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How a Parent can Play an Imperitive Role in Their Teen’s Drug Addiction Recovery
Teen rehabilitation centers have always asserted that parents have a stellar role to play in making sure that their children turn out to be great citizens and achievers in life. But today in spite of technology improving by leaps and bounds, the channels of communications between the parents and teen has greatly weakened. Today a mother may say that she can be in touch with her son through video conferencing across the seven seas, but does she really have an idea about what he is up to, all day long? Today a teen tends to confide more to an anonymous friend online, someone whom she does not even know what he looks like.
Teen drug rehabs aim to bridge the gap between parents and children which is why they have programs like multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) where parents are also asked to participate in the teen rehabilitation. Today, there is no limit to the route a teen can possibly take when it comes to substance abuse. Most elders are shocked to know that teens have experienced them all or most of them; something that they had never done in their own teenage. From taking Ecstasy in the fancy, foot-loose bars to secretly popping in prescription drugs without checking with the doctors; they are doing it all. Parents have to be careful and keep all their senses alert to notice any warning signs that their children can exhibit that can alert them that they need to be rehabilitated.
Look for some of the behavioral changes in teens. For instance, some of the obvious physical signs include droopy eyes, pale skin, inability to sleep, hallucinations, memory loss, stained lips and teeth etc. The behavioral signs include staying with friends that are not the usual ones, staying locked in the room or taking too much time in the toilet and wearing full-sleeved shirts to hide the injection marks caused by paraphernalia that is used to inject drugs in the blood stream. It has been seen that teens usually resort to taking drugs while they come back from school and the parents are at work
As a caring parent, you need not be excessively strict with your kid. But you should monitor their moves. In case, you are suspicious and have proof, do not confront them but ask them about anything that is worrying them or causing them anxiety. Tell them without intimidating them that you have something that shows that they are taking drugs. Tell them that drugs can only cause harm to the mind and the body. Show them a video or a book that shows about how drug abuse can kill and how alcohol can ruin the body and the mind. Give more time for the kids to speak and let them explain their point of view. In case, there is a worsening problem that cannot be controlled, make sure you do not hesitate from taking them to teen treatment programs. They are known to give their best to make sure that your loved one is rehabilitated in the best manner possible.
Find more information on Teen Drug Treatment. Helpful and informative information on Teen Rehab Facilities is available.
Treatment Works for Drug and Substance Abuse and other Addiction Disorders as Long as Everyone Helps
Decades of research has demonstrated that treatment works for addiction disorders and substance abuse patients.
> > Studies of publicly supported treatment programs show a savings of $7 or more in other societal costs
for each dollar invested in treatment.1
> > Studies indicate drug treatment reduces use by 40-60% and significantly lowers criminal activity.
> > Counseling and other behavioral therapies are critical components of virtually all effective treatments for
addiction. For certain types of disorders, medications are an important element of treatment, especially
when combined with counseling and other behavioral therapies.2
> > A parent must be matched to the appropriate treatment program in terms of intensity, duration, and
treatment content. In addition to treating the addiction, for recovery to occur, the child welfare and
alcohol and drug services partnership must identify and treat other co-occurring psychological, physical,
and social problems.3
Community-based partnership is key when treating addictions disorders and substance abuse victims.
> > Most states identify substance use as one of the top two factors in child abuse and neglect.4
> > Studies suggest that 40-80% of children in the child welfare system have been affected by child abuse
or neglect because of a parents’ addiction to drugs or alcohol.5
> > It is important for child welfare workers to recognize when alcohol or drug use is a factor in the case of
child abuse or neglect; to help parents obtain appropriate treatment; and to understand the concept of
recovery in the context of child safety.6
> > To help accomplish permanency for children, child welfare workers should partner with local alcohol
and drug addiction treatment professionals and programs. An effective partnership between the child
welfare and the alcohol and drug treatment systems can help parents with substance use disorders
retain or regain a parental role with their child, while not putting the child at risk of harm. Thus, the child
welfare-alcohol and drug services partnership becomes a cornerstone for long-term child protection, a
key issue for child welfare workers.7
Co-occurring Disorders are Prevalent
> > The co-occurrence of substance abuse and substance dependence with mental illness is estimated
to affect between seven and 10 million adults each year. Child welfare workers should be aware of the
prevalence and complexity of co-occurring substance abuse and dependence and mental illness and
identify providers who are experienced working with both illnesses.8
> > Individuals with coexisting substance use and mental health disorders should have both disorders treated
in an integrated way.9
Gender-specific considerations are important in the treatment of addictions disorders and the recovery of substance abuse patients.
Research studies have begun to identify gender-specific components and issues to address in treatment. Research indicates that women are more likely to complete treatment in women-only programs and that women have different needs than men in treatment (such as dealing with a history of victimization). A high percentage of women who access addiction treatment have experienced physical or sexual abuse in childhood. Many have a history of family dysfunction or addiction. In addition, women who use substances may have experienced physical or sexual victimization as adults
(e.g., domestic violence).10
Shared planning and service delivery lead to practices that better meet the needs of children and
Families.
Through collaboration, multiple agencies working with the same family can reduce confusion and fragmentation for the family members and improve coordination of services. Collaboration with local treatment programs can provide the expertise that is needed for a family in the child welfare system.
If the protective services on-site investigation and screening of parents suggest that alcohol or drug use is a factor in the abuse or neglect, alcohol and drug addiction treatment providers are needed to:
> > Conduct a substance abuse assessment or evaluation;
> > Help identify the level and type of treatment program that is needed;
> > Provide treatment and aftercare services; and,
> > Participate in case management and monitoring.
In addition, alcohol and drug treatment agencies may be able to provide crisis intervention, trauma-related services, or other services needed by the parent.11
References
1. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University (2001). Shoveling Up: The Impact of Substance Abuse on State Budgets http://www.casacolumbia.org.
2. NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction, http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/treatmeth.html
3. Understanding Substance Abuse and Facilitating Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Workers, Available online at: http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/UnderstandingSAGuide.pdf
4. Id.
5. “Safe and Sound: Models for Collaboration Between Child Welfare and Addiction Treatment Services.” Arthur Liman Policy Institute of the Legal Action Center. http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/SafeSoundReport.pdf. 2003
6. Understanding Substance Abuse and Facilitating Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Workers, Available online at: http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/ Understanding-SAGuide.pdf
7. Id.
8. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (1999). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center
for Mental Health Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2002). Report to Congress on
the Prevention and Treatment of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse Disorder and Mental Disorders. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Young, N.K.
and Gardner, S.L. (2002). Navigating the Pathways: Lessons and Promising Practices in Linking Alcohol and Drug Services With Child Welfare. SAMHSA Publication No.
SMA-02-3639. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, p. 132.
9. NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction, http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/treatmeth.html
10. Understanding Substance Abuse and Facilitating Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Workers, Available online at: http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/UnderstandingSAGuide.pdf
11. Id.
Linda Rosenberg is the president and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. TNC specializes in the treatment of substance abuse and addiction disorders across the country.
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Addiction ? How the 12 Step Program Can Help
The concept of rehabilitating a drug addict is to provide long term endurance away from his addiction by molding his physical, emotional, and psychological capacity. Away from the threat of exposing themselves to people who negatively influence them, an addicted user may choose to undergo a special program to renew his condition and start the process of rehabilitation the soonest possible time.
