Facts About Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism

While alcoholism has in the past carried with it a stigma that has caused sufferers to hide their disease and refrain from seeking treatment, the consequences of alcohol abuse are widespread and require skilled professional help in order to combat them.

These facts from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reflect just how common alcohol abuse and alcoholism are – and how dangerous:

Facts about alcohol abuse in the US and globally

Approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women die every year in the United States from alcohol related causes. This makes alcohol and its effects the third leading preventable cause of death in the country.

3.3 million deaths globally in 2012 were the result of alcohol consumption. This number makes up 5.9 percent of global deaths that year.

10,322 driving fatalities or 31 percent of all driving fatalities, in the United States in 2012 were attributed to alcohol impairment.

Facts about alcohol use among the underage

Alcohol use during the teenage years can interfere with brain development and can contribute to many dire consequences, including death. Facts about alcohol use among people ages 12-20 include:

  • 9.3 million reported drinking alcohol in the past month
  • 5.9 million were binge drinkers
  • 1.7 million were heavy drinkers, having engaged in binge drinking at least five times in one month

Facts about alcohol among college students

According to a 2012 study of college students ages 18-22:

  • 60.3 percent had consumed alcohol in the past month
  • 40.1 percent had engaged in binge drinking within the past month
  • 14.4 percent had engaged in heavy drinking in the past month
  • Researchers estimate that around 20% of college students qualify as having an alcohol use disorder

Treatment for alcoholism

These statistics make it clear that alcohol abuse is far-reaching and carries many dangers. However, quitting alcohol cold turkey is also dangerous and should only be attempted while under close medical supervision.

Within days after quitting, hallucinations, convulsions and even heart seizure can occur. For months thereafter, withdrawal symptoms can include the following:

  • Nausea
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Shakiness/Trembling
  • Seizures
  • Delirium tremens
  • Profuse sweating
  • Convulsions

These symptoms will last longer depending upon how long and how heavily the patient drank, but can be managed with medications that will ease their severity.

Seeking treatment in order to end alcohol dependence is always the safest course of action. Make a difficult and dangerous situation easier on yourself by getting professional help.

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Alcohol Abuse in America

The rise in alcohol-related disease and injuries has reached alarming levels in the Unites States in recent decades. Unfortunately, alcohol abuse doesn’t just affect the person with the drinking problem. As a parent, child, spouse, or even a co-worker you can be negatively impacted by those who abuse alcohol even if you do not drink yourself.

 

Alcohol Abuse vs Alcoholism

Both are equally serious conditions yet alcohol abuse varies a little from alcoholism, which is a chronic disease marked by physical dependency on alcohol. Alcohol abuse is better defined as excessive use of alcohol that begins to destroy your relationships and your health well before physical dependency occurs. Even the occasional drinker, who drinks only a few times a year yet drinks to excess or ‘binges,’ ends up endangering themselves and others.

Who Is Abusing: Facts About Alcohol Abuse

  • Almost half of all adults admit to having a parent who abused alcohol
  • There are over 6 million minor children in the US who live with a parent who abuses alcohol
  • 40 percent of family court cases like custody disputes and divorces occur because a family member, spouse, or parent was abusing alcohol
  • Alcohol abuse is implicated in half of all violent deaths
  • In one-third of boating, aviation, and driving fatalities the consumption of alcohol has significantly factored into the equation

Those statistics compose quite a large segment of society affected by alcohol abuse—without even mentioning the millions of people prosecuted annually for driving under the influence. Again, the majority of these people are not alcoholics exactly but every day, otherwise healthy people from all income levels, ages, professions, and walks of life. The facts about alcohol abuse indicate it could be you or someone you know.

Consequences of Alcohol Abuse

If left unchecked, alcohol abuse will eventually result in:

  • Chronic alcoholism
  • Diseases like pancreatitis and liver cirrhosis
  • Unintentional injuries, like traffic accidents and falls
  • Unintended violence (not premeditated)

While the causes of alcohol abuse vary between individuals, the condition most often starts as a coping mechanism for those suffering from low self-esteem, high-stress lifestyles, and untreated depression. The good news is that alcohol abuse treatment is available. If you or a family member is struggling with alcohol abuse, please do not try to go it alone; consult with a qualified health professional who can advise you on available options for counseling and treatment.

