Alcohol Addiction Information

"Sometimes in extreme cases, when the drinker's health and well-being becomes critically threatened, a professional intervention may become necessary, but even then sometimes the attempt will create even more family problems."

"If you drink to an excess, you may consume more alcohol than your body can metabolize and eliminate. Under these circumstances, the body and the brain may become "overloaded" and result in alcohol poisoning. If the amount of alcohol is great enough, the body and the brain will 'shut down' and the person can die as a result."

"Studies have demonstrated that the drinking patterns of employed women are different from women who are not employed, with increased consumption and greater frequency of drinking situations and less abstinence exhibited by the employed women."

"Alcoholism research statistics show that more than 700,000 Americans receive alcoholism treatment on any given day."

"A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shows one-fourth of all traffic deaths among children (under age 15) involved alcohol."

"Factors that affect your blood alcohol level include the following: how many drinks you consume, how strong the alcoholic drink is, how much food is in your stomach at the time you drink, how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol, and how quickly you consume the alcoholic drink."

"Those who use alcohol may begin to show early signs of a problem, then progress to showing symptoms of alcohol abuse; if drinking continues, they may later show symptoms of alcoholism or alcohol dependence."

"The findings of the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and Addiction demonstrated that, while millions of Americans habitually drink alcohol, swallow prescription drugs, smoke pot, and snort cocaine, a number of drug users who meet or exceed the standards that indicate that they need professional treatment do not realize or accept the fact that they have a drug or an alcohol abuse problem."

"Children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to suffer employment problems, abuse other drugs, and commit criminal and violent acts once they reach young adulthood, according to a RAND Health study."

"According to U.S. research, drug treatment during and after imprisonment not only increases the number of people who are drug-free, but also increases the number of people who are arrest-free."

"According to the alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature, in the U.S., more than 40% of those who start drinking at age 14 or younger become alcohol dependent."

"According to U.S. alcoholism research, when women experience symptoms of depression, they are at increased risk for subsequent alcohol dependence."

"It is estimated that more than 3 million teenagers in the U.S. between the ages of 14 to 17 are problem drinkers."

"Since nothing can change what took place in the past, it is hoped that all of the state and federal prisoners who abused drugs and/or alcohol in the past have access to alcoholism and alcohol abuse programs as well as to substance abuse and addiction treatment while they are still in prison."

"The chemical dependency research literature shows that while some addicts successfully stop drinking and abusing drugs on their own without professional help, the vast majority of individuals who are alcohol dependent or drug addicts, however, need professional assistance for their drug addiction and for their alcoholism. In short, without drug and alcohol addiction treatment, there is little hope for long-term sobriety and recovery."

"Various studies have demonstrated that inpatient detoxification programs are longer lasting and more effective than outpatient detox programs. The significant issue here, however, is the following: the more severe the alcohol-related withdrawal symptoms, the more likely that inpatient detoxification programs should be used."

"As people age, it takes fewer drinks to become intoxicated, and organs can be damaged by smaller amounts of alcohol than in younger people. Also, up to one-half of the 100 most prescribed drugs for older people react adversely with alcohol."

"As per the research literature, during the third stage of alcohol addiction, the drinker frequently makes half-hearted attempts at seeking medical aid. Due to the fact that drinkers in this stage rarely, if ever, admit the extent of their drinking, however, they seldom receive any lasting medical treatment."

"Many people only think of a 'skid-row bum' when they think of someone with an alcohol problem. This is the end stage of alcohol problems, when a person has lost his or her family, job and health because of alcohol abuse. You don't reach this stage overnight."

"According to alcoholism statistics, in the United States, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic families use 10 times as much sick leave as families where alcohol is not a problem. 80% of these family members state that their ability to perform their work is impaired as a result of living with an alcohol abuser or with an alcoholic."

"Depending on the drug to which the substance abuser is addicted, rapid detox typically occurs in a hospital or detox facility where the addict is anesthetized for 4 to 6 or even up to 48 hours--enough time to eliminate most of the drugs from the addict's system."

"In some areas, part of the DUI school curriculum puts offenders face to face with victims, who tell their painful stories of how a drunk driver changed their lives forever. The idea is that personalizing the pain that drinking and driving can cause might make the offender stop and think before getting behind the wheel after drinking."

"Some of the behavioral and physiological factors that converge to increase or decrease a person's risk for alcohol problems, including tolerance to alcohol's effects, may be directly linked to genetics."

"In some areas, part of the DUI school curriculum puts offenders face to face with victims, who tell their painful stories of how a drunk driver changed their lives forever. The idea is that personalizing the pain that drinking and driving can cause might make the offender stop and think before getting behind the wheel after drinking."

"Educate yourself about alcohol's effects on a person and the person's family. Learn how alcohol affects health and how it can lead to serious health problems. You can get information by contacting an alcohol and drug treatment center in your area and talking with a health professional trained in dealing with alcohol use problems."

"While enrolled in U.S. in-patient alcoholism rehab, patients attend classes, hear lectures, and participate in individual, group, and family counseling sessions."

"According to U.S. research, alcohol problems cluster in and destroy families. More than 50% of current drinkers have a family history of alcoholism."

"According to U.S. substance abuse researchers, A man who has more than 14 drinks per week or more than four drinks per occasion is drinking too much."

"The short and long term consequences that arise from underage alcohol consumption are astonishing in their range and magnitude, affecting adolescents, the people around them, and society as a whole."

"According to alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics, in the United States, non-alcoholic members of alcoholic families use 10 times as much sick leave as families where alcohol is not a problem. 80% of these family members state that their ability to perform their work is impaired as a result of living with an alcohol abuser or with an alcoholic."

"Mixing alcohol and drugs not only compounds the drug and alcohol problems that the abuser experiences, but doing so increases the person's need for professional alcohol and drug treatment."

"U.S. alcohol abuse statistics demonstrate that individuals who start drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol dependent at some time in their lives, compared to those who start drinking at the legal age of 21."

"Teenage drug and alcohol abuse research shows that adolescent drug and alcohol abuse and addiction affects youth from all races, socioeconomic levels, religious preferences, and geographic locations."