretly worried too. However, he just couldn’t seem to “just have one or two vodkas!” –– It was always half a bottle or more.

    The trauma that Jack experienced when he was 18 triggered an emotional habit of feeling driven to drink too much whenever he felt unsafe. Even though many years have passed since the initial trauma, Jack felt he couldn’t get out of this binge drinking cycle. He and his wife both thought that he was going down the slippery slope of alcoholism.

    The truth was, Jack’s unconscious mind had developed a habit. Whenever he felt vulnerable, it scanned his history to find a quick fix to resolve his current emotional pain. In a nanosecond, it found vodka! Unbeknownst to Jack, his unconscious mind was demanding vodka in order to soothe him.

    It wasn’t that Jack wanted to drink in unhealthy quantities, it was that his mind had learned that alcohol was a good quick fix.

    Can Hypnosis Help You Drink Less Alcohol?

    Yes, the practice of hypnosis can help the mind choose options that are healthier than alcohol.

    Many worried drinkers, like Jack, have at some time in their life discovered that alcohol is an easy and fast solution to find some reprieve from the everyday fears of life. The mind doesn’t like feeling vulnerable. So, whenever someone feels like life is too challenging, it will find ways to give that person an emotional pick-me-up.

    For Jack, his mind thought vodka was the solution. For others, it could be chocolate or cigarettes. It just so happens that Jack’s mind learned early on in life that vodka was his answer. However, it is not the only answer, and hypnosis can help the mind choose a healthier option.

    Hypnosis is a life-changing therapy that can aid many worried drinkers who know they don’t belong in addiction recovery. The goal of hypnosis is to break the unhealthy emotional conditioning to alcohol and to replace it with more logical and helpful responses. It is also important to train the brain to be more emotionally resilient and to be open to challenges that can be dealt with without a glass of alcohol in hand.

    Once a drinker has developed healthier coping strategies through this method, they will not be drawn to alcohol as the instant answer. It does take practice but the hypnosis method is simple, effective, and life-affirming for many heavy drinkers. We all have the right to decide how we want to improve our lives and hypnosis is a brilliant way to achieve this.

    Once a drinker does not use alcohol to soothe negative emotions, their whole outlook will bebrighter, they will feel more in control of their life, and they can thendrink alcohol without it being an emotional crutch for them.

    Your Questions

    Still have questions for Georgia about hypnosis?

    Please leave your questions in the comments section below. We do our best to respond to all questions personally and promptly. And we love to hear from our readers!
    ——

    About the Author: GEORGIA FOSTER is a clinical hypnotherapist & voice dialogue trainer. She qualified with distinction at The London College of Clinical Hypnosis in 1996. She then went on to become one of the college’s senior lecturers before venturing out on her own to build her online products while running her busy London Clinic. Georgia now resides in Melbourne, Australia. She specializes in alcohol reduction, emotional overeating, self-esteem, anxiety, and fertility issues. Her unique and highly successful approach has helped tens of thousands of people learn how to feel better emotionally and physically. Her new book, “Drink Less in 7 Days,” is on shelves now. To learn more visit www.georgiafoster.com.

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is Affecting New Demographics

    Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is Affecting New Demographics

    Alcohol-related liver damage used to be associated with older men but new statistics suggest that the disease is now increasingly affecting younger people.

    A new troubling trend is on the rise with regard to alcoholic liver disease, or ALD.

    Over the years, as young people began to drink more and more, related problems began to arise. College-aged-kids going into alcoholic comas, becoming injured or dying during drunken frat-house parties have become a pressing concern, and now doctors are seeing ALD in more younger Americans.

    ALD used to be considered “an old man’s disease,” Michigan Medicine liver specialist Jessica Mellinger, MD, told Michigan Health. Onset symptoms of alcoholic liver disease include chronic fatigue, poor appetite, itchy skin and abdominal pain and swelling. 

    A national study led by Mellinger and colleagues looked at seven years of data from over 100 million U.S. residents with insurance. “One of the scariest statistics out there that my colleagues unveiled in a study is that cirrhosis mortality related to alcohol use increased the most in people 25 to 34 years old,” Mellinger said. 

    Between 1999 and 2016, there was an average increase around 10% every year of young people who died from alcohol-related liver damage.

    “This is really dramatic and mirrors what we are seeing in the clinic,” Mellinger notes. “It signals that more alcohol abuse is occurring.”

    The research found that more women than men had alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver over the seven-year study, with women at a 50% increase and men at 30%. Over one-third of cirrhosis cases in the study were related to alcohol.