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Equine Facilitated Therapy Can Be an Effective Tool in Addiction Treatment

Equine facilitated therapy involves the use of horses to establish trust, emotional openness, and a new approach to intimacy and bonding for addicts and alcoholics in recovery. As these very issues touch the core of the addict/alcoholic’s psychic pain, exploring them through the use of these large and powerful mammals is an effective way to promote healing.

Besides being massive, horses are highly intuitive and sensitive animals. The average person who isn’t familiar with them might approach one with trepidation but will often find that the animal is friendly and available. The experience of intimacy with the animal can be profound.

The addict who has been brought to the point of surrender to treatment has usually suffered damaged relationships and isolation. Mistrust and emotional defensiveness are the tools developed to protect against feelings of abandonment and betrayal. Anger, fear, and contradictory feelings of superiority and inferiority affect most of the addict’s sense of self and his or her experience of the world and, consequently, their decisions and actions.

Equine facilitated therapy is not about riding horses, although that may be an activity that brings added enjoyment and benefit. Instead, it’s about interacting with the animals, one on one, so that the patient can learn more about herself. Horses mirror people’s emotions and provide feedback. Through this modality, an addict’s feelings of fear, anger, sadness, and isolation can be brought to the surface and dealt with. At the same time, positive feelings—of joy, peace, and self-confidence—can emerge and be recognized for cultivation.

The newly recovering addict who opens emotionally through the act of bonding with a horse is then able to transfer that openness to other people—initially in one-on-one sessions with a counselor/therapist, and then with other patients in a group. When this is accomplished, approaching formerly estranged family members, friends, and employers (as well as new acquaintances) can be done on a new footing—one that leads to healthier and more stable relationships. The recovering addict/alcoholic with tools for interacting with other people stands a much greater chance of experiencing long-term sobriety.

Damaging Vital Organs – How Drinking Risks Your Health

While alcohol abuse can lead to unintentional injury, social isolation, depression, violence and jail time, long-term effects of alcoholism will also damage the liver, stomach, nervous system, heart, and brain.

Substance abuse patterns vary, and binge drinkers can do as much damage as those who drink every day. The determination for how much damage alcohol does can sometimes be attributed to hereditary predispositions but for the most part, the long-term effects are the same for everyone.

When the liver and stomach are damaged by alcohol, they can’t adequately break down the nutrients in food, also causing internal scarring and bleeding. The liver cleans toxins from the blood and becomes unable to do this with repeated alcohol use, the scarring, or cirrhosis can cause liver failure. The damage to these organs can disrupt vital organs and cause disease of the pancreas and stomach cancer.

The toxic nature of alcohol causes damage to the liver’s cleansing functions and can lead to heart irregularities, weakening of the heart muscle causing a condition called alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This disturbs the body’s natural regulation of blood fats and blood sugar levels, thinning the bones and reducing the production of blood cells. The blood flow shortage causes damage to other tissues and organs that rely on healthy blood to function properly.

Long-term alcohol abuse will affect the brain causing seizures, confusion, memory loss, mood and behavioral changes such as depression and agitation. Alcohol disrupts the neurotransmitter balance causing alterations in neurons reducing the size of brain cells. As a result of these changes overall brain mass shrinks affecting a wide range of abilities such as motor coordination, temperature regulation, and various cognitive functions, including learning and memory.

Alcohol’s role in poor health is often under recognized; unlike cigarette smoking that can directly cause lung cancer, alcohol increases the development of certain diseases by processes over time rather than being considered the only cause. Long-term effects of alcoholism are possible even if you rarely drink to the point of intoxication. It is a toxic substance so having it frequently circulating in your body will harm your health, and it can make some conditions worse. It is important to be aware of the potential dangers and health risks, and to be honest with physicians about alcohol intake.

