Alcohol Testing

"The alcohol abuse and alcoholism research literature has shown over and over again that alcoholism is a disease that affects your behavior, your body, and your brain. You have control over your choice to start drinking alcohol, but once you start, its pleasurable effects typically make you want to continue drinking. When you become addicted to alcohol, certain parts of your brain change that in turn, create a powerful craving to drink alcohol. Invariably, this strong desire for alcohol will eventually control your behavior."

"Some U.S. researchers claim that developing cost-effective alcoholism intervention and treatment for mandated populations could mean a decrease in alcohol-related problems nationwide."

"According to the research literature, American adolescents between the ages of twelve and seventeen who use alcohol are more likely to report more behavioral problems, especially criminal, delinquent, or aggressive behaviors than 12 to 17-year olds who do not drink alcohol."

"What keeps children alcohol-free? Children who have strong communication with their parents are less likely to drink. Children whose parents set clear rules and expectations are less likely to use alcohol. Children whose parents discipline them when they break the rules are also less likely to use alcohol."

"Previous studies have shown that alcoholic women perform just as poorly as alcoholic men on thinking and memory tests, even though the women hadn't been drinking as long as the men had."

"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."

"Alcohol abuse and alcoholism research emphasizes the fact that alcohol poisoning doesn't necessarily occur from any one excessive and abusive drinking situation. That is, an alcohol overdose can also happen from a regular and repetitive infusion of alcohol in the blood stream."

"U.S. alcohol abuse 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 a recent research study, people trying to quit drinking who become involved in both Alcoholics Anonymous and professional treatment programs fare much better than those who only go to treatment or only go to Alcoholics Anonymous."

"If the alcoholic is not ready to reach out for help, efforts by friends and family to try to force him or her to admit to the problem, usually causes more problems. It's only when the consequences of their drinking become painful enough that alcoholics will they reach out for help."

"In the U.S., a clear relationship exists between alcohol use and grade point average among college students. Students with grade point averages of D or F drink three times as much as those who earn As."

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

"It is common for alcohol dependence to remain undetected for years. Both the availability of alcohol and the way it is used (the social patterns) appear to be major factors in influencing the likelihood of a person becoming alcohol dependent."

"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."

"Your doctor can diagnose alcohol use problems by asking about your medical history and doing a physical exam. Your doctor might do other tests to detect the amount of alcohol in your blood and any damage to your body caused by alcohol."

"A strong family history of alcoholism is a warning that you are at increased risk of becoming an alcoholic. Increased awareness of such a risk may help modify your attitude toward alcohol consumption."

"Alcoholism studies have shown that on average, an alcoholic in the United States who doesn't stop drinking can expect to decrease his or her life expectancy between 10 and 15 years."

"U.S. research shows that many people do not go to a doctor specifically for alcohol problems but seek treatment for physical conditions (such as cirrhosis) that result from long-term alcohol use. Your doctor might ask you questions about your drinking to help see whether alcohol abuse is the cause of a condition like cirrhosis."

"Fortunately, research is helping to define the barriers that exist in accessing care and achieving recovery from alcohol abuse and alcoholism."

"According to the substance abuse research literature, the cost of untreated alcohol and drug abuse in the United States each year is estimated at $276 billion for health care and welfare programs, law enforcement costs, and lost productivity in the workplace."

"Data from several national alcohol abuse surveys indicate that about four in five college students drink and that about half of college student drinkers engage in heavy episodic alcohol consumption."

"Many people do not go to a doctor specifically for alcohol problems but rather seek treatment for physical conditions (such as cirrhosis) that result from long-term alcohol abuse. Your doctor might ask you questions about your drinking to help see whether alcohol use is the cause of a condition like cirrhosis."

"In one study, adolescents came into alcohol treatment in a variety of ways. For example, boys are typically more likely than girls to have been referred to treatment from the legal system. Only a relatively small proportion were referred by one of their health plan's medical or psychiatric providers."

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

"Alcohol abuse statistics reveal that American children view 2,000 beer and wine commercials per year."

"Drug and alcohol abuse statistics reveal that more than 67% of the funding for drug and alcohol treatment programs comes from public sources. Private insurance pays for about 14% of these services and the patients pay for about 10%."

"Addiction treatment has many forms, but effective treatment will address physical, psychological, emotional and social problems and will involve family members. Make an appointment at a treatment center and attend meetings of local self-help groups to better understand what your loved one is going through. Recovery is much more effective with support from family members and friends."

"Alcoholism research has shown that the "typical" alcoholic has poor coping skills that, to a large extent, lead him or her to abuse alcohol. Stated another way, when an alcohol dependent person experiences emotional or physical pain or spiritual malaise, rather than dealing with these problems and issues in a healthy and productive manner, he or she "self-medicates" himself or herself with alcohol."