12 Step Program Basics
The program is used as a guiding principle in renewing a drug user’s view in life. This step by step guide is designed and reviewed to properly enhance the transition of a highly devastated patient into someone with renewed experience and view in life. In this program, they have what you call a sponsor. A sponsor is someone who has been in the same situation and is serving to share his life and journeys as a drug dependent until recovery.
The sponsor also initiates spiritual growth among other patients and is subject to discuss and share the importance of being in the program. He doesn’t't serve as a teacher, a mentor or a friend. His role is to clearly and effectively share the downside of being a drug addict and how he has managed to get out of it. Aside from spiritual growth, the program also monitors the person’s health activities, motivation and capability to interact with their fellows.
In order for an individual to fully commit to the program, it is important that the sponsor or spiritual counselor take into consideration the various incidents and situations he had experienced. This will ease off the transition and approach to the addicted person. Patience and commitment come hand in hand with understanding. A person who’s admitted to the program may take a long time to fully cooperate and give in to the requirements. During this time, the sponsor may need more patience and work his way in capturing the patient’s attention and trust.
The 12 step program is normally initiated if an addict commits lapses in family responsibilities as well as endangering his loved ones and putting his career in jeopardy.
An addicted person should realize that rehabilitation is not only a step to stop and confine them but a step towards building them and giving back their normal lives as a productive individual in the society.
One of the largest and most successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in the world.
New Study Verifies Addiction Increases Risk of Suicide Amongst Those Addicted
Out of the 8.3 million considering suicide, 2.3 million Americans made a plan in the last year while 1.1 million adults had actually attempted suicide in the last year. Factoring into the risk levels was gender, age and history of substance abuse. Substance abuse, not surprisingly, increased the risk of seriously considering, planning or attempting suicide. It was found that people experiencing substance abuse disorders within the past year were more than three times as likely to have seriously considered committing suicide as those not battling substance abuse. Those with past year substance abuse were four times more likely to have planned a suicide than those without substance abuse disorders and nearly seven times more likely to have attempted suicide.
These numbers are tragic but not altogether too surprising when taking into consideration the lifestyle of a person caught in the cycle of addiction. Most people tried a drug to avoid a problem and then continued with taking drugs instead of handling the problems in their life, finding them actually worse than at first and now finding themselves addicted to their drug of choice. Now their foremost problem is the cravings for the drug and the “how –to- get -more” of said drug. The lifestyle to keep the addiction fed brings on depression and guilt due to the activities to keep their cravings at bay. This of course increases the guilt where the only way out of this lifestyle to the addict is to commit suicide, which in the their mind will handle all their problems and do their friends and family a favor by them not having to worry over them any longer.
Rebecca Pool, C.A.D.C. (Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor) states, “We encounter many people entering our program stating upon arrival they had considered suicide because they had hit rock bottom and saw no other way to stop using drugs and in the process destroying not only themselves but their families. A person addicted to drugs can not see anyway out of this lifestyle. This is where Narconon steps in and is able to give that addict the tools and skills to overcome their addiction and to achieve their goals and dreams upon completion of the program, drug-free.”
The Narconon international network of drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education programs was founded over 43 years ago. Narconon Arrowhead is the networks premier facility, located in southeast Oklahoma on 216 acres in Arrowhead State Park, is the perfect treatment environment for those addicted who are trying to regain control of their life. Since Narconon’s center opened in Oklahoma in 1990 over 3,580 people have graduated the full program. Over 70% of these graduates are enjoying sober and productive lives today. If you or someone you love needs help please call 1-800-468-6933 to speak to a counselor who can help you get started on the road to recovery or log on to www.heroinaddiction.com.
Finding Drug Addiction Help
You will find that with the Internet and the right tools, this search can become less time consuming and it will allow you to find someone who is there to answer all of your questions just with a simple click of the mouse.
For drug addiction help, you can find many private facilities willing to help you or a loved one but you can also find government-funded agencies offering the same care for those who are low on funds and unable to pay for the care themselves. You may find that a government-funded facility has a long waiting list but that doesn’t mean you or your loved one can’t get the help you need.
Many government-funded agencies do not have the funds to support long-term stays so it is very important to find out the facts before entering. A detox and hot meal for three days may not be enough for a true addict to get over his problem so great consideration must be taken when checking out these facilities. If you need the help and can not afford the care, it is best to find the facility that offers the most care with little to no harm to your wallet.
Drug Addiction Help That Works
If you’re looking for drug addiction help that will ensure your success, it is important to find one that has a high success rate. If you can afford the care, it takes a small amount of research on your end to make sure it is the care you need and deserve. Addiction is not just a physical one; it can be psychological so it is important to find a facility that will deal with both ends of this issue.
Each facility should have a pamphlet or brochure that outlines the care in detail. This will allow you to bring the packet home and compare services. Another way to find a good facility is to ask around. Friends and neighbors can be a great resource and should be taken advantage of. You will know just how good the program is by seeing the reaction of a former addict who attended. Of course, there are outside influences but a program can only be as good as its weakest patient at times.
The decision for the facility where you can get drug addiction help should not be based on cost but on what you will get from attending. You will probably be able to make a payment plan with the right facility so you should first judge them each on an individual basis and move on from there.
One of the largest and most successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in the world.
How to Overcome Addiction with a Detox Program
Professionals are available to addicts and offer direction when they try to face the problems that made them first turn to drugs. Their bodies will be able to recover not only physically but mentally as well, allowing them to repair their lives that have become so desperately out of control.
An addict can check into a detox program even when he is still under the effects of the drugs. In fact, many people have checked in to a program under these conditions. The withdrawal symptoms can become very overwhelming and they choose to be under supervision once the full effects kick in.
What Happens During a Detox Program?
Most of the people going through the detox program will spend a great majority of their time in bed and they are not likely to manage any other activity while in the throes of the withdrawal. This is the hardest time for the addict to overcome his addiction but it is a necessary evil to be able to accomplish what he wants.
Depending on the drug of choice, the treatment beyond the physical will have to deal with the underlying mental illnesses. The addict’s emotions will be running high and the professionals will have to break through all of the mental ties that make the addict want to return to his previous lifestyle. It is possible that anxiety, depression, and overstimulation are all effects that will have to be dealt with for the addict to begin processing the information about what led him to his addiction.
The cravings will be difficult for the addict to overcome but it is well worth the fight to regain a sober lifestyle once again. An addict may even have times when he feels the addiction has been overcome completely but when stuck with an uncomfortable or stressful situation, the first thing he thinks of is to use drugs again.
It is a constant battle in the beginning but it can be overcome with the proper treatment. The addict may even try bargaining with himself or professionals saying that just one more use of the drug will be enough and he can then continue treatment. However, these are just emotions that are talking and the addict can pull through with the right care.
The right detox program will help addicts through all of these emotional problems that keep them tied to the feelings of being high and the result will be drug-free individuals who are ready to face all of life’s challenges in the right way.
One of the largest and most successful drug and alcohol rehab centers in the world.
