Posts Tagged Alcoholism

Drunk Mom Lets 12-Year-Old Son Drive!

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Raising Healthy Kids on January 14th, 2011

We have always said that driving and drinking don’t mix. If you know that you have to drive yourself home later, stay away from alcohol. If you’re at a party and can’t help but join the fun by having a few drinks, make sure you don’t drive after. You should ask someone you trust (who didn’t have a drink) to drive you home.

drunk drivingThis is what 35-year-old Gardnerville mom Misty McCollister did; she asked someone to take over the wheel for her. She, however, was still arrested and now faces a 5-year probation. Why, you ask? That’s because the person she asked to drive her brown Buick is her 12-year-old son.

A preliminary breath test revealed her alcohol content to be 0.299 percent while the legal limit in Nevada is only 0.08. She has pleaded guilty to attempted child abuse or neglect and faced up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. District Judge Dave Gamble suspended her sentence and put her in probation so she can continue intensive treatment for alcoholism.

Gamble said, “This isn’t a child abuse or neglect case in the classic sense of the word, because of some intentional act of a parent. This is a terrible alcohol addiction you have. This is a lifelong issue with you and a lifelong abstinence from alcohol for you.”

McCollister was ordered to continue her alcohol abuse treatment and counseling, to stay out of casinos and bars and to complete parenting classes. Her children are now living in Arizona with her father.

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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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Common Myths on Alcohol Abuse

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

One of man’s favorite drugs to abuse is alcohol, and it’s also one of those plagued with lots of myths to get away with abusing it. Here are some of the common myths.

alcohol drinkingMyth 1: Everyone drinks.

That is totally not true. As mentioned, it’s one of the commonly abused drugs, but not everyone drinks alcohol. For teens, only a little more than 30% drink which means there are more who do not.

Myth 2: Alcohol improves sex.

Drinking alcohol does not improve sexual performance. The only thing it can do is lower one’s inhibitions, which means someone under the influence of alcohol is more willing to experiment and try new things. But the truth is that alcohol can affect a man’s ability to keep an erection as well as a woman’s sexual drive. This means that alcohol actually does more harm than good to your sexual life.

Myth 3: Drink liquor before beer, not the other way around, to avoid feeling sick.

It does not matter what alcoholic beverages you drink or in what order you drink them. What counts is how much alcohol you have taken in total. The percentage of alcohol in your blood will be affected by every bottle or glass of alcoholic drink you take in, regardless of order or kind.

Myth 4: The worst side effects of excessive drinking are vomiting, passing out and getting a bad headache the morning after.

Let’s get straight to the point — long-term, heavy drinking of alcohol can cause nausea, disturbed sleep, asphyxiation, alcohol poisoning, heart attack, stroke and death. Yes, death.

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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.

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Alcohol Abuse Causes More Than Just A Migraine

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction on January 4th, 2010

It may be alright to have a bit of alcohol every now and then to celebrate, but it is always better to do so in moderate quantities. While our mental image of drinking too much may include episodes of dizziness, blacking out and waking up the next day with a major headache, those who have had too much to drink on a continuous basis may find themselves in a more difficult situation.

alcohol abuseAddiction to the substance has serious consequences to the body. It can trigger serious damage to brain cells, and more often than not, you find yourself having trouble staying conscious at will. You may also find yourself unable to walk, and may even suffer a coma.

Because the brain cells are fried from excessive alcohol consumption, it is no surprise that too much of the substance can lead to memory loss. The mental damage that alcohol gives to the brain is permanent; there is currently no possible way to recover the brain cells that you have lost. Behavior is affected because of this mental change, and the people close to you may suffer the most.

So before you indulge yourself during the holidays, try to think about alcohol’s effects on the body. While it may be all right to drink and be merry, it is advisable to drink only the amount that your body can take. Anything beyond is dangerous for your body and mind.

It is during this time that drinking responsibly becomes something of utmost importance. Doing so not only shows that you respect your own body, but it also gives the impression that you know how to handle yourself quite well.

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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.

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