Posts Tagged Alcohol Abuse

Handling Hangovers The Day After The Big Party

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on July 10th, 2010

Sometimes, it just takes us by surprise — a birthday party with an open bar or going out to a bar with work buddies or a a Saturday night out with friends. A few hours and lots of beer later, you head home, take some sleep and wake up with the great hangover.

party drinksHaving a hangover means having to go through the unpleasant physical effects brought about by heavy consumption of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol which is the main cause of dehydration in the brain. It causes an increase in urine production which then causes headaches, lethargy and a dry mouth. That’s why having chasers or drinking water before going to bed when you go out drinking is always a wise choice to prevent “bad mornings”.

If you go and ask any drinker about how they deal with their hangovers in the morning, their answers may vary. We differ in alcohol tolerance levels. Hangovers, however, are notoriously misunderstood. Some might tell you to go drink a mixture of Coca-Cola and milk, or tomato juice and beer, but the ultimate cure for hangovers comes in the simplest forms: food and water. Eggs contain cysteine which helps in counteracting the alcohol in your system and you will be able to revitalize your body by rehydrating with water.

Still, when it comes to alcoholism and hangovers, prevention is way better than cure. ;)

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Keep Your Kids Away from Alcohol Trouble on Prom Night

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on May 15th, 2010

It’s prom season once again, and try as parents might to believe that all there is to prom are fancy clothes, limo rides and dancing, history has taught us that there is something a bit more to it than that. After the tux and corsage have been picked out and the limo service arranged, there are teens who then turn to something else: where to get the booze.

teen alcohol abuseAlcohol has become synonymous to prom night – and we are not talking about simply putting a couple more shots of rum into the punch. Some even start with the champagne during the limo ride, although they technically it is not legal for them to have even a drop of alcohol in their system. Media is not that much of a help, either, as teens can watch a bunch of Upper-East side teens that trod on Louboutins, sip champagne at swanky soirees and do shots during their nights out in national television.

And it is not just the drinking that will cause trouble. What starts with a glass or two can lead to risky sexual behavior, alcohol poisoning, or worse – fatal alcohol-induced road accidents. Sometimes, these teens hurt more than just themselves in the process.

What can parents do to keep their kids safe? A feature on the San Diego Entertainer Magazine shares a few points. It is suggested that parents be firm about hotel rooms and curfews, and it helps if you know exactly who your child is going to prom with. A limo company in Escondido is owned by a retired police sergeant, and they proactively confiscate any alcohol found on teenagers and then inform their parents; this may be something you may want to arrange with your child’s limo service.

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Medications to Fight Alcohol Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Rehabilitation on May 2nd, 2010

First of all, let us be clear about one thing — there is no single pill that can effectively and completely take away an abuser’s craving for alcohol. A comprehensive program, which include social and psychological interventions and intake of approved medications, planned and monitored by qualified professionals is the best way towards full and lasting recovery.

The following are medications used, after careful evaluation of doctors and under the guidance of health practitioners, in the effective treatment of alcohol abuse and dependence.

alcohol abuseAntabuse

The drug Antabuse is the oldest among the drugs used to treat alcohol abuse, having been approved more than 5 decades ago. It interferes with the body’s ability to absorb alcohol by inhibiting the production of the enzyme responsible in allowing the body to absorb an alcohol breakdown product. In the absence of the enzyme, acetaldehyde builds up in the body after intake of alcohol, even in small amounts, causing flushing, nausea, and palpitations.

Naltrexone

The drug Naltrexone blocks receptors in the brain for endorphins. Through this, it reduces the pleasure from drinking as well as alcohol cravings. It can be taken as a daily pill or a monthly injectable. While the pill is extremely effective in cutting alcohol dependence, some people may find the injectable more convenient since it is only taken once per month.

Campral

When an abuser stops drinking alcohol, he may feel withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and unpleasant mood swings. The drug Campral reduces these symptoms, helping the recovering alcohol abuser stay on track towards full recovery and avoid relapses. It needs to be taken 3 times per day.