    Men and women absorb and metabolize alcohol differently, leaving women more vulnerable to liver damage. And women also have less body water, so women and men with the same amount of alcohol consumption will have different blood alcohol concentrations.

    Mellinger also believes that American culture plays a part in women’s drinking. “There is this ‘mommy juice’ culture, this ‘mommy juice’ humor involving wine that’s normalizing drinking in a bad way,” she told Michigan Health. “There is nothing funny about alcoholic liver disease.”

    In addition, Dr. Vijay Shah, head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Mayo Clinic, told NPR that the study’s emphasis on American youth is new.

    “Alcohol-related liver cirrhosis used to be considered a disease that would happen after 30 years of heavy alcohol consumption,” Shah said. “But this study is showing that these problems are actually occurring in individuals in their 20s and 30s.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Alcohol Addiction and Abuse

    Alcohol Addiction and Abuse

    ARTICLE SUMMARY: Alcoholism the #1 addiction in America. The social acceptance of drinking can often lead to denial. But if left untreated, a drinking problem has severe consequences.

    ESTIMATED READING TIME: 5-10 minutes.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    New studies reveal that NO LEVEL OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION improves health. In other words, alcohol is not good for you.

    No Healthy Amount

    Most people drink for one of two reasons:

    1. People drink alcohol to cope with stress.
    2. People drink alcohol because of social influences.

    Indeed, alcohol is socially acceptable. Most of us drink it in various forms, including beer, wine, and hard liquor. And many of us think that there are health benefits associated with consuming up to two drinks per day. However, recent studies are finding that no level of alcohol consumption improves health. So, a drinking problem can occur… even if you think you’re drinking within reasonable limits.

    “Abuse” Definitions

    According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,1 moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. However, the Dietary Guidelines do not recommend that people who do not drink alcohol start drinking for any reason. This is simply because alcohol is not good for you!

    Not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic. In fact, about half of all Americans are active drinkers. But if your life is negatively affected by alcohol on a consistent basis, you may have a problem.

    So, what does it mean to “abuse” alcohol? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has a website Rethinking Drinking that defines what problem drinking is. And it’s not based on how much you drink, exactly. They say,”

    The more drinks you drink on any day and the more heavy drinking days over time, the greater the risk—not only for an alcohol use disorder, but also for other health and personal problems.

    Still, you can begin to suspect a drinking problem when…

    Men: You drink more than 4 drinks on any day OR you drink more than 14 drinks per week.
    Women: You drink more than 3 drinks on any day OR you drink more than 7 drinks per week.

    Image credit: NIAAA Rethinking Drinking

    So, if you are drinking like this, are you an alcoholic? According to the NIAAA, about 1 in 4 people who exceed these limits already has an alcohol use disorder (also called “alcoholism”). The remaining 3 in 4 people are at greater risk for developing these and other problems. Again, individual risks vary. People can have problems drinking less than these amounts, particularly if they drink too quickly.

    Use this NIAAA form to verify a drinking problem.

    DRINKING TOO MUCH + TOO OFTEN = TOO RISKY

    Definitions of a standard drink:

    Beer

    Beer is an alcoholic drink typically made from water, barley, hops, and yeast. Many people think that beer is safer to drink than wine or liquor. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describes the real story about beer on this alcohol FAQ page:

    Q: Is beer or wine safer to drink than liquor?
    A: No. One 12-ounce beer has about the same amount of alcohol as one 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5-ounce shot of liquor.

    In fact, one beer may be your limit for the night, if you’re a man…and half a beer may be all you need if you’re a woman. It is the amount of alcohol consumed that affects a person most, not the type of alcoholic drink.

    But beer is a part of American culture. It can be hard to ignore the billboards and advertising around beer. There are drinking games based on beer, sporting events usually always have beer available, and beer is a part of post-work get together. Plus, the trend for microbrewed, craft beers is on the rise. However, even people who drink during social activities or who only drink craft beer can develop an alcohol use disorder.

    So, how do you know if you’re addicted to beer, or not?

    Signs of a problem may include continuing to drink when everyone else has stopped or feeling the need to drink during uncomfortable or boring situations. Basically, a drinking problem causes disruption in your life. So, if you’re facing beer addiction you may have difficulty making it to work on time, keeping up with schoolwork, or recovering from drinking the next day. To get help for a beer addiction now, please send us a message or give us a call.

    Wine

    Wine is made from fermented grapes. It is mostly sold as white wine or red wine with a variety of flavor profiles based on the type of grape used. For example, popular white wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling. Popular red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah / Shiraz.

