What is addiction? And why is it often called a “disease”? How do I know if I’m addicted? Can I have a psychological dependence on alcohol or drugs, but not be addicted? When do I need treatment to overcome a substance abuse problem? Is there hope for me?
April is National Alcohol Awareness Month, a national effort sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence to raise awareness about alcohol-related problems and recovery. This year’s theme is “Help for today, hope for tomorrow,” with an emphasis on underage drinking and its effects on young people and their families. The destructive power of alcoholism … Read More
Technology is Moving Quickly We are all aware of the explosion in social networking opportunities since the world rang in the 21st century just 13 years ago—Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Smartphone, Instagram, Pinterest, to name the most obvious. I ask, “Who could have imagined?” But then it is obvious a lot of people had to have … Read More
Question: As a part of heavy partying, people often plan to get drunk. What they don’t plan on is getting alcohol poisoning. For those who drink to excess, however, alcohol poisoning is a real danger. This begs the question “How can you get drunk without getting alcohol poisoning?” Answer: By controlling how much you drink and how fast … Read More
Working in the field of addiction treatment, people often ask “what does an alcoholic actually look like?” In many cases, people expect the answer to validate the picture they already have in their minds of the steriotypical addict. Their preconceived picture however, is often quite innaccurate. The Innacuracy of the Stereotype Maybe it’s the depiction of … Read More
Alcohol poisoning occurs when you drink too much alcohol over a short period of time, and your blood alcohol level spikes high enough to impair the areas of the brain that control basic life support functions such as breathing and heart rate. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning The symptoms of alcohol poisoning are usually life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. … Read More
As you probably already know, chronic alcohol inhibits the absorption and usage of vital nutrients, including folic acid, zinc, vitamin B12 and vitamin B1, or thiamin. Your body cannot produce these chemicals but must obtain them through your diet. Nutrient Function Effect of Deficiency Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Converting carbohydrates into energy, especially for the brain and nervous … Read More
Why does alcohol affect men differently than women? Why do women get drunk faster than men? “Even when a man and a woman weigh exactly the same amount, a woman only needs 90 percent of what a man consumes to achieve the same blood alcohol level. “ –the daily beast It doesn’t seem fair does it? … Read More
I drink, but does that mean I’m addicted? Or do I just like drinking? How do I tell the difference? In a culture where social drinking gilds the periphery of our lives, it’s hard to tell when alcohol moves into the spotlight. The edges between casual drinking and addiction are blurry. But what is casual drinking? What … Read More
Today, more than ever, alcohol affects the economy, raises the nation death toll, and touches the lives of our children—who are our future. Impact their decisions about alcohol use, and you are changing the future.
Though we will forever have the memories of what our lives were like before sobriety, it can be easy to forget the strength of the beast as we become busier, happier, and journey further in recovery. And that’s just what it wants. You see, when we’re too busy or complaisant, we forget the real power of … Read More
