Alcohol Addiction Information

"Drug use can also be dangerous for people who are taking anti-HIV medications. Drug users are less likely to take all of their medications, and street drugs may have dangerous interactions with HIV medications."

"Does alcohol advertising work? According to a 1999 Federal Trade Commission report, alcohol companies placed their alcoholic products in in one or more episodes of 181 different television series and in 233 motion pictures in 1997-98. Interestingly, in the fifteen TV shows that were the most popular with teenagers, eight had alcohol product placements."

"Several U.S. studies have shown that about half of alcoholics who have successfully undergone detoxification will relapse within 6-12 months. Remaining alcohol-free is a very difficult task for most alcoholics."

"Substance abuse research demonstrates that counselors and therapists who bond with patients through empathy, rather than confrontation, are powerful motivating influences in alcohol treatment."

"People in distress, whether it is from alcohol, drugs, depression, gambling or eating disorders usually display poor coping skills. These poor coping skills are often negatively impacting them and concerned people around them."

"Excessive drinking can cause immune system problems, brain damage, harm to the fetus during pregnancy, and cirrhosis of the liver."

"Hangovers are another effect that occurs after large amounts of alcohol are consumed. Symptoms include headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue."

"Research shows that drug testing is extremely reliable and accurate when all the relevant aspects of the testing process are done properly."

"The average U.S. 18-year-old has seen 100,000 television commercials encouraging him or her to drink."

"Both alcohol addiction and medical researchers have discovered that individuals who drink repeatedly and excessively for many years frequently develop serious alcohol-related problems such as peptic ulcers, depression, cirrhosis of the liver, as well as alcohol-related financial, relationship, employment and legal problems (for instance, receiving multiple DUIs)."

"As demonstrated by research scientists, drinking too much alcohol can cause mild neurological problems in anyone and that these problems can include insomnia and headache."

"During the second stage of alcoholism, physical symptoms such as stomach problems, blackouts, hangovers, and hand tremors increase. Rather than focusing on their drinking as the cause of the many problems they face, alcoholics, during this stage start to blame others and things external to themselves."

"Alcoholism research reveals that alcohol withdrawal symptoms rarely occur in people who only drink once in a while."

"The damage caused by alcohol impaired drivers in the United States compares to a Boeing 747 with more than 500 passengers crashing every eight days killing everyone on board."

"There is no absolute number of drinks per day that indicates a person has alcoholism, although alcoholics do eventually develop a tolerance for alcohol."

"In one U.S. study, the intoxication rate (.08+ BAC) for male drivers involved in fatal crashes was 25%, compared to 12% for female drivers."

"According to alcohol abuse and alcoholism research studies, the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to have a hangover the next day. But there's no magic formula. A single alcoholic drink is enough to trigger a hangover for some people, while others may drink heavily and escape a hangover entirely."

"A message to people who get intoxicated infrequently: If you think getting drunk only a few times per year is no big thing your are mistaken. Getting drunk can result in a traffic accident regardless of how often an individual drinks alcohol."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research has shown that even though they use alcohol in an unhealthy and damaging manner, individuals who suffer from alcohol abuse do not necessarily develop a physical dependence upon alcohol."

"Every addictive substance, including alcohol, elicits pleasant states or relieves anxiety and stress. Repeated use of the addictive substance induces adaptive changes in the brain that lead to physical dependence, uncontrollable craving, tolerance, and, all too frequently, relapse."

"According to U.S. research, a strong social support system and early medical or psychiatric intervention may also help prevent the escalating consumption of alcohol so characteristic of alcoholism."

"Once a person quits drinking and after the alcohol withdrawal symptoms go away, it is important for the individual to join a treatment or sobriety program such as Alcoholics Anonymous to help him or her maintain sobriety."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, students who had multiple reasons to drink, including reasons related to coping, were also more likely to begin drinking at an earlier age, more likely to be drunk in the past year and more likely to drink before 4:00 pm, compared to students who drank to experiment with alcohol, to experience the thrill of drinking or just to relax."

"According to one U.S. study, 68% of those people who come to a trauma center have an alcohol or drug problem."

"Although the risk is higher with heavy alcohol use, scientific research has shown that any amount of alcohol may affect your unborn baby. You can prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder by not drinking at all while you are pregnant. Many doctors suggest just that."

"Of all the Americans who are dependent on alcohol, 500,000 are between the ages of 9 and 12."

"According to research undertaken in the U.S., peripheral neuropathy, damage to the nerves in the limbs, occurs in 5% to 15% of people with alcoholism. Such injuries cause tingling, pain, and numbness in the hands, feet, arms and legs."

"SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that in 2003, an estimated 13.2% of veterans reported driving while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs in the past year compared with 12.2% of comparable non-veterans."

"Besides the long-term health problems that can develop, a prolonged use of alcohol can lead to a chemical dependency on alcohol itself, which can bring about a whole set of problems of its own."