    The percentage of alcohol in wine can vary widely; therefore, read the labels and adjust accordingly. When compared to beer, wine has a more concentrated amount of alcohol. Still, an average 5 oz. glass of wine is equivalent in alcohol content to 12 oz. of beer. An overpoured glass of wine, however, could contain much more alcohol than a standard drink.

    Wine is often consumed with meals. It has a status as a “classy” drink that can make it harder to spot a problem. Drinking wine may be a problem for you if any of these things are true:

    • Drinking wine causes trouble with your relationships, school, or work.
    • You can’t control how much wine you drink.
    • You’ve tried quitting drinking but cannot.
    • You feel anxious, irritable, or stressed when you aren’t drinking wine.

    If you or someone you care about has been drinking wine more frequently than intended or using it to combat anxious or depressive feelings, there may be a deeper issue at play. The earlier you get help for a wine addiction, the better! Wine problems are medical in nature and can be treated professionally.

    Liquor

    “Liquor” is the term used for hard alcoholic drinks or spirits like tequila, vodka, gin, rum and whiskey. Liquor has a much higher volume of alcohol than beer or wine: approximately 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits contain about 40% alcohol. Additionally, the type of spirit, recipe, and size of serving glass can impact the quantity of hard liquor in the drink. A mixed drink can contain from one to three or more standard drinks.

    Liquor can impact and speed up the development of a drinking problem. This is due to the way we metabolize alcohol. The Indian Health Service explains it like this…when a person drinks an alcoholic beverage, about 20% of the alcohol is absorbed in the stomach and about 80% is absorbed in the small intestine. The rate the alcohol is absorbed depends upon a few factors:

    1. The higher the concentration of alcohol, the faster the absorption.
    2. Carbonated drinks tend to speed up absorption of alcohol.
    3. Whether the stomach is full or empty. Food can slow down alcohol absorption.

    Basically, increased absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream can cause quicker intoxication. It’s like comparing oral vs. injection routes of drug administration. The quicker a drug hits your bloodstream and crosses the blood-brain barrier, the more addictive. Plus, the lower liquid content of shots make them easier to consume, leading to a higher risk of alcoholism.

    Regardless of the type of liquor consumed, alcohol of any kind possesses serious addiction potential. But you can get help for a liquor addiction now. Continue reading for more ideas.

    Binge Drinking

    Drinking too much at once is called “binge drinking”. As noted by the CDC, it is the most common way people drink too much in the U.S. But what does it mean to binge drink?

    The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. Guidelines follow.

    Men: You binge drink when you consume 5 or more drinks on a single occasion and usually occurs within about 2 hours.
    Women: You binge drink when you consume 4 or more drinks on a single occasion and usually occurs within about 2 hours.

    While most people who binge drink are not alcohol dependent, binge drinking is the most common, costly, and deadly pattern of drinking too much. It causes injury and serious risk to health. It occurs frequently, with one in six adults binging about four times a month. And in many cases, prolonged binge drinking can develop into alcoholism.

    Mixing Alcohol with Drugs

    Because drinking is easily accessible, people often mix alcohol with other drugs. However, alcohol is both a central nervous depressant AND a stimulant… thereby posing a serious risk to your health when you mix it. For example, when mixed with benzodiazepines, opiates, or Rx painkillers, alcohol can trigger overdose effects. Alcohol on its own can be dangerous, but combining it with other substances can quickly prove lethal.

    When It Becomes Addiction

    Addiction occurs somewhere in a person’s drinking history. It can happen fast, within the span of a few months. Or, addiction can occur over the course of years. So when do you know you’ve crossed the line and become addicted to alcohol?

    Alcoholism (a.k.a. alcohol addiction) is marked by a craving for alcohol. This craving occurs after the first drink and compels you to drink more. Craving also occurs when you’re NOT drinking; it can drive you back to alcohol. People who are addicted also are unable to stop drinking, especially in the face of personal or social harm.

    Signs of an alcohol addiction include:

    • Alcohol dependence.
    • An increased tolerance (needing to drink more to feel drunk).
    • Frequently drinking more than intended.
    • Spending time getting alcohol, drinking it, or recovering from its effects.
    • Wanting to stop drinking but being unable to.

    High-Functioning Alcoholism

    Not all alcoholics are bottom of the bottle drinkers.

    In the early 2000’s researchers officially recognized a subset of drinkers called “high-functioning” alcoholics. Study author Howard B. Moss, M.D., NIAAA Associate Director for Clinical and Translational Research said, “We find that young adults comprise the largest group of alcoholics in this country, and nearly 20 percent of alcoholics are highly functional and well-educated with good incomes.”

