Alcohol Abuse

Elderly Drug Abuse: A Real and Growing Threat

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Drug Rehabilitation on January 19th, 2012

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there will be approximately 4.4 million cases of elderly substance abuse by the year 2020. This means that senior citizen substance abuse is a real problem and a growing threat expected to affect millions of seniors if nothing is done about it.

seniors drug abusePrevious studies made on the same subject have presented figures of substance abuse among elders. In 2005, there were 184,400 individuals aged 50 and above placed under drug rehabilitation programs. Earlier in 2001, there were 143,000, which means an increase of roughly 8% in just a few years.

Below are some facts on elderly substance abuse we need to be familiar about:

1. Interventions are considered more of a necessity for elderly substance abuse cases. Senior citizens don’t often admit to having problems as they are afraid of what other people might say about them. This is why intervention should be done as early as possible for such cases.

2. The most common type of substance abuse at this level is alcohol abuse. Yet at present, the trend is increasing towards prescription drug abuse in this age group.

3. The bright side of it all is that when senior citizens are placed under rehab, they usually are more successful compared to other age groups. They are highly motivated to finish the program and they can easily adapt especially when the treatment program is designed for them.

4. Other types of drug abuse such as heroin or cocaine use seldom happens for senior citizens.

It is very important that elderly addicts be separated from their younger counterparts. There is a big difference between a younger addict and an elderly addict. Unlike younger people with substance abuse problems, senior citizens don’t behave as extreme as those of other age groups. They even prefer to be on a treatment program which gives them more time to be on their own rather than interacting with others on the same situation.

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Over 38 Million Americans Binge Drink

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on January 14th, 2012

A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than 38 million Americans are into binge drinking.

binge drinkingBinge drinking happens at least four times in a month for an average adult. Surprisingly, most binge drinkers are not alcoholics, but the government is still worried as this kind of habit may promote an increase in the number of alcohol-related incidents such as vehicular accidents and violence.

The CDC report attributes 80,000 deaths each year in the US alone due to alcohol, and losses reaching to $223.5 billion were recorded in 2006 for such incidents.

A binge drinker consumes four or more drinks in one sitting in less than two hours which is enough to shoot one’s blood-alcohol level way above the set legal limit.

Dr. Fulton Crews from the Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina says most people are not aware of the harmful effects of binge drinking.

The new study puts young adults aged 18 to 34 with a household income of at least $75,000 annually as among the most common participants in binge drinking activities. Yet there are also people 65 years or older who also get into the habit and even consume more drinks than young adults do.

Dr. Mark Galanter from the New York University School of Medicine says that binge drinking paves the way for alcohol dependence among young people.

The study was conducted in 2010 with almost 50,000 Americans contacted by telephone and asked about their alcohol habits.

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New Year’s Resolution: Fight Alcohol Addiction!

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on January 8th, 2012

The year 2012 is here and it’s important to start it right by putting the past behind and face the new year with renewed hope and positivity.

fight alcohol abuseFor those who have long been battling their addiction to alcohol, the American Psychiatric Association offers some useful tips on how to overcome such type of addiction. Getting over an alcohol addiction is never easy, and it could take some time before a person can be completely sober again.

The steps involved in the long-term treatment goals for alcohol abuse are very vital if an individual is serious in having a healthy life. The first treatment step is all about reducing alcohol intake, or if possible, the complete abstinence of alcohol by the addicted person. Once he distances himself with the substance, the better is his chances for recovery.

The next step — dealing with relapses — may prove to be the hardest part. This is why one must be ready for it. The last step is a person’s commitment to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including eating right and having enough exercise to get back in shape.

The steps mentioned are recommended by both doctors and nurses who are constantly helping alcoholics to get better. They may seem very hard at a glance, but they have been proven to be attainable by so many who were once alcohol-addicted but now lives free from the substance.

It is also ideal to seek the help of a personal doctor to be one’s guide in the journey to recovery. Situations may arise when a person in recovery will be thrust in an environment that entails alcohol, or when cravings simply attack, and so it is necessary to plan ahead on how to deal with such conditions.

It is true that quitting is hard, but admitting to having an alcohol problem may prove tougher. A new year’s resolution to quit the habit is a good way to start one’s path to a healthier life.