The Dangers Of Binge Drinking

The dangers of alcohol binges are both serious and severe. Short and long term effects often have a negative and lasting impact on an individual’s life. Not only are there immediate physical reactions that may be experienced, there are often many personal and emotional issues that can result from excessive alcohol intake. For those engaging in frequent binge drinking, alcohol addiction treatment may be the answer.

Short Term Effects Of Binge Drinking

Many of the short term effects associated with binge drinking are physical ailments. An individual who has consumed an excessive amount of alcohol in a short time frame may experience a whole host of issues, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, blurred vision, slurred speech, dizziness, headaches, and more. Alcohol impairs judgment, so a person who has had too much to drink may put themselves at risk by entering dangerous or risky situations. Injuries can also occur as a result of poor judgment and accidents.

Some individuals may find that they become unconscious after drinking large quantities of alcohol in a short amount of time. Once the individual comes to, they realize that there is chunk of time that is unaccounted for when they were passed out. This is extremely risky behavior, because a person who is passed out is very vulnerable. Not knowing what occurred during such times can lead to emotional issues, which in turn can lead to more drinking. Binge drinking can become a vicious cycle that is extremely difficult to break without professional help.

Long Term Binge Drinking Effects

Consuming large quantities of alcohol will take a real toll on a person’s physical condition. The body can essentially become poisoned over time, and alcohol poisoning can also occur during a single incident of binging. Heart conditions, high blood pressure, weight gain, bloating, and liver damage are just some of the long term physical effects that are likely. Some health problems can be debilitating, and some of the damaging effects of alcohol abuse can be irreversible.

As alcohol abuse and addiction begin to take over a binge drinker’s life, their relationships are likely to suffer. From friendships to marriages to employment, all types of personal and professional relationships can be harmed for a person struggling with alcohol dependency. Not only is it stressful for an addict to go through their day to day life, it is also extremely difficult for their family members and friends. Alcohol addiction treatment offers the best chance for leading a healthier and happier life that is free of the chains of alcoholism and its detrimental effects.

Seeking Help For Alcohol Abuse

For those with a loved one that is struggling with binge drinking, alcohol addiction and abuse info is essential. Knowing the signs and symptoms of addiction can make a big difference. Binge drinking is often a symptom of a much larger issue. Alcohol addiction treatment programs offer help for those who need it to change their lives for the better.

How Do You Reverse The Effects Of Alcohol On The Body?

Excessive drinking over an elongated period can result in serious damage to the brain and liver in addition to other health issues. The amount of damage is generally proportionate to the amount of time spent drinking and the consumption amounts throughout that period.

If you are seeking a change in lifestyle, the good news is that a portion of these negative effects can still be reversed. Though the journey is a difficult one, you will find that the benefits are well worth the effort.

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Steps To Reverse Effects Of Alcohol On The Body

1 – Stop drinking. According to a 2006 study by Stanford University, alcoholics who kick the bottle were able to regain mental abilities and cognitive skills. Results were generally seen following 13 months of complete abstinence and progressed over time.

2 – Nutrition is key! Make vegetables and fruits an everyday habit, choose whole grain alternatives over white flour carbohydrates and opt for white meat instead of red. Eat three meals daily alongside small snacks to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. Avoid sugar, saturated fats and excess salt.

3 – Begin taking stem enhancers*. These are remedies that serve to grow new cells where damage is present. Some people have rebuilt up to 25% of their liver cells with the aid of stem enhancers; improving the health of the liver for years to come. *Always discuss with your physician before starting or taking any supplements, enhancers or medicines.

4 – Get physical! Routine physical activity should become the norm to help your body regain the strength lost during your drinking years. Exercise will also rid your body of toxins that have complied over time.

5 – Take milk thistle seeds. Native to parts of Africa, Europe and Asia, milk thistle is an herb commonly used to address liver issues. Though most people opt for the pill form, it can also be taken in as a tea. Be sure to take milk thistle as directed by the instructions provided on the package. Those who are currently on any prescription medication, are breastfeeding or pregnant are advised to consult with their physician before beginning a milk thistle regimen to avoid any adverse issues.

6 – Drink mineral water. Though it may sound silly, mineral water is widely considered a healthier alternative to tap water. When you drink mineral water, the minerals get deposited throughout the body, resulting in a variety of therapeutic benefits, the major one being the balance of the body overall.

