Posts Tagged alcohol addiction

6 Basic Alcohol Myths and the Truths Behind Them

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on December 6th, 2011

Here are some famous alcohol myths that have long been treated as truths by some individuals, especially teens, in an effort to justify their alcohol habits. Here are some of the myths we often hear about alcohol, and what the truth really is.

alcohol1. For extra energy, drink alcohol.
Alcohol is basically a depressant. So, what it does is slow down mental processes including how we speak, move, and think.

2. All it takes is a cup of coffee or a cold shower to sober up after indulging in alcoholic beverages.
While drinking coffee will help you to be awake, you will remain drunk. The only remedy is to have enough time to recover from the effects of alcohol.

3. It’s better to get hooked on alcohol than on drugs.
Alcohol and tobacco kill 50 times more than the number of people who die from cocaine, heroin, and other illegal substances combined. Alcohol is also a type of drug, by the way.

4. Alcohol has the same effects on anyone who uses it.
There are many factors that can dictate how we react to alcohol. With different body chemistry, body weight, mental conditions and several other factors, don’t expect to have the same reaction as others have towards alcohol.

5. The worst thing that could happen when drinking heavily is a major hangover the next day.
Many people have died due to alcohol overdose. Yes, drinking way too much than what one can handle could result to untimely deaths.

6. People who get drunk only hurt themselves.
Alcohol takes away a person’s ability to think clearly and slows down the senses. So if a drunk person should ever drive, don’t you think he’ll get others hurt too?

No Comments

Answers to Common Questions on Drug Addiction

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on April 28th, 2010

We’ve heard about substance addiction so many times and we probably know someone who is addicted to marijuana, alcohol or other drugs. Addiction is a complex, chronic disorder characterized by the compulsive need to use a substance despite the harms it may cause. Here are some of the most common questions asked about addiction and the answers to them.

drugsIs addiction a disease?

Yes. National Institute on Drug Abuse researches suggest that addiction or the compulsion to take drugs is linked to changes in specific neurons in the central nervous system. It can thus be considered as a brain disease.

What are the common signs of addiction?

As addiction has 2 components — physical and psychological — it manifests both physically and psychologically. Physical manifestations include shills, weird smell, vomiting, sweating, and weight loss. An addict may also show signs of aggression, anxiety, burnout, irritability, lack of energy, poor motivation, slow reaction time, denial, depression, and paranoia.

Can an addict quit using drugs if he has strong will power?

Most people suffering from an addiction to drugs cannot stop on their own, no matter how willing they say they are. It is important to seek help from organizations offering structured rehabilitation programs.

Can someone use drugs without being addicted to it?

It depends how strong the effects of drugs are. Many people are able to enjoy alcohol without suffering from alcohol addiction. Addiction happens when a person’s drug use becomes a central part of his or her life. This can be seen on the amount of time and money he or she spends on drugs, and on what he or she is willing to give up for it, such as relationships, jobs or school.

No Comments

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.

3 Comments

How To Tell If You Are An Alcoholic

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse on January 27th, 2010

Recognizing that alcohol has been controlling your life is one of the most difficult things to do. It will even be more difficult to admit such condition to others and try to seek help. However, it is extremely important to be honest with yourself and ask the hard questions. Knowing and admitting that you have a problem is perhaps the most significant step towards treatment.

alcoholicWhen your family or friends comment on the amount and frequency of your drinking, do you feel defensive or even annoyed? Do you drink in secret to avoid people seeing you and making comments that you do not want to hear? Do you get irritated when you cannot get a drink? Do you experience nausea or shivering if you do not drink? A ‘yes’ to one of these questions may mean that alcohol has already imposed a certain degree of control in your life.

Frequently drinking alone may be considered a sign of alcohol abuse as most people would usually enjoy a drink or two with company.  Drinking everyday to function or even to sleep is also an indication. Making excuses just to drink, drinking in secret and inability to stop or control drinking are also clear warning signs.

If you feel that alcohol plays a bigger part in your life than you want it to, don’t hesitate to seek help. Several self-tests are available online to assist you in telling if you are an alcoholic. While these may help you identify the problem, this will not offer instant solutions. You may discuss with your physician what would be the best plan of action for you to claim your life back.

2 Comments

Alcohol: Mankind’s Favorite Drug to Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction on December 11th, 2009

We often forget that alcohol is a drug. After all, it has become part of our culture to drink every once in a while, especially during celebrations, parties, and other social events. But on the other end of the spectrum, some of us also take alcohol when depressed or when we want to forget the worst memories of our lives. While it is acceptable to have a glass or two in parties, consuming it for the wrong reasons can contribute to the manifestation of an addiction to the substance.

wineThose who have drunk alcohol have felt the symptoms of intoxication. We get dizzy, we talk a lot more, and we seem to care a lot less about our environment and about the things we do. Because of the perception that their worries and anxieties disappear the more they drink alcohol, people sometimes refer to their alcoholic drinks as “liquid courage”. But in truth, there is nothing at all courageous about consuming too much alcohol. Those addicted to alcohol are more susceptible to committing acts of violence, since alcohol impairs rational judgment.

As with all other drugs, alcohol also has its own set of adverse effects on the body. These include episodes of severe anxiety, chills, and hallucinations. On the physical level, it can kill brain cells and do great damage to your liver. And the more you consume alcohol, the harder it gets to escape the addiction, since cutting yourself off from the substance can lead to withdrawal symptoms. The long-term effects are not at all pleasant, but since these are hidden by the sense of intoxication that alcohol brings, we forget to care about details like these.

Thus, it may be alright to drink alcohol on occasion, but keep in mind that you can never have too much of anything.

7 Comments

Cocaine Addiction Escalates in London

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Abuse Treatment, Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on October 10th, 2009

new-cocaine-vaccine_1

Britain has the highest number of cocaine abusers than any other country in the European Union – a report furnished by the Home Office (interior ministry) declared this.

The official figures showed that 12,354 adults were now receiving treatment for dependency on cocaine. The figures also indicate that 3 percent of all 15-69 years olds used cocaine in the previous year meaning that almost a million people had taken the drug – the highest number since data was first collected in 1996.

The workers of the finance sector have been worst affected and the major responsibility for this critical situation has been attributed to the constant stress and depression that has resulted from recession. Don Serratt, the Chief Executive of Life Works, said he has noticed a 25 percent increase in the number of people seeking treatment for alcohol or cocaine abuse in the past few months. American born Mr. Serratt was addicted to drug and alcohol but has maintained sobriety for the past 27 years.

“It has a lot to do with the current economic environment,” voiced Serratt. “Either they have been made redundant or (they have) fears around being made redundant or fears around lowered income because many of these people have high personal overheads,” he said. “Even if you keep your job but you are looking at making a fraction of what you made, it adds quite a bit of stress.”

The users generally did not admit that they were having a problem until their performance was affected. Thus it took nearly nine months for the problem to surface. He accused the firms for not being able to handle the problem and for not treating it seriously. “Most of them do not even have a drug or alcohol policy,” he said. A lot of firms even have no training to identify and to deal with addiction.

Britain’s economic crisis might be easing now but the situation regarding drug use might not improve with that ease.

1 Comment