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Best Defense Against Teen Alcohol Abuse: Educating Kids

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Raising Healthy Kids on December 30th, 2011

One of the many reasons why kids get into the alcohol habit is the lack of information that parents should have provided about the addictive and dangerous substance. Alcohol education should start early, even before children are old enough to drink.

teen alcohol abuseTo talk about alcohol during the adolescent stages of children, parents can choose from among the many ways or approaches on how to deal with the subject, depending on where they can be most comfortable with.

It’s best to start by setting your expectations from your kids and explaining why you do so. Teenagers are very inquisitive, and telling them what to do and what not to do won’t be enough. You have got to have underlying reasons that will encourage them to follow the dos and discourage them from the don’ts. This is where family values play the greatest roles.

Remind your kids that not everything they see or hear about alcohol is true. Television ads can be very enticing and can make it hard for them to say no to alcoholic drinks. During their adolescent years, teens have the strongest desire to belong. This is what advertisers capitalize on to sell their products.

Share stories about drunk-driving teens and point out the consequences of these actions. If you have your own learning experiences to share to your kids, don’t be afraid to let them know about it because as a parent, you should be the first person to share important life lessons to them. You don’t need to do it regularly, but at least try to be consistent.

It pays to know your child’s circle of friends and their activities. Teens are often much attached to their peers that sometimes, this attitude could lead them to complicated situations. As the parent, it is your responsibility to keep your child safe, as well as his friends who also have concerned parents like you.

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Keep Minors Away from Alcohol this Holiday Season

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on December 29th, 2011

Parties and celebrations are everywhere during the holiday season. It can’t be denied that these events almost always involve alcohol. This is where adults should become responsible to keep minors away from alcohol during the holiday celebrations.

If you are hosting the party, you must keep your young and adult guests safe. To do this, here are some suggestions:

keep alcohol away from minorsa. Have a strategic area where alcoholic beverages will be placed and make it off limits to minors.

b. Even if it will cost you more, get a bartender to serve drinks to your guests. The bartender will not only keep minors from alcoholic beverages, he could also check and limit how much your adult guests drink. By doing this, you are also helping your friends to be a lot safer on the road.

c. Be vigilant during the party and make sure minors are sober throughout the event. Watch out for unattended alcoholic drinks as they can be easily picked up by kids. Dispose any unfinished drink and collect all left-over drinks.

d. If any minor is caught drinking, call the attention of the parents concerned and have them pick up the child.

As a guest, you too can do your part in keeping teens away from alcohol. If you’re in a gathering, don’t encourage teen drinking and never allow kids to have even a sip of any alcoholic beverage. You should also never leave your own drink unattended at any time during the party. If you ever get a glimpse of a minor having a drink, immediately tell your host or hostess about it.

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Teen Marijuana Use Up, Teen Cigarette and Alcohol Use Down

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Marijuana Use and Abuse, Tobacco Abuse on December 27th, 2011

In a latest survey conducted among teens in the United States, it has been noted that while tobacco and alcohol use declined among the youth, marijuana use increased.

marijuanaDr. Nora Volkow, who heads the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said that the decline in tobacco use among teens is welcome news. Yet the rate of its decline goes slower and slower over the years, and this could still be a concern for everybody. “This highlights the urgency of maintaining strong prevention efforts against teen smoking and of targeting other tobacco products,” Volkow said.

Survey results also confirmed that marijuana use among high school students has reached 25% in the past year compared to about 21% in 2007. The most troubling reality uncovered by the survey is the fact that daily marijuana use among senior high school students is at 7%. This percentage is by far the highest since 1981.

The rise in marijuana use could be due to the fact that mortality rates linked to marijuana use is by far much lower than reported tobacco fatalities. Smoking marijuana is perceived as much safer than cigarettes therefore more individuals are getting into the habit of pot smoking instead of cigarettes. What teens might be disregarding is that daily marijuana use leads to addiction which in turn could mean more serious conditions.

Alcohol use among teens is also on the decline. Reports regarding fatal cases on driving under the influence, higher risks for addiction and overdose, and violent reactions related to alcohol use have discouraged teens from alcohol abuse.

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