Researching alcohol addiction facilities? Contact Above It All addiction Treatment Center! With a team of seasoned addiction and recovery specialists available to assess and address your individual needs, you can count on Above It All Treatment Center to have you on the fast track to recovery in no time. Call today for more information!

Read About What To Avoid During Recovery From Alcohol

Why Do An Intervention

Choosing to go ahead with a professional intervention is usually not the first choice a family makes when dealing with a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. By nature, addiction can be difficult to spot, and the family may go through a period of denial about the seriousness of the situation. Denial is one of the classic signs of addiction, and the person who has the substance abuse issue is going to use denial and deflection as two of his or her tools to focus attention away from the real issue and keep the addiction alive and well.

Once the family realizes that it is dealing with someone who is an addict, they use the methods they are familiar with to try to get that person into treatment. These may include:

  • Reasoning
  • Arguing
  • Nagging
  • Pleading
  • Threatening

Some family members take a completely different view of the situation and may either ignore the issue or start enabling the addict. Neither of these are helpful, either.

Intervention Services Focus on the Family

When a family decides that they would like to bring in an interventionist to work with them, they are enlisting the help of someone who has the skills and experience to help their loved one admit that they need to get help. The family does not have to deal with the situation alone anymore.

During the months and years when an addict has been actively engaged in his or her behaviors, the family has had to deal with the consequences of that persons choices many times. It has been a costly experience, in time, money and in the emotional toll it has taken on everyone around the addict.

Choosing to conduct an alcohol and drug intervention means that the family gets to stop the emotional and financial bleeding.  It doesn’t mean abandoning someone who is willing to get help, though. It means that the family has decided to set some healthy limits on what it considers to be acceptable behavior.

The person who is struggling with addiction is presented with the opportunity to go to treatment. Ideally, arrangements have already been made so that all the loved one has to do is say,”Yes” and then he or she can leave right away. The opportunity to get well is presented in a non-confrontational way. This type of pattern for a California intervention has the best chance of success.

If Your Loved One Needs Help, Get It Now

If you are struggling with finding help for your loved one’s addictive behavior, contact Above It All Treatment Center online, or call us now at 888-997-3006.

Preventing Relapse For Alcoholics In Early Recovery Requires Extra Vigilance

If simply making a decision to stop drinking was enough to treat alcoholism, treatment centers and 12 step programs would not exist. By the time a client reaches the point where he or she gets help, the decision about whether to drink has been taken away. The addiction is fully and completely in control.

Getting into treatment helps an alcoholic get sober, but the work of staying that way happens one day at a time. Recovery is not a place that a client ever gets to; rather, it is a state of being. There is no such thing as drinking “in moderation” for a recovering alcoholic, which means that the only acceptable level of alcohol consumption is zero.

 

Alcohol Treatment Programs Address Triggers

One of the features of Above It All long term treatment for alcoholism is the help and support to deal with triggers that may set off cravings to start drinking. These will be different for everyone, but may include:

  • Television commercials, ads or billboards featuring alcohol
  • Films or television programs depicting alcohol use
  • Being around people who are consuming alcohol
  • Driving or walking by a liquor store or bar
  • Listening to music with lyrics mentioning drinking (country music seems to feature this type of theme more often than other types)
  • Watching or reading news stories discussing health benefits of drinking wine in moderation

Recognizing these triggers and developing strategies to deal with them is part of the treatment program. For a person who is new to sobriety, the triggers can be particularly strong. A person in treatment needs to understand that he or she will experience cravings to pick up a drink and that something as simple as seeing a favorite glass, catching a whiff of alcohol, or thinking about a cold beer on a hot day may be enough to start an episode. Clients will leave the treatment program with a toolbox of strategies that they can use to head off a relapse before it starts.

One of the advantages of staying at an inpatient treatment center is being able to focus on getting well. Rather than immediately returning to “regular” life once the treatment is completed, sober living programs with Above it All give clients a time when they can live in a home-like setting. They can take the time they need to adjust to life in recovery, which is very often essential to them establishing successful long-term sobriety.

