Alcohol Problems

"In the U.S., the great majority of alcoholics go unrecognized by physicians and health care professionals. This is largely because of the alcoholic's ability to conceal the amount and frequency of drinking, denial of problems caused by or made worse by drinking, the gradual onset of the disease, and the body's ability to adapt to increasing alcohol amounts."

"In a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a moderate dose of marijuana alone was shown to impair driving performance. The effects of even a low dose of marijuana combined with alcohol, however, were markedly greater than those of either drug alone."

"Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 20. Combining the lack of driving experience among teens with the use of marijuana and/or other substances that impair cognitive and motor abilities can be a deadly combination."

"According to a 2007 Science Daily report, research shows that drinking patterns established during adolescence are likely to continue through adulthood."

"According to U.S. demographic statistics, on average, an alcoholic who doesn't stop drinking can expect to decrease his or her life expectancy by at least 15 years."

"In the U.S., absenteeism among alcoholics or problem drinkers is 3.8 to 8.3 times greater than absenteeism among non-alcoholics or among those who are not problem drinkers."

"Methamphetamine is an increasingly popular drug at raves (all night dancing parties), and as part of a number of drugs used by college-aged students. Marijuana and alcohol are commonly listed as additional drugs of abuse among methamphetamine treatment admissions."

"Families with alcohol and drug problems usually have high levels of stress and confusion. High stress family environments are a risk factor for early and dangerous substance use, as well as mental and physical health problems."

"According to the U.S. research literature, individuals with alcoholism and drug abusers are at increased risk for HIV/AIDS, as well as other infectious diseases like hepatitis and tuberculosis."

"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."

"According to the Silver Gate Group, underage drinkers, on average, drink more heavily than adult beer drinkers and down about 10 percent of all the beer sold in the United States."

"According to U.S. research, what really defines the illness of alcoholism is dependence - the fact that the patient has come to rely on alcohol physically and emotionally in his or her everyday life."

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

"In one U.S. study, 56% of the students surveyed in grades 5 through 12 said that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink."

"According to one U.S. alcoholism study, of the 940,000 people who said they needed alcohol or drug abuse treatment in a specialty facility, only 314,000 made an effort to get treatment, while 625,000 made no effort."

"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."

"Friends may not easily accept the sober, perhaps more subdued, comrade. Close friends and even intimate partners may have difficulty in changing their responses to this newly sober person and, even worse, may encourage a return to drinking."

"Alcoholism research has demonstrated that alcohol affects virtually every organ system in the body and, in high doses, can cause coma and death."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"Medical research continues to reveal greater health risks for women who drink compared to men. The latest studies show that females, even young women, face more brain damage than men who drink the same amount for the same period of time."

"As shown by the U.S. research literature, nearly all alcoholics have a co-morbid psychiatric disorder, most commonly anxiety and mood disorders in women and drug abuse and antisocial personality disorders in men."

"According to a number of college student alcohol abuse surveys, college students are more likely than youth who are not in college to drink alcohol, to engage in binge drinking (defined as drinking five or more drinks at one sitting for males or drinking four or more alcoholic beverages at one sitting for females), and to to drink in an excessive manner."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research has shown that in order to make a successful recovery, the alcohol dependent person needs new ways of thinking and responding in order to deal with circumstances and difficulties that will arise."

"Researchers have discovered that children learn their attitudes about drinking from those around them, especially from their friends, their parents, and from other adults."

"According to substance abuse research statistics, in 1997, U.S. illicit drug users were more likely than others to have missed 2 or more days of work in the past month and to have worked for three or more employers in the past year."

"More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke."

"The following represents mild to moderate psychological withdrawal symptoms that usually occur within 6 to 48 hours after the last alcoholic drink: fatigue, difficulty thinking clearly, rapid emotional changes, feeling nervous or jumpy, nightmares, anxiety, irritability, or depression."

"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)."