Disastrous Effects of Drug Addiction Call for Rapid Family Intervention
Every day of every year, families in every state grapple with the drug problems of one or more of their members. Distraught parents, children or siblings appeal to the drug or alcohol user to please cease their excessive substance abuse without understanding that when substance abuse has progressed to addiction, most addicts need rehabilitation before they can quit. That is true no matter how much they promise they will end their drug or alcohol use. When a person is addicted, the addiction controls them rather than their controlling the addiction.
The slide into addiction very often has a consistent pattern, person to person. Problems at work, problems paying bills, unexplained loss of money; if the person has taken to dealing drugs to support their habit, unexplained cash. Missed family events, falling grades in school, secretive or accusative behavior are all common symptoms of the descent into addiction.
But these events are mild in comparison to what lies ahead when a person completes his or her full descent into addiction.
Drug or alcohol addiction commonly results in manipulative, abusive or criminal behavior; suicide; homelessness; overdoses leading to hospitalization or death. Addiction is frequently accompanied by serious or incurable health conditions: HIV, Hepatitis C, herpes, heart disorders, loss of teeth, abscesses, staph infections, liver disease and much more. Then there’s the constant threat of incarceration. The average sentence for drug felonies in 2004 was 51 months.
“Families often call or email us wondering what they should do to help someone they love who is addicted,” stated said Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. “Unfortunately, many families try to help the addict by bailing them out of jail, helping them pay their bills or find a new job. The right thing to do is to help the addict learn to live completely drug-free by getting them into an effective rehabilitation program.”
Rather than substitute an addictive medication for an illicit drug problem, the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program uses nutrition, one-on-one counseling and life skills training to help a person resolve the real reasons they started using drugs in the first place. The result is that 70 percent of Narconon graduates remain drug-free after graduation.
“Not every drug addict is ready to ask for help with the family wants them to,” added Mr. Hallmark. “That’s why Narconon works with experienced interventionists around the country. These people are experienced at helping addicted people make their own decision to stop the pain and loss by getting help. That decision is really the first step in rehabilitation.”
How Can Addiction Treatment Work
Addiction Treatment
Everybody comes into contact with addiction,sometime or other. It might be through personal use or it might becasue of a close friend or loved one
There are many, many addictions, more than most people realize..
Addicitions can be classified into 2 main areas:
We are all aware of substance addictions, this includes:
Alcohol
Drugs – Recreational and Prescription
Caffeine
Nicotine
Food
Refined Sugar
Carbohydrates
However there are many more proccess addictions These include some of the following:
Sex
Love
Relationships
Anger
Activity Addictions. These can include, but are not limited to:
The Internet
Exercise
Work
Gambling
Shopping
Spending Money
Obsession
Self Loathing
Television
Computer and Video Gaming
Pornography
Masturbation
Dangerous pursuits
Meditation
For whatever reason the mind is feeling pain. An addiction is a way of avoiding that pain. Not just not dealing with the pain, but avoiding acknowledging it altogether.
Do you for instance exercise because you need to get fit or lose weight, or has exercise become an addiction. Do you fret and worry, get irritable or anxious, when for some reason you cannot get to the gym? This is addictive behavior..
Everyone has their own ego problems. That might not seem possible, when you see images ,interviews films of extremely popular figures in sports, tv and movies.However, even celebrities and business leaders, the rich and famous hide their pain and do not deal with or take responsibility for their own pain.
These emotional issues or beliefs have been nurtured all through childhood and into adulthood. To a large extent they are false beliefs, but we choose to believe them, as though they are an emotional crutch.
There are considered to be four main or common false beliefs that are the cornerstone of nearly all addictions.
# I am not capable of dealing with my emotional pain
#I must be unworthy of another person’s love
# Only Other people are my means to love
#I need to control the thoughts and feelings of others towards me
Do you need addiction treatment. Find out the facts first.
New ?Elixir? Claims Success in Treating Cocaine Addiction
NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkaw said, “The results of this study represent a promising step toward an effective medical treatment for cocaine addiction.”
Many experienced drug rehab professionals are not so enthused about the prospect of a new wonder drug that will treat cocaine addiction with any success. “It is just history repeating itself in regard to drug addiction,” said Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor for the Narconon Arrowhead residential drug rehabilitation program, Rebecca Pool, C.A.D.C.. “In the 1800’s heroin was invented and promoted to treat morphine and opium addiction. Morphine addicts became heroin addicts. Methadone, developed by the Nazi’s during World War II, was promoted as a cure to treat heroin addiction in the early 1970’s. Subsequently heroin addicts became methadone addicts. Then came suboxone to treat methadone addiction leading to methadone users getting hooked on suboxone and so the story goes. Developing new drugs to treat drug addiction has not worked, history tells us that.”
It is well known that a large portion of the addiction treatment industry has settled on substitute medications as a means to prevent addicts from falling back into their unhealthy lifestyle. According to Narconon’s Pool, “The problem with this approach is that it does not help the individual discover and deal with the initial problems that lead them in the direction of drug addiction in the first place. Here at Narconon we have found that the solution to solving addiction is to help the person rehabilitate themselves as opposed to ‘treating’the symptoms of drug addiction for an indefinite and ongoing period of time.”
The Narconon Arrowhead rehabilitation program uses a thorough detoxification program followed by counseling and life skills training to bring about recovery from addiction. One drug is not replaced by another so when a person completes the program they are completely drug-free. The length of the program varies from person to person but on average takes three to five months. Seventy percent of Narconon program graduates go on to live drug-free lives.
If someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol and you want to help them achieve lasting recovery, call Narconon Arrowhead today. Call Narconon at 1-800-468-6933 for free addiction counseling, referral and free assessment of visit us at our website www.stopaddiction.com
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How Can Addiction Treatment Centers Help?
Choosing from the Many Addiction Treatment Centers
It is a well-known fact that not only the mental part of the addiction needs to be taken care of but the physical part does as well.
If you have to decide whether or not to enroll in an addiction treatment center, it is one of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make. There are many places to find an addiction treatment center and it can be as simple as turning on the television. There are ads, radio advertisements, websites, and even the local phone book has some full page ads for these companies that all claim to be the best. No wonder the decision is so difficult to make.
While each center tells you they are the best, how do you know where to go? If you’re looking for an addiction treatment center for yourself or a loved one, there is some information to keep in mind. First of all the most important thing to keep in mind is that the long term addiction treatment centers are the ones that show the highest rate of success.
Your addiction or your loved one’s addiction deserves the best care because this is an addiction that can not only ruin your relationships, it can kill you if you let it go too far. Your family will suffer and so will all of your friends and co-workers if you don’t get the help you need. It was never said that it will be easy, but it is possible and you will be glad you did it.
The first step to recovering is knowing that you have a problem and you are willing to find help. The next step is actually getting into a center that can help you deal with your addiction. While the first two steps were tough, there is one more step that may be the toughest on your physical body and that is getting detoxified. It will be tough but once you make t through you will finally be rid of that physical addiction that kept you going back for more drugs or alcohol even when you didn’t want them. Now the rest is all mental and trying to learn once again how to care for yourself in the mental capacity.
Addiction treatment centers are there to provide people with addiction with all of the tools that they need to succeed in their recovery. You will learn how to take better care of yourself physically as well as mentally and with some hard work you will be successful.
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The Importance of Addiction Counseling
If it were easy to do, there would be fewer rehab facilities and detox centers in the world but that is just not the reality. Unfortunately, to kick the habit it takes much more than just a simple physical detox. It takes a lot of hard work to get through the mental part of the addiction and that is where so many people have failed. With the assistance of an addiction counseling professional, some of these mental issues can be overcome by obtaining the right tools.