Dental Problems May be a Sign of Drug Abuse

Dental-Problems-May-be-a-Sign-of-Drug-AbuseA dentist is an important part of a healthcare team. Often, they are aware of an issue even before a patient knows something is wrong, simply by conducting a thorough examination of someone’s teeth and gums. Prescription medications and illegal drugs can cause tooth decay, and excessive damage may indicate substance abuse and an addict in the family.

 

 

Tooth Decay and Illegal Drugs

Regular users of the following illegal drugs may experience the following types of tooth issues:

• Cocaine turns the saliva in the mouth acidic, causing dry mouth and erosion of tooth enamel
• Crack cocaine damages the gums, nerves in the mouth, and tooth enamel
• Heroin users get cravings for sweet foods, which leads to cavities if they neglect regular dental care
• Ecstasy causes dry mouth and teeth grinding
• Methamphetamine use leads to severe tooth damage, known as “meth mouth.” The drug causes severe dry mouth, which results in extreme tooth decay. Meth users compound the damage by grinding their teeth, neglecting to brush and floss their teeth for long periods of time, and binging on sweet foods and drinks.

Dental Problems and Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs can also cause tooth decay from dry mouth. If you or a loved one is taking medication other than as prescribed by a doctor or which have been prescribed for someone else, the risk of tooth damage is quite high. Chronic drug users are also at risk for plaque buildup on teeth, stained teeth (brown or yellow), eroded enamel, and cracks in the teeth.

Find Help for Dental Problems and Drug Addiction

If you are concerned about your own or a loved one’s teeth and think that drug use may have contributed to cavities or other health issues, start by seeing a dentist. Getting professional treatment and receiving information about the risks associated with continuing to use drugs may make an impact. Someone who has experienced tooth decay from drug use needs to seek professional help from a substance abuse treatment program.

Making the choice to enter one of the 90 day rehab programs available means you or your loved one will be able to focus your attention on getting well. Each client gets an individualized treatment program, which may include attending 12 step meetings, individual and group counseling sessions, exercise classes, nutrition courses, group outings, and time for reflection. The treatment process allows each client to learn how to look after him or herself better, including practicing good dental hygiene, in preparation for a sober lifestyle.

The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Your Teeth

Alcohol abuse is an all-too-common problem in the United States. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in four children grows up in a home where someone drinks too much. Most people are familiar with the dangers associated with drinking and driving and can appreciate that being under the influence puts them at risk for being involved in slip and fall accidents, but did you know that alcohol abuse can have an effect on your oral health?

Your dentist will tell you that the amount of alcohol you drink has a bearing on your risk of developing certain types of cancer, as well as your risk of tooth decay and other oral health-related problems.

Dental Problems Caused by Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol abuse can cause the following problems:

• Cavities (due to high sugar content in some alcoholic drinks)
• Erosion of the tooth surface
• Tooth decay
• Cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, and esophagus

The results of a study on a group of clients at an inpatient substance abuse treatment center published in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that 85% of participants had “moderate-to-severe gingival inflammation, and more than two-thirds had a heavy accumulation of dental plaque.” Over three-quarters of participants had cavities, and 15% had missing teeth. This rate was higher than the general population, according to the researchers.

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction to Improve Overall Health

Someone who is struggling with alcohol addiction is dealing with a chronic disease which can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated. An addict is unable to stop drinking on his or her own; the person needs help. The longer the addiction is allowed to continue unchecked, the greater the damage is likely to be. Rather than waiting for an alcoholic to hit his or her “rock bottom,” a family can investigate 90 day rehab programs to find one that can provide detox and counseling services.

This is a serious matter, and there is no advantage to waiting. If you are concerned about a loved one’s drinking and aren’t sure how to bring up the subject, you may want to try to get him or her in to see a dentist for a check-up. It might be a way to start a conversation about the effects of alcohol abuse and oral health. Having the dentist and his or her staff talk about the consequences of drinking on teeth and gums may have more of an impact than a family member trying to broach the subject, and it may make a conversation about getting treatment for alcohol addiction easier.