    The problem with high-functioning alcoholism is that it can go undiagnosed. As people are able to keep their jobs, and experience relatively few harms…they often do not seek help. If you think you might have a drinking problem, ask for help. Here are some suggestions that we have for you:

    • Ask your friends and loved ones to support you.
    • Talk to a doctor or nurse if you are having a hard time cutting down on your drinking.
    • If one type of treatment doesn’t work for you, you can try another. Don’t give up!
    • Call 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) for information about treatment.
    • To explore treatment options, visit the NIAAA Treatment Navigator.

    Statistics

    Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease burden worldwide, accounting for nearly 10% of global deaths among populations aged 15–49 years, according to the 2016 Global Burden of Diseases report. This 2011 study breaks down the most common disease categories that are entirely or partly caused by alcohol consumption, which can include:

    • Cancer
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Diabetes
    • Infectious diseases
    • Liver and pancreas disease
    • Neuropsychiatric diseases (including alcohol use disorders)
    • Unintentional and intentional injury

    Why wait for things to get worse?

    Reach out and get help today.

    When to Get Help

    Getting help for a drinking problem early is best!

    So, if you think that you have a problem with alcohol, it’s best to assume that you do.

    Then, reach out for help.

    You are not alone!

    Many people who struggle with alcohol addiction find it difficult or impossible to quit on their own. There are many programs designed to get you the help you need. Or, you can increase your chance of a full recovery with the help of an alcohol rehab center. Get in touch with one today….and increase your chances for success and an alcohol-free life!

    View the original article at

  • Alcohol Symptoms and Warning Signs

    Alcohol Symptoms and Warning Signs

    ARTICLE OVERVIEW: Drinking too much, too often is considered “alcohol abuse”. It can be a warning sign of a drinking problem. One major indication of alcoholism is physical dependence on alcohol. In this article, we review dependence and other symptoms of a true drinking problem… and offer suggestions on how can you deal with them.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    Half of all Americans Drink Regularly

    Do you drink alcohol?

    If so, you are like half of all adult Americans. If truth be told, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health of 2015 found that 56% of people 18 aged 18 and older were current, past-month alcohol consumers. The survey also reports that 86% of all people aged 18 + said that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime.

    But, just because you drink regularly doesn’t mean that you have a drinking problem…

    Just to clear the air…

    In the U.S. a ‘standard drink‘ is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol.

    And the AMOUNT you drink of these standard drinks does not – in an of itself – determine a problem. In fact, the development of a drinking problem varies from person to person. Some people may trigger a problem after only a few drinking sessions, while others may develop drinking problems after years of prolonged use. And some people only binge drink on parties…with little to no real consequences.

    A Drinking Problem, or Not?

    So, how do you know whether you have a drinking problem or not?

    The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism(NIAAA) gives us the general definition for having a problem as follows:

    For women:

    • If you drink more than 1 drink per day.
    • If you drink more than 7 drinks per week.
    • If you drink more than 3 drinks on any single day.

    For men:

    • If you drink more than 2 drinks per day.
    • If you drink more than 14 drinks per week.
    • If you drink more than 4 drinks on any single day.

    But there are also two high-risk drinking patterns that can lead to a problem with booze.

    1. Binge drinking defined by the NIAAA is a pattern of drinking that elevates the blood alcohol concentration levels (BAC) to 0.08 g/dl, which is after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men in a timeframe of about 2 hours.
    2. Heavy drinking defined by SAMHSA is binge drinking on 5 or more days in a period of one month.

    NIAAA’s Rethinking Drinking claims that about 1 in 4 people who exceed these limits can be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder, while the others are at great risk for becoming dependent to alcohol over time. The SAMSHA survey on drug use and health reported that in 2016, 15 million people aged 12 or older meet the criteria for being diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder. This means that 1 in 18 Americans have a drinking problem.

    Do you fit into this definition?

    If so, keep reading. Next, we review the common signs of alcohol abuse and dependence, and we provide help on what to do next. If you have any questions, please feel free to write them in the comments section at the end. We will try to respond personally and promptly to all legitimate inquiries.

    DRINKING TOO MUCH + TOO OFTEN + NEGATIVE IMPACT = Alcohol Abuse

    Signs of Alcohol Abuse

    As a socially acceptable psychoactive substance, alcohol is widely used. It’s safe to say that most social events are organized around a drink. But, when do you start to ‘abuse’ alcohol?