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Effects of Alcohol to the Brain

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on April 15th, 2010

Consumption of alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, affects one’s brain and behavior. The effects of alcohol may be affected by a person’s age, gender, physical condition, amount of food eaten, and other drugs taken.

Low alcohol consumption may cause a relaxing effect, reduce tension and lower inhibitions. This is why some find a glass of wine or a small bottle of beer to be refreshing. However, even small amounts can reduce concentration, slow down reflexes, impair reaction time and reduce coordination. This can be particularly dangerous when doing tasks that require attention, such as driving.

alcohol abuseIn moderate amounts, alcohol consumption can lead to slurred speech, drowsiness and possible emotional outbursts. Heavy alcohol consumption may result to violent tendencies, aggression, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness, and coma.

Chronic alcohol abuse causes damage to the frontal lobes of the brain, overall reduction in brain size and increase in the size of the ventricles. It also results to alcoholism or addiction to alcohol that often creates several different health problems, such as vitamin deficiency, impaired memory, amnesia and disorientation.

The intake of alcohol during pregnancy may also affect the baby’s brain. Babies born to mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may have smaller heads and brains, a certain degree of mental retardation, hyperactivity, poor coordination and abnormal facial features.

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Effects of Alcohol to the Liver

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Facts on April 9th, 2010

The liver is an important organ. It has many functions that are important to the health of the body. Without it, the body can’t last long. The liver stores glycogen which is broken down to glucose and then released into the bloodstream. It also helps in processing fats and proteins. The liver acts as a workstation for the medicines a person takes in. It is also important in making an important acid called bile, which helps in digesting fats. It is the main organ responsible in removing poisons and toxins from the body, including alcohol.

party drinkingOnce alcohol is taken in the body, it is absorbed by the stomach and intestines and introduced into the bloodstream. Since the liver acts as a filter for the blood, the liver becomes the meeting place of all the alcohol that one takes in. Liver cells contain a chemical that processes alcohol and breaks it down into water and carbon dioxide. The alcohol is then expelled through urination and from the lungs, which is why alcohol can be detected through urine and breath tests. But these liver cells can only metabolize a certain amount of alcohol per hour. If a person drinks too much alcohol, the liver can no longer process it in time, thus increasing the alcohol levels in the blood stream.

Drinking too much alcohol causes a long list of trouble in the body, ranging from minor health conditions to deadly ones. Our liver can only process a small amount of alcohol. Anything in excess can cause a number of health risks such as alcoholic liver disease, stomach disorders, pancreatitis, heart muscle disease, high blood pressure, cancers of the mouth, gullet, liver, colon and breast, and alcohol addiction.

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Pregnancy and Social Drugs (Series): Alcohol and Caffeine

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction on March 30th, 2010

After discussing the effects of tobacco on pregnancy, let us move to other equally harmful social drugs that every pregnant woman should avoid.

drinking alcohol while pregnantAlcohol

While Fetal Alcohol Syndrome has been established as one of the most serious consequences of drinking during pregnancy, the amount of alcohol that may cause it has not been clearly determined, and it is thus important for pregnant women to refrain from heavy or regular drinking of alcohol. Refraining from drinking alcohol altogether is an even better idea.

Miscarriages, sudden infant death syndrome, and reduced birth weights become more common when the woman drinks alcohol in any form during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome affects 2 of 1,000 live births. It may result to facial defects, inadequate growth before or after birth, mental retardation, abnormal behavioral development (such as antisocial behavior and attention deficit disorder), and heart defects.

Caffeine

While there is no sufficient evidence that confirms the harmful effects of caffeine to pregnancy, several studies suggest that drinking several cups of coffee a day, i.e., 7 cups per day, may increase the risk of stillbirth, premature birth, reduced birth weight, or miscarriage.

Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, and some drugs. It may affect the heart rate of the fetus inside a mother’s womb, may decrease blood flow across the placenta and may decrease the absorption of iron. It is, therefore, advisable to limit caffeine consumption to a minimum.

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