Alcohol Addiction Information

"Depression is a common cause of alcoholism as the depressed person seeks a way out of their problems or a relief from insomnia. Unfortunately, alcohol is itself a depressant, so the problem is only compounded."

"A person who abuses alcohol may start drinking alone, gulping drinks or sneaking drinks before social occasions, or may start drinking the first thing in the morning. The abusive drinker may also display alcohol-related legal, financial, relationship, and employment problems."

"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."

"Research into the effects of long-term addiction has shown that substantial changes in the way the brain functions are present long after the addict has stopped using drugs, including alcohol."

"Does drinking strong coffee or taking a cold shower have an effect on the person who is drunk? The answer is yes - the result being an alert, cold, and wet drunk. Time, and only time can sober a person up."

"One study of U.S. Midwestern States found that 46 percent of ninth graders who reported drinking alcohol in the previous month said they obtained the alcohol from a person who was 21 or older."

"Alcoholism statistics demonstrate that you might think you can quit drinking at any time. Many people who have alcohol problems do quit for periods of days, weeks, or even months before they start drinking again. But unless you can consistently keep your drinking under control and not fall back into unhealthy patterns, you need professional help."

"According to drug and alcohol abuse research, to make a successful recovery, the dependent person needs new tools in order to deal with problematic situations and circumstances that will arise. Factors such as seeing a friend from the days when the addict was using, returning to the same home town or addictive environment, things such as songs, objects, or smells may trigger memories that can push a hot button or trigger psychological stress. All of these factors can not only get in the way of recovery for the dependent person, but they can short-circuit sobriety and lead to relapse."

"It is important to note that alcohol overdose doesn't only occur from any one heavy drinking incident, but may also occur from a constant infusion of alcohol in the blood stream."

"One U.S. study found that binge drinkers had a risk for a cardiac emergency that was two and a half times that of nondrinkers."

"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."

"It is important to note that alcohol overdose doesn't only occur from any one heavy drinking incident, but may also occur from a constant infusion of alcohol in the blood stream."

"Those who are drug dependent feel a need to abuse drugs consistently in order to feel "normal," or to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Drug dependence can be physical, psychological, or both."

"American alcohol abuse researchers have uncovered the following factors that affect your blood alcohol level: how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol, how quickly you consume the alcoholic drink, how much food is in your stomach at the time you drink, and how strong the alcoholic drink is."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, both boys and girls who drank just to experiment with alcohol were also more likely to initiate drinking at a later age, compared to those who drank for other reasons."

"In one U.S. study, the overwhelming majority of surveyed youth (74% of 8-17 year-olds; 74% of 8-12 year-olds; 74% of 13-17 year-olds) cite their parents as the primary influence in their decisions about whether they drink alcohol or not."

"According to the substance abuse research, children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both middle school and high school. By young adulthood, early alcohol use was associated with employment problems, other substance abuse, and criminal and other violent behavior."

"As far as the validity of blood alcohol tests is concerned,blood alcohol tests are the most accurate method currently in use for testing an individual's blood alcohol content (BAC)."

"Alcoholism and alcohol abuse cost the United States an estimated $220 billion in 2005. This dollar amount was more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion)."

"This is some information about alcohol and drug testing that many people don't know about. Not only are employers implementing drug and alcohol tests for their employees, but when their workers go the hospital emergency room, if there is an indication that the person has been drinking or has taken drugs, alcohol tests and/or drug tests are administered."

"The 'when things get tough it's time to drink' mentality is not a healthy, productive, or an intelligent way to engage in problem solving."

"Alcohol blocks out emotional pain and is often perceived as a loyal and trustworthy friend when meaningful relationships fail."

"Although various research studies demonstrate that 40 percent of college freshmen say they binge drink (4 or more drinks on one occasion for females and 5 or more drinks at one sitting for males), a new study has found that up to 20 percent of male students go far beyond the binge-drinking threshold, consuming more than 10 or 15 drinks per drinking session."

"An excessive amount of alcohol over an extended period of time can cause it own set of health problems, including everything from stomach ulcers to life-threatening liver ailments."

"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."

"Research shows that 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."

"Alcoholism and medical research have discovered that drinking alcohol can be hazardous in smaller amounts if it is consumed along with the following drugs: street drugs such as heroin and opium; sedatives such as tranquilizers and barbiturates; anti-seizure medications such as phenobarbital; and narcotic pain medications such as Codeine, Codeine derivatives, and Darvocet. Not only this, but 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."