    Alcohol abuse is considered when you drink too much, and too often, and your drinking starts to have a negative impact on your life.

    BUT, alcohol abuse is not the same as being physically dependent on alcohol. These two drinking conditions are different. According to the DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Alcohol Abuse and Dependence, you are abusing alcohol if you meet at least one of the following criteria within 12-month period:

    • Recurrent alcohol-related legal issues.
    • Recurrent drinking in situations that are dangerous, like driving under the influence.
    • Recurrent use of alcohol resulting in a failure to fulfill obligations at work, school, or home.
    • You continue to drink despite constant problems with family and friends due to alcohol use.

    Alcohol abuse is serious drinking condition that may lead you to dependence and addiction. However, this condition is treatable!

    Signs of Alcohol Dependence

    According to the “Neurobiology of Alcohol Dependence”, alcohol dependence is a chronic relapsing disorder that is progressive and has serious detrimental health outcomes. The DSM-IV states that you have alcohol dependence if you meet three or more of the following criteria in the same 12-month period:

    • A persistent desire for drinking.
    • Drinking in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended.
    • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms once you cut down or quit drinking.
    • Giving up or reducing important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of drinking.
    • You continue to drink despite having health problems.
    • You need to increased amounts of alcohol to achieve intoxication or desired effect.
    • You spend a great deal of time spent in activities necessary to obtain, to use, or to recover from the effects of drinking.
    • The diagnosis of liver disease, high blood pressure, or heart disease.
    • One or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control drinking.

    Alcohol dependence is a way more serious drinking condition than alcohol abuse. It is an indication that you may suffer from alcoholism.

    On the contrary of DSM-IV, the updated version DSM-V lists 11 criteria that one person needs to meet in order to be diagnosed with alcohol use disorder:

    1. Use alcohol in larger amounts, or longer than intended.
    2. Spend a lot of time using, and/or recovering from use.
    3. Experiencing strong urge/cravings to drink.
    4. Fail to perform normally at work/school/home due to drinking.
    5. Continue to drink despite the negative consequences caused in relationships with loved ones, friends, and family.
    6. Continue to drink despite being aware of harmful risks and side effects.
    7. Continue to drink despite the risk of developing health problems or worsen physical or psychological condition.
    8. Give up hobbies, recreational activities, or social interactions because of drinking.
    9. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms once the drinking is cut down or stopped. (dependence)
    10. Tried and failed to quit.
    11. Need to drink more in order to feel the desired effect (tolerance).

    Having at least two symptoms indicates a level of alcohol use disorder. The levels of severity are classified as following:

    • Mild disorder: Presence of 2 to 3 symptoms.
    • Moderate disorder: Presence of 4 to 5 symptoms.
    • Severe disorder: Presence of 6 or more symptoms.

    Recognizing an Alcohol Addiction

    Alcohol use disorder may be hard to spot it. How can you know whether someone is drinking in moderation or if they have a drinking problem?

    The best way to recognize any drinking problem is by learning the drinking patterns or habits mentioned earlier.

    Some patterns, such as binge drinking, are easy to spot, but for some you may need more insights.

    People who have drinking problems may:

    • Consume alcohol to feel the buzz.
    • Drink large amounts at social gatherings.
    • Drink throughout the whole day.
    • Drive under influence.
    • Engage in trouble like picking fights.
    • Have an urge to drink every day.

    You can always check out these online alcohol screening tools and questionnaires to assess a possible problem:

    Intervention for Alcoholics

    Intervention involves a group of individuals who are ready to confront the person who has drinking problems in order to persuade them to seek treatment. This group usually consists of family members, close friends, loved ones, or even close colleagues. The goals of an intervention are to:

    • Help the addict see the problem.
    • Help them find a treatment.
    • Help them follow through by setting up consequences.

    Interventions led by certified professionals are more effective that when you attempt to approach a loved one on your own.

    A successful intervention is best when it is planned and arranged with an intervention specialist. The 7 principles of intervention for alcohol use disorder include:

    1. Meet with a certified interventionist.
    2. Plan in advance.
    3. Choose the right people to take part.
    4. Choose the right time for the intervention.
    5. Speak with respect and love, but never with anger.
    6. Follow through.
    7. Take care of yourself.

    Here are two websites where you can find certified interventionists:

    Alcohol Withdrawal & Detox Symptoms

    Alcohol withdrawal is a set of symptoms that occurs when people who are dependent to alcohol cut down their drinking or quit for good. Why does this happen?