How Do Addicts Benefit from Addiction Counseling?
There are several benefits for an addict seeking addiction counseling. An addict usually has communication and self-esteem issues. In fact, this is usually how the addiction takes form in the first place. Taking a drink or using a drug to loosen up can sometimes lead to an uncontrollable addiction. Counselors teach addicts how to care for themselves and love themselves once again.
Several exercises are used to teach the patient self-esteem and they are only recommended under the care of a counselor. However, they do tend to be quite simple. Being taught to communicate effectively with others is also an important part of care for addicts and the different techniques help them to build their social skills. All of these exercises are performed in a step by step fashion as to not overwhelm the patient.
A counselor can give advice to the addict about proper nutrition, hygiene, and taking care of the body, as well as offer psychological care. An addict has probably let his body get to a point where extra care is needed to get it back into a healthy state, and many probably don’t even realize what they have done to themselves. All of these topics are covered when someone seeks assistance for his addiction in an in-house addiction center. He will learn how to start taking care of himself, not only mentally but physically as well.
Once the drug addict has begun to learn self-esteem, build his communicating skills, and start to taking care of his body, he is better able to continue treatment and deal with past issues. The only way for an addict to move forward is by giving him the tools to deal with the past, cope with his feelings and move forward to their new future without having to use their drug of choice to get them through life. This is where addiction counseling can do a lot to help someone recover.
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Understanding Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol addiction is not an overnight issue, it happens after prolonged periods of intoxication and ends up being used as an excuse to get through the stress of daily life. It is believed in some circles that the cause may be a chemical imbalance in the body of the alcoholic. People who don’t have the tools to deal with their stress in an effective manner may turn to alcohol to find the relief and get though their day. Peer pressure and depression along with a low self esteem boost the addiction and the alcoholic begins to drink more.
If you know someone who can’t stop drinking once he has started, that is a sure sign he may be addicted to alcohol. An addict usually chooses to drink alone and will frequently hide his alcohol addiction. He will begin to develop a physical alcohol addiction to the alcohol as well. An addict will only have one thing on his mind: how, where, and when he will find his next drink. It is no longer done for pleasure but a virtual physical need to keep him functioning properly through the day without withdrawal setting in.
Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction
Addicts will not only have the physical alcohol addiction anymore, they will show a mental attachment to the disease and frequently claim there is no problem at all. Physical symptoms of an alcohol addict include black outs, slurred speech, dizziness, and weight loss. They may become red in the face and frequently show signs of clumsyness. An addict may begin to feel numbness in his feet or hands and frequently complain of upset stomach. These latter symptoms usually occur when the withdrawal from the alcohol has begun to show its affect on the body.
The mental part of alcohol addiction has another set of symptoms that include irritability, emotional outbreaks, and inability to stop drinking. Once a person has been drinking over an extended period of time, it takes much more alcohol for him to get under control. Many addicts finally lose the ability to keep a job or even have time to be with friends or family
People with alcohol addiction tend to drink alone and many choose to drink in secret whenever the possibility arises so they can hide their addiction from others. You may find hidden stashes and their relationships will start to fall apart and they will have no control over it or even eventually begin to lose interest altogether.
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How Does Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Affect a Person?
There is another school of thought that the addiction is due to a mental disorder and causes physical dependency. The mental disorder must be treated first in order for any treatment plan to work properly.
One more argument is that the alcoholism and drug addiction is due to chemical imbalance. With this belief, it is thought that the addiction must be treated with some sort of medication after detox has been completed.
Scientific studies support each concept but there are no full answers and the fact remains there are millions of alcoholics and drug addicts still out there. When someone goes through the treatment process, his chances of staying clean can range between 16% and 20%. If we want recovery rates to rise, we have to come up with some sort of treatment that will make this happen.
The last thought on addiction is that the alcoholism and drug addiction problem probably has something to do with the life cycle of addiction, which means there is some trauma suffered at one time or another or a painful experience an addict can’t seem to get through without the use of some sort of chemical.
An example of this reason for addiction would be the person who can’t seem to fit in with others, a painful condition either physical or mental, or a person who may be dealing with another real or imagined problem. The alcoholic or addict may feel there is no other way out of the situation and the addiction begins. The first drink loosens him up and then the numbness sets in and the addict begins the downward spiral.
The relief that an addict may feel is only temporary but it is enough to get the addict over the pain. The feelings that are suppressed by the drink or the drug are something that the addict would rather feel so the continued drinking is never about pleasure; it is always a form of self medication that leads him down a road where returning is that hardest step ever taken.
Effects of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
The quality of life for this individual will gradually begin to decrease and the addiction will start to be a way to hide from the facts. Each and every moment an addict feels the pain of life, he will choose to take a drink or get high so he can avoid the pain. Alcoholism and drug addiction becomes a vicious cycle from which there seems no return. There are usually only three outcomes: sobriety, prison, and the worst case scenario — death.
One of the largest and most successful drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in the world.
Strange New Ways To Combat Your Internet Addiction!
I am addicted to the Internet. I am a busy working parent and still I find the time to check my e-mail, chat with my friends in Yahoo Instant Messenger, read news, forums and on and on.
I need “to know” and I need “to have” more than ever before. I want to get my latest news. I want to spread the news to my on-line and off-line friends, who, I might add, are doing exactly the same. I need to get a new book or … shoes or … gadget just because it is there and easy to buy, no need to drive and look for parking at the mall. Don’t you love these FREE shipping offers? All this is in addition to already being entertained on the Internet watching YouTube, listening to iTunes etc. Do you do the same?
It is not hard to find out if you’re addicted to the Internet. Do you find that when you get online you’re frequently surprised by the amount of time that has passed? Do you find yourself staying home instead of enjoying a beautiful day outside because you’d rather use the Internet?
A recent study from Stanford University School of Medicine found that more than one in eight Americans show signs that they could be suffering from some form of internet addiction.
How do you cure this problem? Google “Internet Addiction” and log on to a bunch of websites? Instant Message other sufferers? Join an Internet support group? Or buy self-help books from our favorite on-line store (after performing an extensive price comparison)? You might as well offer a drink to an alcoholic trying to cure his addiction.
In China, parents send their children as young as 12 to the first officially licensed clinic for Internet addiction at the Beijing Military Region Central Hospital. That is after their kids skip school to spend time playing online games and visiting chat rooms. These kids are admitted suffering from depression, nervousness, panic, fear, agitation, unwillingness to interact with others, sleep disorders, the shakes and numbness in their hands. The daily schedule at the center begins at 6 a.m. and includes electric shock treatment and the administration of intravenous drips to “adjust the unbalanced status of brain secretions”.
This sounds a little extreme to me. How about a gentler American way of approaching this problem? How about using a new high-tech device called SnoopStick?
SnoopStick is a very small USB flash drive device that will allow someone to fully monitor and limit your access to the Internet from any other computer on the Internet. Just run the set-up program on your computer then unplug the device and give it to your trusted friend. Your friend will plug Snoop Stick to any Windows-based computer (in her home or office) and at any time will be able to monitor your Internet use and disable your access to the Internet if needed. You can also specify the times when you will be able to access Internet and SnoopStick will enforce this schedule.
