Alcoholism

Alcoholism is one of the longest standing problems that mankind has suffered with. In 2002 a study was conducted by the University of Amsterdam and the Leiden University. They found that as little as one drink has the ability to impair an individual's capacity to function normally. An addiction to alcohol can be a physical and/or emotional dependence but should not be considered a disease.

Similar to other addictions, an individual turns to alcohol to help "solve" a problem they are having. Over time they begin to depend on alcohol and find themselves relying on it more and more. As time goes by they continue to use alcohol as a problem solver until they are completely dependent on it. In the end, alcoholism becomes an even greater problem than the original issue they were struggling with.

There are four parts of alcoholism. The first is cravings. This is a need or strong urge to drink. The second is a loss of control. It is at this point that the individual is unable to stop their drinking once they have begun. The third is physical dependence. At this point the individual suffers withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakes, and anxiety after they have stopped drinking. The fourth is tolerance. This last part of alcoholism means that the individual feels the need to consume more alcohol to achieve the "high" or "buzz" that they are looking for.

It is a common misconception that if you could only get an alcoholic to stop drinking that their problem would be solved. This is not the case. Alcoholic's lack self-control or self-discipline that allows most people to stop drinking. They do not know any other way to "handle" the original problem that caused them to drink in the first place.

Of course getting the person to stop drinking is the initial step in helping them recover from alcoholism. The second step is helping them handle the initial problem that caused them to drink in the first place. Helping the individual handle this initial problem is an essential part of any successful rehabilitation program.

Only by providing the individual with the tools needed to handle life without the use of alcohol will they be able to live alcohol free. Once they have these tools they can conquer any problem that comes their way with confidence. They are now able to live an alcohol free life and be a happy, healthy, and productive member of society once again.

Did You Know? ...
Interesting Facts and Statistics:

Illegal drug or alcohol dependence or abuse is associated with educational status. Among adults aged 18 or older in 2001, those who had not completed high school had the highest rate of illegal drug or alcohol dependence or abuse (8.2 percent), while college graduates had the lowest rate of illegal drug or alcohol dependence or abuse (6.1 percent). This association is due primarily to the strong association between illegal drug dependence or abuse with education (3.7 percent for adults with less than a high school education vs. 0.9 percent for college graduates). There is no clear association between education and alcohol dependence or abuse.

Most (63.3 percent) of the 2.1 million recent marijuana initiates were younger than age 18 when they first used. Among teens aged 12 to 17, an estimated 4.7 percent had used marijuana for the first time within the past year, similar to the rate in 2005 (4.5 percent).

In 2008, an estimated 12.4 percent of persons aged 12 or older drove under the influence of alcohol at least once in the past year. This percentage has dropped since 2002, when it was 14.2 percent. The rate of driving under the influence of alcohol was highest among persons aged 21 to 25 (26.1 percent).

Persons dependent on or abusing a substance in the past 12 months, or who received specialty treatment for a substance use problem within the past 12 months, are classified as needing treatment. In 2004, the number of persons aged 12 or older needing treatment for an alcohol or illegal drug use problem was 23.48 million (9.8 percent). Of these, 2.33 million received treatment at a specialty facility in the past year. Thus, 21.15 million people needed but did not receive treatment at a specialty facility in 2004. The number needing but not receiving treatment did not change significantly from 2002 to 2004.

According to a survey taken by the University of Michigan, over 3 percent of high school seniors have used methamphetamine at least once in the past year.

Inhalants abusers take great health risks and may suffer from a wide array of medical consequences.

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.