    Your brain and body have adjust to the constant presence of alcohol because is a nervous system depressant. So, once you cut back on drinking, your body needs time to adjust. Withdrawal syndrome is actually the manifestation of symptoms meant to “reverse” the effects of alcohol. It takes time for the brain’s chemistry to even out again…but can be dangerous by provoking seizures, hallucinations, or life-threatening situations.

    For this reason, always seek medical supevision when you detox off alcohol.

    Withdrawal usually occurs within 8 hours after last drink, but symptoms can last for days or weeks. Some of the most common symptoms include:

    • Agitation.
    • Anxiety.
    • Depression.
    • Difficulty concentrating.
    • Disorientation.
    • Fatigue.
    • Headache.
    • Heightened.
    • Irritability.
    • Jumpiness or shakiness.
    • Mood swings.
    • Nausea.
    • Nightmares.
    • Sweating.
    • Tremors.
    • Vomiting.

    Moreover, some individuals may experience post-acute or protracted withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). According to SAMHSA protracted withdrawal is the presence of withdrawal symptom beyond the general timeframe.

    Some PAWS include:

    • Anxiety.
    • Depression.
    • Increased blood pressure and pulse.
    • Increased body temperature
    • Increased breathing rate.
    • Sleep disruption.
    • Tremor.

    Check out our infographic to learn a detailed list of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, with timetable of their appearance.

    Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

    Alcohol treatment is the process of treating alcoholism. There are two main types of treatment: inpatient  rehab you live at the facility with 24/7 medical surveillance and outpatient rehab where you come and go to the facility for several hours, a few days per week. The most successful rehabs are those that implement evidence-based strategies that include:

    1. Assessment.

    The first stage of any rehab is assessment. Doctors and staff should take your full medical history, perform a physical exam, interview you for an hour or more, and help you complete paper work. Also, you may be asked to submit a blood or urine sample for drug testing.

    During assessment, the medical staff will run both physical and psychological evaluations. This stage helps clinicians to plan out the treatment plan, which can be adjusted over time.

    2. Medical detox.

    This stage provides medical supervision while you are going through the process of withdrawal.

    3. Psychotherapy.

    During this stage of treatment, you will be invited to identify the roots and underlying issues for your drinking problems. Talk therapy will help you move towards a life without alcohol, and you will learn how to live without needing to drink. Most therapies that are used in rehabs include some form of:

    • Behavioral Therapy
    • Individual Therapy
    • Group Therapy
    • Family Therapy

    4. Pharmacotherapy.

    One way to address alcohol problems is with the help of medications. Medicine combined with talk therapy leads to best results. Medications included in the treatment of a drinking problem include:

    Acamprosate may be used to reduce symptoms of protracted withdrawal, such as insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and dysphoria.

    Antabuse (disulfiram) is used to prevent future drinking; it can make a person sick if even a small amount of alcohol is consumed.

    Barbiturates can help manage withdrawal and address specific symptoms.

    Benzodiazepines are used to address symptoms of withdrawal. Sample regimen includes 3 days of long-acting benzodiazepine (such as lorazepam, diazepam, and chlordiazepoxide) intake on a fixed schedule.

    Naltrexone blocks the rewarding effects of alcohol.

    5. Education sessions.

    This stage helps people to learn how alcohol affects and changes the brain activity, and how can drinking destroy your life. Also, during this stage, patients will learn some coping mechanism to deal with stress, triggers, and avoid relapse.

    6. Aftercare.

    Aftercare services provide support to maintain sobriety in the mounts and years after you complete the program. Most common aftercare services include:

    • Coaching.
    • Counseling therapy.
    • Living in sober house.
    • Support Groups.

    Next Steps

    Do you think that you may have drinking problems? Don’t waste your time. Admit that the problem is real, and act!

    You can reach out for help with any of the following organizations:

    American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
    401–524–3076

    American Psychological Association
    1–800–964–2000 (ask for your State’s referral number to find psychologists with addiction specialties)

    American Society of Addiction Medicine
    301–656–3920 (ask for the phone number of your State’s chapter)

    NAADAC Substance Abuse Professionals
    1–800–548–0497

    National Association of Social Workers
    (search for social workers with addiction specialties)

    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
    301–443–3860

    National Institute on Drug Abuse
    301–443–1124

    National Institute of Mental Health
    1–866–615–6464

    Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
    1–800–662–HELP

    OR, CALL OUR HELPLINE.

    According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health there are 21 million people aged 12 or older who need treatment for alcohol and/or drug use. But many people are not getting the help that they need!  NIAAA states that less than 10% of people who need help for drinking problems receive any treatment.

    Don’t wait to be a statistic!