Stay aware, alert, and in control of your Internet with Snoop Stick.
Watch the video demonstration and get more information on SnoopStick from http://www.MyKidsInternetSafety.com
Say No to P.orn – Recovery from P.ornography Addiction
Did you know that over 60% of men over the age of 20 are addicted to p.orn? My powerful ebook focuses on the hugest addiction of our time and helps p.orn addicts to overcome p.orn addiction. Written by a medical professional. Ideal for adult website owner
Say No to P.orn – Recovery from P.ornography Addiction
Widespread Effects of Addiction Demand Effective Rehabilitation
If you pay attention to government surveys, you’ll learn that more than 20 million people suffer from addiction to alcohol or street drugs, or they are dependent on prescription drugs that they have been abusing. But a recent survey of American adults shows that the effects of addiction stretch much farther than this.
In 2004, 63 percent of adults surveyed said that addiction had impacted their lives, most of them because of a family member’s battle with drugs or alcohol. That means that more than 135 million people struggle either with their own addiction or that of a family member or someone close to them.
This doesn’t measure the number of children who are without a father or mother because they are in jail, in rehabilitation or simply gone. Or the numbers of children who have parents at home but suffer neglect or abuse because of the drug use. It doesn’t measure the lost productivity or the number of businesses that have had to close because an owner lost everything to substance abuse or an employee embezzled enough to close the doors.
Substance abuse and addiction exacts a terrible toll on America. And successful rehabilitation programs can be few and far between. Many rehabilitation programs state success rates between 5 and 20 percent.
“The Narconon Program is very proud of its 70% success rate,” stated Derry Hallmark, stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma.
“In our forty years of delivering rehabilitation services and in our 120 centers around the world,” Mr. Hallmark added, “we have been able to return many thousands of people to drug-free lifestyles. Our drug-free program addresses the three primary barriers to addiction rehabilitation: cravings, guilt and depression. We employ a thorough detoxification that uses a dry-heat sauna plus exercise, vitamins and minerals to break through the cravings. Educational and counseling phases of this rehabilitation program enable those in our program to leave guilt and depression far behind and develop new life skills for a drug-free life.”
If you know anyone who needs help to overcome a drug addiction, please contact
Narconon Arrowhead
Drug Counselor
Just Me [Us]: They Sing! They Dance! They Fight Addiction!
My second vlog [with assistance]. My siblings and I talk about World of Warcraft addictions, the Grudge 2, our family upbringing (complete with singing,) and my brothers stalking of Paperlilies. But mostly World of Warcraft.
Text and e-mail Addiction
Psychologists say that excessive text messaging, e-mailing, and Internet gaming should be considered addictions and classified as a mental disorder
S Korean young caught up in web gaming addiction
South Korea is one of the most advanced countries in internet technology, having high-speed web access easily obtainable throughout the country. But this advantage has come at a cost as more and more young people suffer from online gaming addictions that take over their day-to-day lives. Chan Tau Cho reports from the South Korean capital Seoul on how the addiction is helping blur the line between real and virtual worlds for many people. [July 15, 2010]
Your addiction sucks!
My friend sent me a bunch of intervention clips and I noticed they had some pretty lame addictions. moppixmovies.com
Lime Ritual – Food Addiction & Demonic Attack
www.SivaBaba.org more videos bit.ly playlists: bit.ly bit.ly It is not a difficult thing to lose weight; I have a certain method a comprehensive approach for losing weight. The main reason we are attracted to the wrong food is because negative forces or demons make us unconscious and we consume food that is bad for us.
Alcoholics Anonymous, Alcoholism, Alcohol Addiction
www.encognitive.com The Orthomolecular Approach to Treat Alcoholism * Learn how Targeted Nutritional Therapy corrects biochemical imbalances in the brain that leads to alcohol and other addictions * Address the root cause of alcohol addiction * If you are on anti-depressants, learn how to get off of them, and regain natural states of mental and physical health * Restore healthy brain chemistry that produces a sense of well-being and peace * Restore healthy neurotransmitter and hormone levels in weeks! * Minimize alcohol withdrawal symptoms * Lose your compulsive desire to drink in 7 to 14 days! * Correct your body and brain chemistry * Restore healthy emotions * Heal & protect your brain, liver, heart, GI, pancreas, and adrenals * Achieve and maintain healthy blood sugar levels * Experience a proven alcoholism cure! * Heal alcoholism symptoms – hypoglycemia, depression, fatigue, anxiety, excitability and many, many others! * Enjoy the benefits of privacy with this in-home holistic alcoholism treatment www.the101program.com
Transgender in New York 19 – Addiction
talking about my past struggle with addictions and how I found the strength that I have had to rely on so many times.
575 – Dr. Rauni Kilde (5 of 9): Free yourself from the addiction – “smoking” is healthy…
Playlist link: www.youtube.com www.Bevolution.org – Why is it that addictions often are the commanders of most people’s lives? “Smoking” (mobile phone use) is healthy and even protects against Alzheimer a new study showed….. hello, is there anybody in there. The blood-braiin-barrier opens from both smoking and mobile phone radiation which means that the brain is vulnerable for the poisons in the blood that can go into the brain. Is it a wonder why Alzheimer and all sorts of brain and neurological diseases have increased dramatically since 1997 in Scandinavia where the BIG MOBILE BOOM was? Think about children and think about what future they will have when their brain has not developed right – but instead has been bombarded with microwaves constantly. Please protect and save the children – they are the future generations too. Thank you for sharing and take action from Love.
Addiction Uncovered.
EBook On Alcoholism And Drug Addiction And How To Beat These Killers For Good.
Addiction Uncovered.
323 ChosonNinja Philosophy on ADDICTION
All of you who asked for help through the emails on your addictions: Discipline and making a sincere decision and sticking to it. Self indulgance needs moderation. Balance yourself accordingly before it gets abusive. I will post some hotlines on the dtgmartialarts.net/ website for all of you seeling help.
Dr. Gabor Mate: Addiction
A bad childhood: Vancouver physician Gabor Mate and the social roots of our addictions.
year old Smokes 40 Cigarettes A Day Dad has dveloped this addiction
www.facebook.com www.twitter.com The footage shows two-year-old Ardi Rizal reclining with a cigarette in his mouth. He waves it around, and draws back deeply on the cigarette. Ardi’s parents claim that the child is addicted to nicotine. His mother Diana 26, told Britain’s Sun newspaper she felt powerless to deny the child. “He’s totally addicted,” she said. “If he doesn’t get his cigarettes, he gets angry and screams and batters his head against the wall. He tells me he feels dizzy and sick.” Ardi Rizal smoked his first cigarette when he was 18 months old and now smokes 40 cigarettes a day. The overweight toddler is deft at blowing smoke rings, but is so unfit he cannot play with other children
Gambling addiction
A movie I recently made for an English Class giving some statistics about gambling addictions
TEEN PORN ADDICTION 2
Part 2 of an award winning news story by CBS7 on Teen Porn addictions with interviews from Oxbow Academy.
TEEN PORN ADDICTION 1
Part 1 of an award winning news story by CBS7 on teen pornography addictions. This 2-part series discusses the problem and treatment options, including Oxbow Academy.
