Alcoholism Information

"Alcohol treatment depends on whether you are physically dependent on alcohol. Most people with alcohol problems need to completely stop drinking. Treatment first focuses on relieving symptoms of withdrawal, and then the focus shifts to staying sober."

"According to the research literature, with continuous drug abuse, the addict begins to crave the feelings of well-being or euphoria that taking the drugs has elicited. Since this pleasant feeling is so overwhelming, the addict is motivated to continue taking drugs."

"During the third stage of alcohol dependency, the alcoholic starts to experience serious relationship, work-related, and financial difficulties and problems. Additionally, he or she starts to avoid friends and family and experiences a loss of interest in things that used to be important or fun."

"U.S. workplace drug testing was implemented in an effort to deter substance abuse and its effects on safety, health, and productivity in the Nation's workforce."

"In the United States, males are more likely to be dependent on illicit drugs and alcohol than females. The opposite is true of dependency on prescription medication."

"Exposure to stress is one of the most powerful triggers of substance abuse in vulnerable individuals and of relapse in former addicts."

"Apparently not enough people realize that alcohol is a drug and that alcoholism is a form of drug addiction. The point: virtually all of the essential information about drug addiction applies to alcoholism."

"The cost of untreated drug and alcohol abuse in the U.S. in a year is estimated at $276 Billion in lost productivity, law enforcement costs, health care and welfare programs. Savings from treatment programs is incalculable!"

"Stress and anxiety can be temporarily relieved by drinking alcohol, but this too often leads to repeated intake and dependence."

"Substance abuse studies have shown that for men, having a goal of completely giving up drugs or alcohol also increased their likelihood of remaining in treatment. In other words, those whose goals were "moderation" or who were not committed to lifelong abstinence were much less likely to remain in the program a full year."

"According to U.S. research, alcohol is typically found in the offender, victim or both in about half of all homicides and serious assaults, as well as in a high percentage of sex-related crimes."

"Research demonstrates the fact that children from families of alcoholics are at increased risk for alcohol dependence throughout their lives."

"A Dutch study has demonstrated that young people who are very friendly are more sensitive to the influence of their peers on how much they drink themselves as compared with adolescents who are not as friendly."

"A recent national United States survey of female college students found that 15% of them had been raped at some time since the age of 14. In 53% of these cases, the victim was drinking and in 64% of these cases, the offender was drinking."

"The 2004 State of Maryland Adolescent Survey indicates that 13.5 percent of the State's licensed adolescent drivers reported driving under the influence of marijuana on three or more occasions."

"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."

"Three out of ten U.S. adults report that drinking has been a cause of trouble in their family."

"In a study called Project CHOICES, University of Virginia Health System researchers found that a few nonjudgemental, nonconfrontational counseling sessions had a significant impact on women at high risk for binge drinking, unplanned pregnancy, and exposure to alcohol during pregnancy."

"To make the argument for alcohol abstention and pregnancy even stronger, according to recent U.S. alcoholism studies, women who continue to drink even small amounts of alcohol while trying to become pregnant, may reduce their chances of conceiving."

"People older than 65 years and having more than seven drinks per week or more than three drinks per occasion are drinking too much."

"As demonstrated by alcoholism statistics, approximately 14 million people in the United States are addicted to alcohol or engage in alcohol abuse."

"Based on SAMHSA's 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among youths aged 16 or 17, 10% had run away from home in the past 12 months and among youths aged 12 or 13, 6% had run away from home in the past 12 months. Youths who had run away from home in the past 12 months were more likely to have used marijuana, alcohol, or an illicit drug other than marijuana in the past year compared to youths who had not run away."

"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."

"Some evidence suggests that a natural lack of genetic protection plays a major role in alcoholism. Such studies have found that people with a family history of alcoholism tend to 'hold their liquor' better than those without such history."

"While some studies show that moderate drinking may have some health benefits, most doctors do not recommend that you start drinking for your heart or other health reasons. In a word, the risks of drinking alcohol usually outweigh any benefits."

"When an individual uses alcohol to cope with the demands of particular situations, this is called situational alcohol use."

"According to one study, almost 11% of U.S. 8th-graders, 22% of 10th-graders, and 27% of 12th-graders report binge drinking (five drinks in a row in the last two weeks)."

"In a 1999 U.S. study, loss of verbal memory and slower reaction times were associated with a higher incidence of recent alcohol use (i.e., within the last 3 months)."

"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 U.S. study of fifth and sixth-grade students found that those who demonstrated an awareness of beer ads also held more favorable beliefs about drinking and intended to drink more frequently when they grew up."

"Once an individual has lost control of his or her drinking, it is difficult to go back to drinking moderate, more responsible amounts of alcohol."

"Drug abuse includes the use of illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or other 'street drugs'; and the abuse of legal prescription and nonprescription drugs. Some people turn to drugs as a way to get a 'high' or to relieve stress and emotional problems."

"Ninety-two percent of American adults are familiar with the designated driver concept, and 148 million have either been a designated driver or been driven home by one."