    Get help today.

    Reference sources: NIDA: Evidence-Based Approaches to Alcohol Addiction
    SAMHSA: Alcohol
    U.S. Department of the Interior Signs and Symptoms Fact Sheet on Drugs and Alcohol
    NIAAA: Alcohol Facts and Statistics

    View the original article at

  • Booze on Campus: The Problem of College Drinking & Why It’s Bad

    Booze on Campus: The Problem of College Drinking & Why It’s Bad

    Why the ‘Age Excuse’ for College Drinking Is Toxic

    Is abusing alcohol a foregone conclusion when it comes to the college experience? Is binge-drinking on university campuses a product of tender age, a lack of supervision and supercharged hormones? And can we really expect our students to outgrow it in time to enter the workforce and figure out how to contribute something to society?

    Don’t mistake these questions for prudishness. When used responsibly, alcohol can be a fun addition to some social experiences. But for every peer-reviewed study that illuminates college drinking and how it affects our later lives, there’s another raft of disinformation or willful ignorance to contend with. When we’re not ignoring alcohol abuse at college, we’re letting it become a running joke in our movies, television shows and conversations.

    Alcohol abuse is not a foregone conclusion anywhere — whether you attend college or not. But everything about how we prepare our students for college, and how we encourage them to spend their time once they’re there, seem to have caused this problem to swell beyond all reasonable proportions.

    Suffice it to say, using age as an excuse for college drinking is misleading, toxic, and dangerous. Let’s look at why.

    What Physiology and Psychology Have to Say About It

    There are many years’ worth of scientific studies on this subject at this point. In 2002, one study came to the disheartening conclusion that about 31 percent of all college students engage in behavior that qualifies as “abusing” alcohol. Of these, the report said, about 6 percent exhibited signs of having a dependent relationship with alcohol.

    Another series of studies published in 2007 added to this growing body of knowledge by identifying several subtypes of alcohol dependency. The researchers defined and arranged these subtypes by the individual’s worsening frequency of use:

    • Young adult
    • Young antisocial
    • Intermediate familial
    • Functional
    • Chronic severe

    Among these, only the last two — “functional” and “chronic severe” — seem to jive with the stereotypical “picture” of an alcoholic. And yet, these types of alcohol abusers represent the smallest share of the five above types.

    That means we’re leaving a huge portion of the alcoholism “spectrum” out of our conversations about substance abuse, which is a mistake.

    College Is About Creating Habits

    It’s true — there’s a certain image that comes to mind in the collective unconscious when the words “alcoholic” or “alcohol dependency” come up. It’s also true many of us believe this image to be a typical or even routine part of the college “experience.” We expect college students to drink socially. We assume this behavior is normal and something students will manage to grow out of after four years without any trouble. Once they have their degree, we rationalize they’ll just “snap out of it” and everything will be different.

    Very few of these assumptions are true, unfortunately.

    To begin with, the idea that every college student drinks is, itself, fallacious — the number is closer to 60 percent. But the far worse part is the way these assumptions normalize the act of drinking alcohol, especially in an academic, pre-workforce setting, where these students are supposed to be setting themselves up for a successful future.

    Additionally, indulging too frequently in binge drinking trains the human brain to “phone it in” during our daily activities, responsibilities and commitments — both on campus and off. By trading delayed for immediate gratification, we’re training our bodies and minds to play first and work later. And the longer the cycle continues, the later “later” becomes.

    Finally, college is a place where we develop skills and habits to last a lifetime. If we accept alcoholism as a foregone conclusion in the college experience, we normalize its use to a dangerous degree and paves the way for dependence.

    If college is where people form lifelong habits, it makes a lot of sense that abusing alcohol in college correlates with the abuse of alcohol later in life.

    These students are developing habits because of a mindset they can’t kick when they go out into the real world, no matter how hard they might want to.

    Problem Drinking Does Not Work as a “Rite of Passage”

    By normalizing problem drinking as a “rite of passage”, we run the risk of losing touch with the purpose of attending a university, and why it’s so valuable: It represents the development of knowledge and practical skills, the accumulation of pro-social habits and the cultivation of a more thorough understanding of the larger human world and our place within it.

    In what way does using or abusing alcohol fit into these objectives? We seem to have agreed, collectively, to let alcohol become entwined in this otherwise idyllic-sounding venture. That is not to say alcohol is, fundamentally, a waste of time or, indeed, that it should be off-limits to college students who are of legal drinking age. Rather, it’s a reminder to do an accounting of our collective priorities.