How To End Sugar Addiction, Cravings & Withdrawal, Ep111
Natasha gives some tips on how to end a sugar addiction forever! www.rawradianthealth.com FREE Juices & Smoothies Recipe eBook www.rawradianthealth.com Health & Wellness Coaching http 10-Day Juice Fasting Program: tinyurl.com Website: www.rawradianthealth.com Blog www.rawradianthealth.com Facebook: www.facebook.com Twitter: twitter.com Donations: tinyurl.com To learn more about the Raw Food Diet and individual, group or donation based coaching to lose weight, have more energy and get healthy, go to: www.rawradianthealth.com -
Jane’s Addiction – I Would For You (Hammerstein Ballroom)
Jane’s Addiction – I Would For You (Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY, 1997-10-31 )
Addiction – Lova Lova – Superbus
Nouveau Single de Superbus
Alcohol Use and Abuse Addiction and Habituation
Alcohol Use and Abuse Addiction and Habituation
Problem and Solution.
Summary: Although there is no definition of “addiction” that is universally accepted, in general, addiction refers to a physiological and psychological dependency on a drug. While some drugs of abuse induce physiological addiction, others do not. Alternatively, some drugs that are physiologically addictive generally are not abused (e.g., caffeine). Tolerance to drug effects, and withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt cessation of use, which develop over time, are characteristic features of physiological addiction. “Habituation” is the term used to refer to psychological dependence on a drug. Some drugs of abuse are highly rewarding because of their influence on reinforcing neurobiological processes, but they do not necessarily result in “tissue” related withdrawal symptoms. Cessation of such drugs may lead primarily to subjective craving due to previous drug conditioning (perhaps true of some marijuana users) and craving may be more readily evoked or deeply conditioned among some persons than others (“addictive personalities”). Primary methods of assessment of addiction and habituation are completed through clinical interviews or self-report surveys (e.g., American Psychiatric Association DSM-IV, World Health Organization ICD-10). Treatment paradigms for the cessation of addiction begin with initial detoxification or withdrawal, followed by inpatient or outpatient program participation (e.g., 12-step programs, milieu, cognitive-behavioral, or behavioral). Pharmacological efforts (e.g., methadone maintenance) may be used as harm-reduction strategies among those who seem unable to quit drug use.
It is estimated that approximately 15 percent of the world’s adults have serious substance abuse problems (not including nicotine addiction), and that this percentage has remained fairly constant over the past twenty-five years. Of these substance abusers, about two-thirds abuse alcohol and one-third abuse other substances, mainly marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. Approximately2.5 percent of the population abuse marijuana, 0.5 percent abuse stimulants, 0.3 percent abuse cocaine or opioids (such as heroin), and up to 0.8 percent abuse other substances (e.g., inhalants, depressants, hallucinogens). Sites of drug production and manufacturing, and distribution routes, tend to identify regions at high risk for abuse.
Drug abuse causes significant health-related consequences and financial losses to legitimate economies. The financial cost to society is estimated to be approximately $600 billion per year worldwide. This does not include the cost of nicotine abuse, which, through its influence on heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease, and numerous other consequences, is the number one behavioral killer of people worldwide. Drugs of abuse are also associated with the production of psychotic symptoms (e.g., paranoid ideation) and with injuries due to accidents and violence. Approximately 50 percent of automobile fatalities involve alcohol-impaired drivers, and many auto crashes also involve chronic marijuana or amphetamine users.
In addition, each drug class is associated with a unique set of potential consequences. Some drugs of abuse are likely to have lethal consequences (e.g., opiates and depressants), and some have a high potential for addiction. Health consequences can also vary by drug. For example, depressants, PCP, stimulants, steroids, and cannabis are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Stimulant use is linked to seizure, digestion problems, and lung problems. Documented consequences of marijuana use include lung damage and short-term memory problems. Dementia, seizure, memory impairment, central and peripheral nervous systems impairment, gastrointestinal diseases, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are all consequences of alcohol consumption. Steroid use is associated with high blood pressure, potential heart attacks, liver tumors, transient infertility, and tendon degeneration. Inhalants are well-known causes of kidney, brain, and liver damage.
The development and maintenance of the addictive process involves multiple pathways and levels of influence within biological, psychological, and sociological domains. Influences exogenous to the individual include environmental, cultural, and social factors. Cultural and social norms, variations in drug use practices, and the values and behaviors of parents, siblings, friends, and role models can all affect an individual’s drug experiences. Processes contributing to individual differences in substance use include physiological susceptibility, as measured in genetics studies; affective states; personality; and cognition—including expectancies and memory processes. Substance abuse versus substance use is more strongly related to intra-personal processes (e.g., self-medication for emotional distress) than social processes, although both are influential in the addictive process.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE
Substance use pertains simply to the use of a drug. Substance misuse means using a drug for a purpose or in a manner in which it was not intended or prescribed. Substance abuse is marked by an accumulation of negative consequences resulting from drug use. Substance use that leads to a decreased level of performance in major life roles, or to dangerous actions, legal problems, or social problems, indicates abuse. Substance dependence is a more severe form of drug abuse that also includes tolerance (the need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve the desired drug effect), withdrawal symptoms when stopping substance use, unpredictability of substance use, and an inability to control the use of a substance to the point that it consumes one’s daily life.
Withdrawal symptoms vary from drug to drug. For example, withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives, or anxiolytic agents may involve autonomic reactivity, hand tremor, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, transient illusions or hallucinations, psycho-motor agitation, anxiety, and grand mal seizures. Amphetamine or cocaine withdrawal can include fatigue, unpleasant and vivid dreams, insomnia or hypersomnia, increased appetite, and psychomotor retardation or agitation. For substance abusers, withdrawal is often a difficult process with numerous symptoms, while abstaining from drug use can lead to recovery from physical and psychological problems and an improvement in overall health.
THE DRUG ABUSE CONTINUM
Conceptually, substance abuse can be seen as a continuum, with individuals at one end being relatively “disease-free” but engaging in maladaptive behaviors over which they have some control. These individuals may repetitively use drugs, and over time they may abuse drugs. They choose to live a certain lifestyle in which their maladaptive behavior may or may not result in other disease states associated with use (e.g., cirrhosis of the liver). If these individuals stop this negative cycle they can, perhaps on their own, learn alternative coping mechanisms and self-efficacy. Individuals at the other end of the continuum, however, seemingly have no control over their use. Some individuals appear to lose control the first time they use drugs. For these individuals drug use is like a toggle switch that is either on or off. For them, total abstention is the only alternative because they have no control processes once the switch is turned on. They may use until they die unless someone else can turn their switch off and keep it off. There is no logic to this behavior, and no choice. Users of this type will often ruin their own lives and the lives of those around them in their drive to use their drugs of choice. It seems that as one moves toward a more “at-risk” end of the continuum there is less and less control over substance use.
It is unclear what causes the difference in loss of control among those at different points of the continuum. Researchers do not understand the process very well. They do know that other factors may exacerbate the process, including biologically based differences in metabolic processes, different levels of susceptibility to the reinforcing effects of drugs, personality disorders or depression, and an inability to tolerate frustration or emotional discomfort. Some processes are under individual control, but many are not, and it does appear that the less control the individual has over these types of processes, the more likely he or she is to fall into substance abuse.
STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
During the early stages of substance abuse, the alcoholic or drug abuser experiences increasing tolerance and use. Substance use at this stage is generally for purposes of self-medication. In the later stages of abuse, life becomes centered around obtaining, using, and recovering from drug use. Loss of control, ethical deterioration, and noticeable withdrawal symptoms ensue. It is unclear, however, whether such a progression is inevitable.
In a 1991 empirical review of the study of progression in alcoholism, Jill Littrell found that approximately 60 percent of adolescent problem drinkers remit to nonproblematic levels of drinking when they reach their 20s, and that 25 percent of young adults remit to nonproblematic levels of drinking before they reach age 35. Studies examining data on adult alcoholics who have undergone a variety of treatments as inpatients and outpatients during follow-up periods of up to fifteen years provide a general profile of outcomes. Between 25 and 35 percent remain abstinent, whether or not they continue treatment. An additional 15 to 25 percent will be abstinent most of the time, with some lapse periods. Approximately 6 to 9 percent will become nonproblematic or controlled drinkers (particularly those who were lighter drinkers and suffered fewer negative consequences while drinking). Another 20 to 33 percent become stable problematic drinkers, while 15 to 25 percent will die from alcohol-related causes.
It is uncertain whether drug abusers follow a progression similar to that of alcoholics. There probably is some validity to a notion of progression for drug use in general, but more longitudinal studies are needed in this area. It is possible that such a progression might simply express the accumulation of consequences one endures each time one takes a chance by drinking or using drugs. As opposed to the stages outlined above, a substance abuser may simply incur more problems over time, along with an increased tolerance for alcohol or other drugs of abuse.
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the most commonly used drug in the world. Pharmacologically, alcohol is classified as a central nervous system depressant. Like other depressants, in small doses alcohol slows heart rate and respiration, decreases muscular coordination and energy, dulls the senses, and lowers inhibitions—resulting in feelings of relaxation and greater sociability. Large amounts of alcohol can result in depression of the various body systems, resulting in coma or death. The immediate physical effects of alcohol depend on the amount and frequency of drinking, while the mental and emotional effects are influenced by the mood of the drinker and the setting in which drinking takes place.
Two physical effects resulting from prolonged, heavy alcohol use include tolerance and withdrawal. Alcohol tolerance refers to the need for increased amounts of alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication. For example, five or six drinks may be needed to achieve the same effects produced by one or two drinks when the individual first began drinking. Alcohol withdrawal, on the other hand, refers to a number of physical and psychological reactions an individual experiences when significantly reducing or stopping prolonged heavy drinking. Symptoms of withdrawal include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and hand tremors.
An interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors come into play in the development of drinking behaviors and problems. For example, some individuals may be genetically predisposed to alcohol problems, but whether or not they actually experience negative alcohol consequences will also depend upon their immediate social and physical surroundings, such as family drinking patterns and alcohol availability, as well as their drinking habits.
ALCOHOL USE AND MISUSE
Most people who drink alcohol do so without negative consequences. Others may actually obtain a health benefit from its use. Some, however, drink in ways that place themselves or others at risk for experiencing alcohol-related problems. While no pattern of alcohol use is without risk, certain drinking patterns may help reduce risk significantly.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, define moderate drinking as no more than two standard drinks per day for men, and no more than one per day for women and people sixty-five years of age and older. A standard drink is 0.5 ounces of alcohol, equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. These guidelines suggest that moderate or low alcohol use is linked to a reduced risk for the occurrence of negative alcohol consequences. For others, however, abstaining from all alcohol consumption is the safest thing to do. Groups who should avoid all alcohol use include pregnant women, children and adolescents, those planning to drive or participate in other activities requiring alertness, people who cannot maintain moderate alcohol use, and those who are using over-the-counter or prescription medicines that interact with alcohol.
Another way to understand drinking problems is to examine definitions of alcohol misuse. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines alcohol misuse as alcohol use that places people at risk for problems, including “at-risk use,” “clinical alcohol abuse,” and “dependence.” At-risk alcohol use is the consumption of alcohol in a way that is not consistent with legal or medical guidelines, and it is likely to present risks of acute or chronic health or social problems for the user or others. Examples include underage drinking; drinking by individuals with a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking; or drinking if one has a medical condition that could be worsened by drinking, such as a stomach ulcer or liver disease. Clinical alcohol abuse is a more serious type of misuse that results in one or more recurrent, adverse consequences, such as failure to fulfill important obligations or the repeated use of alcohol in physically dangerous situations. Alcohol dependence is the most severe type of alcohol misuse and involves a chronic disorder characterized by three or more symptoms within a twelve-month period. These symptoms include alcohol tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, and continued use despite knowledge of having a physical or psychological problem.
Negative consequences resulting from alcohol use are estimated to affect more than 10 percent of the U.S. population, with many of these individuals going undetected. A number of brief screening tools are available to help detect possible alcohol problems. One of the most widely used among these is the four-item CAGE questionnaire, which derives its name from the following four self-administrated questions:
1. Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?
Answering “yes” to as few as one or two items on the CAGE questionnaire may indicate a drinking problem.
PREVALENCE
In the United States, 44 percent of adults eighteen years of age and older are current drinkers, consuming at least twelve drinks in the last year. Meanwhile, 7.4 percent, or approximately 14 million Americans, experience alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. Heavy episodic or binge drinking has remained at the same approximate level of 16 percent for all adults since 1988, with the highest rate, 32 percent, among young adults ages eighteen to twenty-five. Over one-half of adults report having a close family member who has experienced alcoholism.
As few as 5 percent of the heaviest drinkers consume as much as 42 percent of the alcohol drunk in the United States, and 20 percent of drinkers account for nearly 90 percent of the alcohol consumed. The bulk of the alcohol drunk in the United States, therefore, is consumed by a relatively small population of very heavy drinkers.
Alcohol is also the drug most frequently used by children and adolescents. In 1999, over half (52%) of eighth graders (14-year-olds) and 80 percent of twelfth graders (18-year-olds) reported having used alcohol at least once. More problematic drinking occurs in 15 percent of eighth graders and 31 percent of twelfth graders, who reported binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks in a row) in the previous two weeks. Of American high school adolescents, over half (51%) currently drink alcohol. In 1999, one in three high school students reported heavy episodic drinking of five or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous thirty days. The prevalence of heavy drinking commonly increases through adolescence into early adulthood.
HEALTH OUTCOMES
Alcohol use has health and social consequences for those who drink, for those around them, and for the nation as a whole. Approximately 100,000 deaths each year are attributed to alcohol use, making it the third leading cause of preventable mortality in the United States. Worldwide, 750,000 deaths are attributed to alcohol use each year. Alcohol-related deaths occur from cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, motor-vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, suicide, and homicide. Alcohol affects nearly every system in the body, and contributes to a range of medical problems, including altered immune system functioning, bone disease, hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, reduced cognitive functioning, fetal abnormalities, traumatic injury, depression, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancers of the neck, head, stomach, pancreas, colon, breast, and prostate. Alcohol also produces significant social problems, including domestic violence, child abuse, marital and family disruption, violent crime, motor-vehicle crashes, worksite productivity losses, absenteeism, and lowered school achievement. The estimated cost of alcohol misuse in the United States in 1998 was nearly $185 billion.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to acute alcohol effects due to their lower tolerance to alcohol, their lack of experience with drinking, and drinking patterns that often include heavy episodic drinking in high-risk situations, such as during driving and sexual encounters. Leading causes of mortality and morbidity among youths include alcohol-related motor-vehicle injuries, homicide, and suicide. Alcohol use among young people is associated with reduced scholastic achievement, increased delinquency, and the development of psychiatric problems later in life. Alcohol has also been found to precede other illicit drug use, thereby serving as a “gateway” to other drug consumption, including marijuana and cocaine use.