    Because we failed to have regular discussions about the cost and value of education over the years, the price of attending college in the United States has spent the last generation spiraling out of control and out of reach. We have been equally unwilling to have frank conversations about the degree to which alcohol undermines a successful college education. Thankfully, science has already done the heavy lifting.

    The Science on Why Alcohol Undermines Educational Experiences

    Thankfully, you don’t have to take our word for it.

    Research tells us, for instance, that 25 percent of all college-goers attribute alcohol abuse to:

    • Poor academic performance
    • Missed classes
    • A lack of information retention during class
    • Lousy test scores to alcohol

    Based on national statistics, college students who drink three times per week or more are also more than six times as likely to perform poorly on a project or exam as a direct result of abusing alcohol.

    Altogether, individuals in college engage in binge drinking far more often than their non-college-educated peers and are more likely to drive under the influence.

    Why Do We Allow Risky Drinking in College?

    To be frank, it’s like we’re setting our college students up for failure. We don’t speak openly about alcohol — we either say nothing about it, or we celebrate and fetishize it. We’ve made it an inextricable part of incoming college students’ expectations when they arrive on campus and begin wondering what to make of themselves and how to budget their time.

    It’s true most college students have at least a passing familiarity with alcohol even before they leave home. But almost every part of the college experience and atmosphere seems to amplify the factors that encourage binge drinking in the first place: largely unstructured intervals of time, limited contact with family and existing points of contact and authority, and inconsistent or nonexistent enforcement of drinking laws on campuses all conspire to make college an ideal place for alcohol dependencies to flourish.

    Whether it’s because many of us arrive at college without solid plans for the future — and no immediate intention of using our time in an organized way to pursue those plans — or because we’re just reaching for comfort in uncertain surroundings, it’s clear college campuses are an almost uniquely attractive place for the abuse of alcohol.

    It’s an environment where people who are at awkward ages, and who are emotionally and financially vulnerable to an almost preposterous degree, get to make choices for themselves for perhaps the first time in their lives. The fact that so much problematic drinking happens at college isn’t a failure of higher learning, however — it’s an indictment of everything we do and don’t do to prepare our young people for a life at college and beyond.

    Do the Media Fuel Our Vices and How We Think About Them?

    The reason alcohol use among college students is simultaneously a taboo topic and a running joke might well have something to do with the mainstream media and its portrayal of alcohol.

    The problem is so pervasive, it’s challenging to pinpoint a specific example. As with cigarette culture, where we had to write laws to exorcise “personalities” like Joe Camel from our airwaves, removing the influence of alcohol on entertainment and marketing would take a major social and political effort. There’s no conspiracy, necessarily — binge drinking at college has become a part of our collective unconscious, whether it’s characters in a film drinking to excess or a tasteless beer ad encouraging the same.

    We banished Joe Camel from our televisions. Now he vapes. So how do we fix our society-wide habit of simultaneously ignoring our drinking problem and treating it like a pervasive running gag? And how do we make it stick?

    Why Is Alcohol Advertising Still Allowed?

    Science has observed portrayals of alcohol on television, at the movies and in music videos are relatively pervasive and largely paint alcohol as a benign, pleasurable or even pro-social experience. But researchers have been a little slower to conclude decisively that this fuels alcohol abuse.

    The nearest comparison is whether violent video games “cause” violent behavior. The verdict seems to be that there is a significant correlation, but not a causal relationship. Some violent children and adults happen to play violent videogames. Additionally, some individuals who see alcohol depicted in entertainment media tend to abuse it later.

    However, there is less of a gray area surrounding the influence of explicit alcohol advertisements. Adolescents and even young children who become aware of alcohol, and stay that way, through alcohol-related advertisements, tend to hold more positive feelings toward alcohol use in general. There is, therefore, limited evidence that alcohol advertisements aimed at youth — including pre-college and college students — “primes the pump,” so to speak, for the use and abuse of alcohol later in life.

    The advertisement of cigarettes on television is illegal in the United States. The direct marketing of unproven pharmaceuticals is legal, however — but causes just as much damage. So, why are we still allowing alcohol to be portrayed as harmless, fun, social, and pleasant?

    In Conclusion

    Alcohol occupies a controversial position in our society. We allow it to be bought, sold, and consumed without relative taxation or legislation. We normalize unhealthy patterns of drinking during early adulthood. And, our society permits the open promotion of alcohol as a social tool.

    However, an estimated 88,0008 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

    Until we’re more honest with ourselves about who benefits – and who stands to experience the most harm – we’re going to keep making excuses about college campus drinking instead of finding solutions.

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