Women and the elderly are also at greater risk for experiencing alcohol harm because of their lower levels of body water, meaning that smaller amounts of alcohol result in higher levels of intoxication than in younger men. Drinking during pregnancy has been linked to higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature births, and fetal alcohol syndrome—a set of birth defects caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. For the elderly, drinking even modest amounts of alcohol may cause considerable problems due to chronic illness, interactions with medications, and grief and loneliness from the death of loved ones.
At the same time, moderate to low levels of alcohol consumption have been linked to a lower risk for heart disease and stroke. These positive effects appear to be confined primarily, however, to middle-aged and older individuals in industrialized countries with high rates of cardiovascular diseases. Individuals and populations must weigh the risks and benefits of drinking to themselves and others, including such factors as the situations under which drinking is to take place and the amount likely to be consumed, to determine the net results of drinking.
SOLUTIONS
The burden of alcohol misuse is measured in a number of ways, including the prevalence and incidence of deaths, injuries, and illnesses attributed to alcohol; hospitalization rates; potential years of life lost to alcohol misuse; and quality of life indicators. Vast resources are expended each year in the United States to address the health and social problems resulting from alcohol misuse. Because no single solution can reduce all alcohol-related harm to individuals and populations, a comprehensive approach using a range of strategies that address the multiple causes and dimensions of alcohol problems is needed. These strategies should include educational approaches—such as public health education and awareness programs, including school, family, and community-based prevention programs; environmental approaches—such as controls on the price and availability of alcohol, minimum age for purchase of alcohol, legislative measures to curb driving under the influence of alcohol, and restrictions on the promotion, marketing, and advertising of alcohol; and health care efforts—such as primary health care screening, advice by health care providers, preventive services, and effective treatment using psychological and
pharmacological approaches.
Dr.Kedar B. Karki
New Hope Rehabilitation Center Satdobato Lalitpur
drkarki_kedar@yahoo.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1999). Fact Sheet: Youth Risk Behavior Trends. Atlanta, GA: Author.
Dawson, D., and Grant, B. (1998). “Family History of Alcoholism and Gender: Their Combined Effects on DSM-IV Alcohol Dependence and Major Depression.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol 59(1):97–106.
Dawson, D.; Grant, B.; Chou, S.; and Pickering, R. (1995). “Subgroup Variation in U.S. Drinking Patterns: Results of the 1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Study.” Journal of Substance Abuse 7(3):331–344.
Ewing, J. (1984). “Detecting Alcoholism: The CAGE Questionnaire.” Journal of the American Medical Association 252:1905–1907.
Grant, B.; Harford, T.; Dawson, D.; Chou, P.; DuFour, M.; and Pickering, R. (1994). “Prevalence of DSM-IV Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: United States, 1992.” Epidemiologic Bulletin No. 35. Alcohol Health & Research World 18(3):243–248.
Greenfield, T., and Rogers, J. (1999). “Who Drinks Most of the Alcohol in the U.S.? The Policy Implications.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol January 1999:78–89.
Inaba, D., and Cohen, W. (2000). Uppers, Downers, All Arounders, 4th edition. Ashland, OR: CNS Publications.
Johnston, L. D.; O’Malley, P. M.; and Bachman, J. G. (1999). “Drug Trends in 1999 Among American Teens Are Mixed.” University of Michigan News and Information Services, national press release, December 17, 1999:1–33.
Kandel, D., and Yamaguchi, K. (1993). “From Beer to Crack: Developmental Patterns of Drug Involvement.” American Journal of Public Health 83:851–855.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2000). Summary of Findings from the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Rockville, MD: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1995). Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 4th edition. Washington, DC: Author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2000). Tenth Special Report to the U.S. Congress on Alcohol and Health from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. NIH Publication No. 00–1583. Washington, DC: Author.
—— (2000). Healthy People 2010. Washington, DC: Author.
World Health Organization (1994). Lexicon of Alcohol and Drug Terms. Geneva:
Dr.Kedar B. Karki
New Hope Rehabilitation Center Satdobato Lalitpur
Supreme Beings of Leisure – “Strangelove Addiction” Video
Great track from self-titled debut of the aforementioned Supreme Beings of Leisure
The Link Between Teen Addiction And Teen Suicide
One of the greatest, but too often unspoken, dangers of teen drug use and addiction is the high risk of suicide that tends to accompany it. Teens who use drugs regularly are more likely to consider suicide as well as to act upon their thoughts. According to the American Psychiatric Association, many teens suffer from depression. In many cases, teens will often “self-medicate” with drugs in order to avoid exposing themselves and their problems to adults. The use of drugs does not alleviate the problems, but instead, usually aggravate them, leaving the teen with a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. This places them at greater risk for suicide attempts. Drug use and dependency clouds judgment, and lowers the teen’s natural survival instinct. Drug use affects the chemical balance of the brain, intensifying feelings of sadness, depression and loneliness. Periods of withdrawal from the drug, and intense feelings of crashing profoundly affect the young person’s mind and mood. While these factors exist in adult addicts, they are more intensified in the young adult and teen, particularly due to his dependency upon adults.
In addition, a frequent user of drugs already has the means at his disposal to act on suicidal thoughts. Overdosing is one of the easiest and most common methods of suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death amongst young people from the ages of fifteen to twenty-four. Some experts suggest that as many as ninety percent of those teens who commit suicide abuse drugs, though others estimate that the number is closer to between fifty- three and sixty percent. Teens, especially today, are under a tremendous amount of pressure. Caught in the crossroads between childhood and adulthood, teens are filled with conflicts about themselves, their identity, and their place in the world. These factors, coupled with their perception that the adult world doesn’t or can’t, understand their angst, leave them vulnerable and isolated. These factors contribute to both addiction and suicidal intention, both of which also feed on the other.
Methods for treating a teen with suicidal intentions are very similar to treating teens with addictions. Most of the root causes are quite similar. The most important thing for an adult to provide the teen, is an avenue of communication. It is important that the teen feel that he has someone to turn towards to express his feelings and problems. He or she need to feel that they are not isolated. There are people who care about them. They are not the only one who is struggling with these problems. If a teen does not believe this, then no other treatment can truly be effective. However, this is of course, only the first step. The teen needs to receive professional guidance and possibly medical treatment to deal with his addiction.
No matter the cause and solution, the connection between teen substance addiction and suicide is too strong to stand to the side. Of course there has always been preventative programs centering around education, but more active steps need to be planned. In truth the most successful stoppage of teen drug use, is showing the young person that true pleasure comes from hard work and not the quick fix of drug use. If this can be accomplished then the teen will over time turn from addictive substances lower his or her risk of suicide.
Simon P. has a masters in education and counseling. More information on teen addiction.
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